As a home owner? I love it. As a furniture maker? It’s a waste of space

Every shop I have ever had or worked in had miter saws - normally more then one. I find them indispensable, and it is usually one of the first stationary tools I recommend someone get if they are considering woodworking as a hobby (or even more then that). The reality is that if someone is a beginner woodworker, one of the best things which will motivate them to move forward are completed projects. With dimensional lumber and a miter saw, you can quickly and safely create hundreds of easier wood projects that will allow them to see results and allow them to decide if they would want to invest more into more expensive woodworking machines. On the flip side, I have talked to a number of hobbyists who have given up because of the hassle of trying to calibrate things like table saws. While it might seem trivial, for someone who has spent 20+ years as an accountant or other office work, the idea of trying to man-handle the cast iron top which was misaligned in shipment to keep the blade from scorching that nice walnut you bought...well, it can take the fun out of learning something new really fast.

Admit it, my wife put you up to this didn't she! What's next, 101 reasons why you don't need a bandsaw? Will she stop at nothing to get the garage back?

I found that this video just proved how useful a mitre saw and a good mitre saw stand is. The amount of clamps, big surfaces, other tools, jigs, etc these guys had to use in each example in order to demonstrate why they don't need a mitre saw is exactly why I have one.

Like a lot of others here, the Mitre saw is my most used power tool (except for maybe my drills/impact drivers). And a sliding one like a Bosch 12” can do almost 14” widths, which just covers so many situations. Couple that with a portable stand that has long collapsing supports, and the thing can grow when you need it and get out the way when you don’t.

When I was a professional trim carpenter the miter saw was extremely handy as we spent 99.9% of our time mobile at a customer's job site. Base, crown moldings, building stairs, mantles and tons of closest shelfing. But now that my hobby wood shop is 100% at home, stationary and all my tools are in permanent positions, I prefer using a table saw for more accurate miter cuts for furniture and project builds, when the lumber dimensions are smaller. But I still keep a miter saw around.

I was in the same boat as Chris at the start. I watching a million youtube videos about woodworking and everyone had these impressive shops with every power tool imaginable. I was working in a tiny basement on a tight budget and a table saw wasn't an option for me. I own a circular saw but it is by far the tool that scares me the most and I don't always feel that the cut I am getting is straight, square, accurate, or any combination of those three things. I bought a miter saw to make repeatable cuts that were square and didn't make me nervous about my limbs. While I agree with most points made in this video, the one I don't agree with is regarding space. You say having a miter saw set up properly takes up a lot space that could be better used for storage or whatever. But you don't even address that the alternative in this situation is a massive cabinet table saw that has a footprint larger than anything else in the shop. And I understand that the space:utility ratio of table saw to miter saw heavily favors the table saw. But I'd saw a large portion of your audience isn't fortunate enough to have a warehouse as a shop. Most of us are in our garages and basements, stuffing every square inch of space with tools and wood. I go back and forth about whether my miter saw was worth the money and I ultimately land on yes. I wish that I could afford and store an awesome sawstop but I just can't. And a miter saw can handle a lot of what I'd end up throwing at a table saw. So yes, in the perfect world, I'd have a table saw like yours instead of a miter saw. But at the end of the day, when I am wrapping up in my 8x12 foot shop, I am happy to have a miter saw.

I agree with many of these points. But for me personally, I use mine daily. I'm a small business furniture creator. And am almost always working on 10 things at the same time. So being able to quickly and in one place break down material is beyond useful.

I guess I am the DIY guy because it's probably the most used tool in my shop. I don't really build a lot of complex furniture. I have never used the compound cut that I can remember. I do use the circular saw quite a bit, too. I guess everyone is different in how they do stuff and the stuff they do. Love you, man... men?

Most "Beginner woodworkers" are going to be weekend warrior/DIY types. There are infinite home improvement and shop furniture type projects that can be done with just a miter saw and home store 2x4's. If you're going from zero to 100% building fine furniture and nothing else, then I guess this makes sense, but the miter saw is amazing for most "beginning woodworkers."

