Last Updated on October 27, 2021
A miter saw is something that is commonly available in all workshops, whether it be an at-home workshop or of a more professional setting. And, these are so common and available in most places because of their utility as well as the ease at which the work can be done using it.
Now, there are two types of miter saws in the market available for purchase and use, the single and the dual bevel miter saw. They both have different uses and advantages, here you are going to see a side by side comparison on the two so that you can determine which is the one you need.
Types of Miter Saws
Let’s know the different types of miter saws first.
Compound Miter Saw
The compound miter saw is one of the most commonly used out there in the market. This is primarily used for cutting objects in various angles. The blade can be tilted to the left or the right to cut up a bevel. You will find this to be especially useful when you want to make cuts at different angles.
Dual-Bevel Compound Miter Saw
A dual-bevel compound miter saw is a bit different from the one mentioned above because it can be tilted to both left and right. So, because of this, you will be able to make the cuts in different angles without actually having to shift your work around.
Sliding Compound Miter Saw
A sliding compound miter saw is a little different from the other two in a sense that this saw can be slid back and forth so you will be able to work with wider objects.
Now that we have covered all of these, you know a little bit about all the miter saws you can find. However, to make the right decision regarding which one you want to buy, you need to a more detailed comparison between the single and the dual miter saw.
Basic Understanding of These Tools
Among all the options available if you have already decided to buy a bevel miter saw, there are just two more options from which you will have to choose from. The single or the dual bevel miter saw.
A bevel of the saw permits the user of the miter saw to adjust and move the angle of the blade so that it can make cuts in a particular angle. The equipment is very handy when it comes to cutting moldings for walls.
The single or one bevel can only be tilted to the left, whereas the dual bevel can be tilter to both the left and the right direction.
As we are now done with a more basic understanding of the situation, let us move further into the topic.
Single Bevel Miter Saw
Miter saws are used to make cuts on pieces of board or molding most often. Now, the cuts are required to be at different angles. Sometime a single board might need cuts on two different angles. In most cases, a single bevel miter saw is more than enough to get the job done.
The blade can either be shifted to the left or the right side, so for most objects; this should do absolutely fine.
Now, if you want or need the bevel cuts on more than one side of the object or wood, all you are going to have to do is turn the wood over so that you can go in and make the other cut.
You have to pay close attention to make sure that the cut is made at a perfect angle. Otherwise, you are going to have to adjust and make another cut.
The additional cut might not be much of a problem if you are working with an object, which is a bit larger than you need it to be, so there is room for errors.
However, if that particular piece of board is exactly the size you need, and there is no room for error, then you are going to have to do the work all over again on another piece.
Dual-Bevel Miter Saw
So, even though the single bevel miter saw is a great option and is sufficient for most projects, it does have its limits. In order to avoid situations where you have to go through the hassle of turning the wood over and then adjusting the angle, you can make use of a dual bevel miter saw.
This way, you will not have to worry about getting the angle and the cuts wrong when you turn the object over. You will also save yourself from wasting material and moments of frustration over failed work.
All you will have to do is just swing the saw in either of the directions to find the right angle to make the cut which would match on both the sides perfectly.
With this particular miter saw you would also see that it is much easier to make repeated cuts. So, all in all, you will get any work done much faster than you would be able to if you were to use a single bevel miter saw.
Which One You Should Go For?
So, the primary difference between the two is ease of use. The single bevel miter saw requires more effort and time compared to the dual bevel miter saw, but the price of the latter is higher compared to the former. There is about a $100 difference between the prices.
Now, there are many people who think the convenience of not having to flip the wood over is not worth the additional $100 they have to pay to avail the dual bevel miter saw. This is especially true among those who are mostly working on smaller projects that are good enough for a single bevel.
But there are also others who want to make their lives easier and would have no problem spending the extra on it. So, ultimately, it depends on which one you prefer: comfort or money?
Conclusion
The single bevel has its own advantages, while the dual bevel has its own. Now, you as a consumer or a user of the miter saw are going to have to determine which is worth more to you, the convenience or the price.