A sliding compound miter saw is one of the most versatile tools on the market. It can be used for a variety of functions, including precision cuts, cuts at an angle, and cuts on a wide range of materials. Due to its functionality and innovative features, they are usually pretty expensive. However, this article will let you know about the best cheap sliding compound miter saw on the market.
How much do sliding compound miter saws usually cost?
On average, most sliding compound miter saws cost around $400. However, some of the well known brands like Makita sell models for over $1,000. With this in mind, you might be interested in where to find cheaper options.
Best cheap sliding compound miter saw
The best cheap sliding compound miter saw on the market is the Engindot miter saw. It makes excellent cuts and only costs a little over $200.
Engindot sliding compound miter saw
The Engindot miter saw has a lot of strong features, including bevel cutting, a powerful motor, and 3 strong blades. It also comes with a lot of cool features such as a laser marker, clamping device, and a very convenient depth stop.
Bevel cutting
Perhaps one of the main reasons you get a sliding miter saw is to my bevel (or angled) cuts. I was very satisfied with this model’s angle cutting ability. It can be locked in place at a 45 degree angle in both left and right directions. You can also set it at any angle below 45 degrees. This means you should be able to get any angled cut that you need.
When setting the saw at an angle, it is very sturdy and you don’t have to worry about it coming loose. If you are cutting long boards, a miter saw stand will make your life a lot easier. If you aren’t familiar with stands, you should check out my article on how do miter saw stands work.
Powerful motor
Another reason people like miter saws is because of their ability to cut thick pieces of wood. The 15-amp motor is able to generate 2000 watts and generate an impressive RPM. There are two options for speed, as you can choose between 3,200 RPM’s and 4,500 RPM’s. These high RPM’s not only allow you to make precision cuts, but they also help you cut through more wood.
This saw is able to cut pieces of wood that are up to 3.5 inches wide and 13 inches long. While you can probably get away with cutting slightly thicker wood, it might decrease the longevity of your saw, so I don’t recommend it.
If you want more power, you should check out a Harvey Table Saw.
Complimentary blades
I think that my favorite component of this saw is the complimentary blades. It comes with two 10-inch 40T blades, and one 10-inch 48T blade. The higher the teeth count, the more precise cut. Therefore, if you are looking for precision, I recommend the 48T blade.
Not only are these quality blades, but the fact that they give you three is very generous. If you want to learn how to change blades, check out my guide on how to remove and install a miter saw blade.
Other cool features
Below is a list of some other cool features that I really like about the saw.
Laser marker
The saw has a built-in, red laser pointer that shoots out across the cutting board. While you are not able to alter the direction of the laser, it does shoot directly down the middle. This significantly helps you when you need to make very straight cuts.
This laser came in handy when I was cutting a hexagon with my miter saw.
Clamping device
On the side of the saw there is a very convenient clamping knob. It allows you to clamp boards down in place while you cut them. This helps ensure that you don’t move the board and mess up your cut.
This is important for not only precision cuts, but also for cuts that involve harder material such as metal.
Also lining the cutting board is both a moveable and fixed stop rail. This allows you to guide your board into the cut in a straight line.
Depth stop
If you plan on doing any partial board cuts, you will surely appreciate the depth stop. It allows you to restrict the downward reach of the saw. By screwing the depth top in or out, you can adjust how far down you want the blade to go.
I used the depth stop when I made a rabbet and dado joint. As you can see in the picture above, I was able to make square, clean cuts into the board. Also, the sliding function of the saw helped me complete the full cuts. If you want to learn more, you can check out my article on how to make a rabbet and dado cut.
Saw shield
Even though this is an affordable saw, they still put a lot of quality into the saw shield. It is made of solid iron, and is also self-retracting.
Even though it protects you from the blade, chips of wood can still fly at you, so you should definitely still wear goggles. If you are cutting any sort of plastic or metal, you should wear a shield. If you don’t have on yet, you should check out the best face shields for woodworking.
Solid locks
Most saw accidents occur when a saw falls out of place. Therefore, it is vital to have a sliding saw that you can trust to stay locked in. I am here to tell you that the saw is made of solid, durable material and the place lockers are very reliable. Even on the angled cuts, the saws don’t shift one bit.
Warranty
Last but not least, this saw does come with a 2-year warranty. This is a bit longer than average, and it is nice having the peace of mind that you can return it if it breaks.
Conclusion
All in all, I think the best miter saw for the cheapest price is the Engindot sliding compound miter saw. Despite being very cheap, it does not sacrifice quality. The saw is perfectly capable of performing any cut you’ve wanted to do on a miter saw. It also has a lot of cool features that help assist your cut. I hope you found this helpful!