I have a small shop, but I designed it with a dedicated miter saw station along one wall. I use it every day. Yes, as some other commenters suggested, I use it for rough cutting raw lumber. I harvest, mill, dry and resaw 75% of my stock, so most projects start with rough cutting thick stock. With a 12” blade, it’s capacity exceeds all my other circular saws. But I use it more for precision cross cuts. I use a Forest blade that makes excellent finish cuts and stop blocks for repeated dimensions. I only use my table sled for cross cutting wide panels; and many times I use a track saw instead. I think the biggest reason I do most of my cross cuts on my miter saw is convenience. Super easy to set length and angles and I don’t have to muscle a bulky sled off the wall and onto my table, which is a real PITA when I’m going back and forth between rips and crosscuts. I appreciated your arguments here, but I think you may have rationalized your way into defending work methods to which you are accustomed rather than truly evaluating the options objectively. Love your channel. Thanks for all the great tips.

I don't usually leave negative comments but I figured I miter as well. I am very disappointed in the lack of puns in this video. I felt like you two were just cutting corners.

Here is my take: I think you guys arrived to that conclusion by HAVING OWNED a miter saw before, in other words only by owning a car yourself and experiencing traffic and difficulties parking, you arrive to the conclusion that public transportation or a scooter would be better and make them work to do exactly what the car did. But if you start off without a miter saw your mind will not be as creative and resourceful when it comes to using a table saw to do the job of a miter one. Learn first how to implement a miter saw and all the things it can do for you and then you will be more capable to "Re-purpose" a different saw to do what the miter saw did before for you. Reading this comment over I am not even sure I managed to express exactly what was in my mind. I am just a tourist.....

If you're starting out, a mitre saw is a sensible, useful tool to have that doesn't take up a lot of space. i.e. you can put it on a shelf out of the way. If you've got a huge workshop it may well be possible to do things without one. Most of use don't have mega workshops. A circular saw and a square are not a decent alternative.

I agree with all their points and if I was in their position I'd feel the same way too but I'm just starting to make money with woodworking and I'm only buying tools with the money I make from woodworking. I'd love to have a huge table saw that I can make jigs for and have basically an unlimited cut capacity and options. However, the reality is that it's too expensive right now. Most of what I build is with solid wood up to 2x8's. So a miter saw really speeds up my workflow and everything it can't do can be done with my circ saw/jig saw (both also very affordable). The miter saw adds a lot of consistency vs just a circular saw. I've had to square up table legs using a flash trim bit on my hand router!!!!! just to get them to the same length. So I agree with them but if you're just starting out with a limited budget, I think you can buy a decent quality miter saw for not much money which will be far better than a cheap table saw with a bad fence and an uneven table. Please let me know if I'm wrong. I'm still learning.

I'm thankful that you guys pointed out the pros and cons of having a miter saw. And as useful as it was (and entertaining) I still think I'll be adding a miter saw to my small tool collection. Mostly because I'm still a novice and living in an apartment 18 and 36 volt tools make me more mobile. In the winter months I use the basement or roof of our apartment building. In the summer I use the backyard. And I haven't had to punish any of my neighbors for complaining about the noise I make😆👍🏾

I want to add to previous comments about the lack of space for the big table saw. On top of that, we need space to store the jigs to accomplish the equivalent cuts. I am using my miter saw much less since I got my job site table saw, but can't completely eliminate it from my workflow. They are both foldable on wheeled stands and I pull them out and work on my driveway.

If you only have a jobsite table saw a miter saw is a great item to have.

Top notch advice chaps. I’ve been building a shop out for 3 years, and I’ve had a mitre saw on the floor, struggling with where it needs to live, and I recently decided that it is unnecessary in my shop. It’s more of a “grab and go” tool and doesn’t deserve a permanent home in my furniture making shop. It’s funny how difficult it can be to make these decisions, and I think your words are spot on. Also freaking hilarious, seriously. Gets better with every video. I also love your podcast. I usually have to listen a few times though because the tablesaw and sander drowns out audio, and I have to delisted to catch all of the puns.

I've had the same miter saw for a couple decades and would never give it up, but I also have no plans to upgrade it either. It was one of my most used power tools for several house remodels and additions, but I don't think I have ever used it for any of my woodworking projects.

Pro builders: "you don't need miter saw" also Pro builders: uses miter saw in every single project.

Perfect for small projects. Not got a lot of power so if the wood starts to flex it stops the saw pretty easy. Use it for small tasks and you will be happy. Safety system Works great kzfaq.infoUgkxjpBI8OOeUXib_iT7UomCrQ-uauwZJ62c .lose your grip on the saw it shuts off and the sheath closes over exposed saw.

16:00 my thoughts exactly on miter saw. For a trim carpenter they are indispensable and definitely in the top three most valuable saws on the job site along with circular saw and jigsaw. I would always have a miter saw on hand if I was into any type of carpentry even if I didn’t have a dedicated space for it.

I really like my miter saw. I don't use it every day, but it's on a flip-cart with my planer, so taking up space isn't really an issue. I use it (as you mentioned) to break down lumber at the start of a project. It also does a great job on steel (yes, it's a low speed miter saw).

I took the plunge a few years ago to replace my Rigid for a Kapex, and of course after the financial recovery, I can't say enough about it and how it really does make my furniture building more possible. My stool build from William Douglas's plans made my angled dado a breeze....And the dust collection!!!! Top notch. Still made a jig for the compound miter dado to repeat it for 4 stools, but still a very valuable tool in my arsenal. Love the F out of both your guys content, and completely see, and agree on the point depending on where you are today. But like you mentioned, depends on your life circumstances and I was fortunate enough to make that one happen for me at the time. Won't lie, if I saw this two years ago I definitely would have questioned the purchase though. Thank you fellas for all that you do. Rock on!!

Shawn's acting deserves some applauds. That disappointment on his face when Chris turned him down

That was some of the best advice I have had as I look to tool up again after a 40 year gap in owning a shop and making furniture. The choices were much simpler then! Thanks.

I can't imagine making all of the mitre/angle jigs for a table saw. Just the one shown here would probably take me 3 days, between seeing the end product in my mind, then figuring out how to make the jig, then wondering if I did it correctly to get the cut I need. I'm good with formulas and angles, but haven't ever been taught the the specifics of making jigs. I'm on the Autism scale, and need to be able to ask questions to understand a lot of things.

First power tool I owned after my first cordless drill (which is still my current drill) was a miter saw. Until last weekend I owned a radial arm saw (long story) and miter saw, but turn to my table saw for almost everything! Ditched the radial arm saw and am keeping the miter saw for the home project work. Every beginner who asks me what tool to buy first, I tell them table saw! So versatile, precise, and a compact jobsite saw actually takes up less space than a miter saw!

The Mitre Saw is an amazing tool. Aided with a cordless circular saw with an additional rail - will give the enthusiast DIYer all sorts of cutting capabilities.

Have been doing carpentry/joinery 15 years as a full time business and have to say my mitre saw is one of my most used tools.

If all you're going for is helping somebody make an informed decision, then you've accomplished your goal. I'm in the process of designing/outfitting my "dream" shop next year. It will be housed in a space of

In framing carpentry we use circular saws all day every day, even at heights like when working on roofs, installing the fascia boards, etc. I think its a pretty safe tool and its the only thing we use except when we have to take something apart with a sawzall.

I love the dramatization of getting interrupted by someone else's cut request. From the perfect micro set up to the reaction to getting interrupted had me rolling.

This video has convinced me to get a miter saw.

In our shop the miter saw is the single most used powertool, so much so that it surprasses the table saw, jointer, planer, bandsaw and drillpress combined, with only the belt sander getting to the same order of magnitude of use. The thing is, we don't build fuirniture. It's pretty much small decorative items like cahdle holders, knife handles and wooden jewlery or on the other hand it's big practical projects for the old farm. We are talking making 200 fence boards the same lenght, outdoor storage boxes, framing for a small greenhouse and similar. For the first the miter saw is great for cutting out the small bits before hand shaping and for the seccond it's just the best thing in the world. We even have a 2m ruler on it so you can cut to a couple of mm precition without any setup or extra measuring tools. So it really depends of what you need to do. As with most tools, they are good for some things and not for others. I Also don't like the "these are the tools you need" videos and lists, simply because it's impossible to tell what someone needs in their shop without knowing what kind of work they will be doing.

I’m a DIY beginner and really considering what I should buy within tight budget. I saw tons of DIY youtube video and all of them used table saw. So I almost to buy a table saw, but found “Miter saw”. I did not know anything about miter saw, and decided to buy miter saw after watching comments of this video. Thanks guys!

For a hobbyist, if they are nervous about a powertool, especially something for cross cutting boards. consider whether you need the speed of powertools or if you can just use a hand saw. They work well, they are faster than you think and with practice more accurate than you think. you'll still need to refine the cut but you need to do that with a miter saw too.

When I started with woodworking I bought a rather large miter saw, mostly because I was too afraid to use a table saw tbh. I got a table saw later and sold the miter saw. It took too much space. I got a small entry level miter saw without a depth rail later. It's light and mobile and very handy to make quick and precise cuts. I would recommend to get such a small one rather than building a large miter saw station.

I use my miter saw all the time. Repeat cuts are easy with a stop block. My 12" Bosch with laser on a gravity stand takes up less room than my table saw plus the slide out wings support long boards. It's very portable as I've taken it in my trailer where I've installed trim, decks, framing etc. It is my most used corded power tool in an collection of table saw, belt sander stand, lathe, band saw, circular saw, trac saw, drill press, jointer and planer. Back when I first started woodworking, one of my first buys was a miter saw. Table saws and circular saws can be dangerous if you don't use proper techniques, which beginners don't get. I know a guy who lost three fingers with a circular saw (hand placed behind the saw as it kicked back) and another person who's finger was lost using a table saw (no guard). Tough to do on a miter saw, unless your trying to lose fingers.

I do agree with everything said... I just ended up with my first Miter saw... I am finding myself using it quite frequently.. Part of it is I always have a lot going on, and having something that is ready to go that doesn't have another project on it already is very convenient. I might have a construction type project going concurrrently with a "Finer" type build. I did get a stand and being able to shove it folded up in a corner is awesome. Or drag it out of the shop to use it. Plus having it and a track saw means I can take all of it somewhere else and help my dad with projects at his house when I would rather not try and load the table saw... Just a little more insight for consideration!

I have one because I can't cut a strait line!

Great video, I used to work on site and the circular saw came out of the van a lot more than the mitre saw. There were days where it came in handy especially when getting the apprentice to do repeatable cuts that we could setup before hand, so that they didn't cut their hands off with the circular saw. Saying that my friend cut off his thumb with a mitre saw

I think this video has convinced me even further a miter saw is essential. Not willing to make trade offs because it's a little slower and inconvenient at times to use.

I had no problem without a miter saw in the shop for more than 10 years. But then came a job where it made sense to get one. It now resides most of its time in my off-site storage area and comes out when needed, which isn’t often but it’s nice to have it when I need it.

I just don't get why people dislike this type of video. There are a lot of good points, especially usefulness vs space. I am not an expert woodworker, I like all DIY fields and in my case space is so limited that I can't buy almost anything to fit in my workspace. I need to even make my own tools with specific dimensions lol. This argument of usefulness vs space is probably the most valid of them all.

I think the most important case opposing your view is for those with jobsite-size table saws, either by constraint of money or space. A $300 double bevel sliding mitre saw will cut upwards of 20 inch boards (or 4x4s or all sorts of awkward things), of essentially whichever length you desire. I expect a novice woodworker with something like a Dewalt job site saw is gonna see a ton gain in that purchase. If I had a full size Euro table saw with a sliding table, I might think differently about my mitre saw, but that would be a huge swing in cost, portability, and space occupancy. Just an alternative view, don't really disagree with any of the points you made. Cheers.

"if that money could be better spent somewhere else."... lol, like that wall of Woodpeckers squares and rulers? Don't get me wrong, they are really nice and I am envious but god they are expensive.

Thanks, this is a really helpful video. I have a small mitre saw which has a deep footprint which has annoyed me for years, a good deal for a large mitre saw with less deep footprint came up, and I was very tempted to buy. After watching this video, I think your points are correct and made me realise I can do all that I need with my track saw and table saw, very happily and without much compromise. Thanks! It means I haven't spent the money and no longer desire getting one. Very appreciative of helping me realise this.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Don't get a pencil, buy a whole blooming box of them as they like to hide all the time!

Fantastic video guys! Would love to see an expanded video like this on workflow, because you've referenced it in being a very obvious reason on how to minimize the need for a miter saw. Keep up the awesome humor, entertaining AF!

Thanks guys, you talked me out of buying a miter saw. Actually, I was thinking about making a tool that would have more features and options for cuting but now I simply don't have time for that. And that is the reason I was thinking about buying a miter saw, but at the same time I was aware about everything you said in this video. So you just confirmed what I already suspected it would be. And thanks for draging me to the side of not buying one. Thanks again for this (for me) very usefull video.

My brother-in-law gave me his old Craftsman table saw and miter saw about 10 years ago. I got excited about what I could build with these new tools. They initially got used to install some hardwood flooring. Cut pieces to length on the miter saw and rip the last boards to width on the table saw. After that, they collected dust for 6-7 years. When I finally got into to woodworking, about 3 years ago, I replaced the table saw. I have kept the miter saw, but I just don't use it. Once I built a cross-cut sled, the miter saw sits on the floor. I recently did two more floors in my house and I cut everything to length using my cross-cut sled. I made a coffin-shaped bookcase for my daughter a couple of years ago. I used 1x10's. I cut everything to rough length with a circular saw and then did all the final length cutting, as well as all the bevel cuts (either with the miter gauge or tilting the blade), on the table saw I've often thought about upgrading my miter saw. Mostly because I'd love to have a new model, but when I think about how much I've used mine in the last 10 years, I save my money. Bottom line, if you can find other ways to do things, why bother with the dust collection problems of a miter saw?

All good points. Under that rationale, I'll sell all my tools and just go with a CNC machine. Let the computer do all the cutting, drilling, etc...

If a circular saw scares you, perhaps this isn't the hobby for you? Wrong If a spinning blade doesn't instill fear in yuh ou THIS IS NOT THE HOBBY FOR YOU

Not sure I'd need one as a furniture maker but as a diy'er it's probably my 3rd most important powertool right after cordless drill and circular saw.

I started off with a cheapo miter Saw, eventually got a Bosch Glide 12". Found that I wanted a track saw and got the Festool Tracksaw and MFT/3, sold the miter saw and found that I got great results with the Tracksaw MFT/3 and table saw combo, this worked well for me for about 5 years. Recently, I got a larger workspace when I moved to a larger home, picked up the Festool Kapex with the mobile base and extension wings, so happy with it, can easily and quickly make repeated cross cuts on long and medium sized boards, now just use a small parts sled on the table saw. The MFT/3 is useful when I need really huge cross cuts. I know it's a luxury, but I have the space and the money, what I don't have a ton of is time (I have 4 small children), so having everything set up so when I can make it out to the shop for a few hours the time is very productive. I do agree, a track-saw table, like the MFT/3 or Kreg and a table saw are great, and you don't really need a miter saw. Especially, because most miter saws other than the Festool Kapex are not that precise and have terrible dust collection.

I’ve actually been working through these very same thought processes. After building a dedicated mitre saw station in a SMALL (12x16 covered) and 12x24 outdoors) woodworking area, I’ve purchased the mobile stand for when I cut crown and other household trim (on the job site)... and I’ve been working toward using the space more effectively.

As a professional bespoke furniture maker with a panel saw and 2 miter saws we have 1 set up for 90° cuts and it have a zero clearance fence and base it's great for rough work breaking out material or the fine work and the second 1 is on a mobile stand we use this for all our "miter" work and is a good thing to have around but it doesn't get nearly as much use as the one that's only set to 90°

Great Video. One additional key factor for me beside the space issue is the DUST. The miter saw is the worst offender in the shop. When I downsized to a one-car garage shop, I eliminated the dedicated miter saw station. I just remodeled the shop and built a miter saw station OUTSIDE attached to the back of the garage and covered by a box. We'll see how that holds up in the weather.

Lots of good perspective, I've actually been looking at a miter saw to supplement my job site saw. I also had been looking at getting a fence extension for the same purpose.

I like having a miter saw just because it's twice the saws! I can have the miter saw set up at a certain angle and the table saw set up for something different, if i'm going back and forth between, say, ripping length-wise and cutting to length.

The video is great but the comments section and the community is the real MVP! Cleared all the BUT's and IF NOT 's !!!

ive only got a small cheap miter saw, i dont use it alot on projects but when i do need it, its quick easy and convenient to have it set up ready to go.... as an old tradie told me 30 years ago... when starting buy budget tools, learn how to use them, if that budget tool wears out or breaks you then buy a good quality one because you use it more than you think

You guys are great. I'm stoked you teamed up. It looks like you are having fun making videos together. It's great for us viewers, and I hope it's working out well for business too. Walking into the door with the board reminds me of the dog trying to go inside with a stick and getting blocked.

LOL "maybe this isn't the hobby for you... " Scared my wife when I laughed randomly over coffee this morning... ty

I only make furniture occasionally. I own two miter saws. But I bought both of them for pennies on the dollar. They were both brand new but discontinued models. I use my Ridgid 7 1/4 Cordless 18v sliding miter Saw all the time. And I bought it for like $59 dollars on a close out. It came with a 5ah battery and a nice charger. I look at the expensive big miters saws, but I really don't need one. On the other hand. It really does depend on the size and capacity of Table saw you own. A really good Miter Saw is way less expensive than a really good Table saw. I made do in a tiny shop for Years with a Good Miter ( a Delta) Saw and A good Circular (a Makita) saw and a homemade track system. I was able to cut everything I needed to. I am a professional installer.

I'm am seriously glad I watched this video. The repeatable cuts is my only reason I was thinking about getting one. And I know I don't necessarily need it. Table saw and router table can get it done. Great advice, thanks 👍🏾

Can I just ask, how in anyway does a good mitre saw take up more space than a table saw? Or cost more? Or is more dangerous given the blades spins down and away?

Hahahahahahaha I just love how Shawn looked so sad when you kicked him out of the shop I literally 😂. Back to the video !!

I have 2 chop saws, a 10" and a 12" compound miter saw, I use mine as you said to break down long material and I find myself using the table saw more often now for super accurate cross cuts and joinery and not so much the 10" saw. Thanks for the well made video!

I'm grateful that I've stumbled upon your video. I'm a complete amateur who's currently doing some work at a newly bought house and I'm still hesitant whether or not I need one. I have already bought and used a jigsaw and a circular saw for cutting laminate floor panels, but I'm planning to also cut my skirting boards (under a 45 deg angle) and cut some MDF boards to be used as building blocks for my DIY wardrobe. Still not 100% entirely sure I need a mitre saw, but from my very short experience with this kind of tools it seems to me that neither a jigsaw/circular have the necessary precision.

Personally the mitre saw is kinda essential to me for small segmented pieces and I wouldn't feel safe making these on a table saw. However if I ever switch to making mostly furniture, this advice is invaluable.

I have a foldable miter saw. Takes up minimal space and can set it up in a minute, part. Outside. Great to have for DIY project eg installing flooring. Wouldn't want to do it with any other saw.

The thing about this video and all it’s commenters is this; everyone’s right. Do what you’re safe with, do what you can afford and use what produces the product you want to create. I want to live in a world where people can get sh*t done themselves and create. I think this channel does a great job of just throwing different options at you. It’s all education

I was just about to pull the trigger on a festool kapex Ks 120. Only to use it for convenience sake when making cross cuts, because my job site table saw is garbage, and it scares the shit out of me when I start it up. Good thing I fell over this video to make me think straight again and not have my vision blurred by “festool colored glasses” lol

I think that a track saw (with a jig for smaller stuff) can do all that a mitre saw can, and not the reverse. Plus, it's safer. As they cost the same and the track saw uses less space and can be stowed away, that's what I chose.

In my experience a compound glide miter saw (with really good rigidity, tuning, and a quality 12" blade) rivals a table saw + sled for crosscutting precision. It doesn't really take up that much space because the crosscut station uses workbench space right and left as support surfaces for long pieces. It's great to have in a small shop, where maneuvering around a table saw is tight.

I was about to buy a miter saw more than a year ago. But then I started watching your videos (and Shaun's) and I started to notice that you're heavily using your table saw. I also noticed you didn't use a miter saw on almost all your vids (at least the first bunch I've watched). And the only main reason I was in to buying a miter saw was my fear of the table saw. And overcoming that fear and eventually buying a table saw has taken me to the next level. So thank you for that :)

Thank you for posting your opinion, Chris. I assume you are a professional wood worker with many years of experience, so naturally you have more options than a DIY homeowner so not choosing a chop saw for you makes sense. I'm a journeyman in several trades and decades of experience and the two tools I want to see in any serious shop is a high end table saw and sliding compound chop saw. I especially notice that younger men, including in my family, want to be perceived as knowledgable craftsmen although they do not have the depth years of experience brings. If I walk into a shop and don't see a nice table saw and chop saw I find it hard to take that person seriously. With those two primary tools there are few problems that cannot be solved.

Hmm, is it just me or is Chris usually the 'bad guy' in these dramatic sequences? Hmm.

Mid-Century furniture doesn't feature a lot of moldings, but other furniture, cabinets, built-ins, etc do, and a mitre saw is the perfect tool for this.

Great video! The part where you got interrupted to make a quick for your co-worker was hilarious!!!!

Very good video,thanks ,I recently purchased a sliding mitre saw. One of the main reasons I did not buy a Table saw, was lack of experience/confidence.....I felt that the table saw was just more dangerous to use.... Kickbacks with timber,etc and the temptation not to use the blade guard that comes with all table saws. I play the violin and kind of value my fingers,lol. For me safety is number one,i will use a hand saw if I think it is safer,and,with hand tools,there is more time to react or correct if I make a mistake. Thanks for the videos. 🎻

I just bought one and I hope I won't regret it 🤣

Well you guys just had to open that box, didn’t you! Anyway, that’s why I have 2 table saws, 2 band saws, and 2 lathes. I can jump around without changing set ups. Yes I’m old and spoiled. Forgive an old man, will ya? Love you Guys, and Chris, take it easy on Shawn please.

I use my ryobi 18v Miter as a home owner ALL the time. Trim, trim, and more trim, and building a shed/deck. I sold my sliding dewalt a few years ago because it was a monster and I did not need that cut capacity with a miter.

Good points all around. I purchased my sliding miter saw about 10 years ago when re-siding our home. Once that project was completed I eventually built a flip top mobile table with the miter saw on one side. Most of the time I use the table top as a work surface and always have the option of flipping it over if I have the need to use the saw. My shop is 1/2 of a 2 car garage so all my tools are on wheels. In my DIY projects I do use it now and then and some when building furniture projects. I really like my table saw though (SawStop) :^). Thanks for posting!

I'd love to hear from both of you an equipment list in order of priority. I have now reached a point where I have to choose between a bandsaw, spindle sander or drill press. And also, how much quality should I invest in each one of them... I might get a cheap harbor freight sander and spend more on a drill press? Or less on the drill press and more into the bandsaw? Great video!

Yes. It’s essential

As a builder of more then a chair I find my chop saw invaluable for saving time and doing a proper job Yes I can cut a board with a skill saw or if I want to burn out my jigsaw before it’s time if you have limited space they make folding stands with wheels that actually are more useful than your little work bench I’d say if you plan on being anything more than a hack invest in your tools as that is an investment in yourself and your future projects FYI telling someone that doesn’t like to do dangerous things that maybe they are in the wrong field is how you become a bad teacher and get people hurt I’ve been doing this longer than you and seen more people hurt than you I definitely work in more diverse materials than you and I can still count to ten (knock on wood) It’s called risk management

This is probably the best video I've seen as guidance for to or not to purchase a miter saw and what are some options to explore further. Words do not do enough to represent my gratitude for your video. Thank you so much! Subscribed!

“If that scares you maybe this isn’t the hobby for you” should be on a T-Shirt!

Damn. I just went out and threw a blanket over my mitre saw. I don’t want my neighbors to laugh at me. 😳

if all you are doing is rough cutting lumber, a chop saw is what you want, not a mitre saw. I'm not a professional carpenter, just an amateur DIYer. But one of the first power tools I ever owned was an 8.25" sliding single bevel mitre saw. It is by far the most versatile, most useful, most used tool that I own. And it isn't even close. I've used it for finishing work, framing work, furniture making, decking, stairs .etc. Sure there are lots of other tools that can do what a mitre saw can do. But that's true about just about any tool. A mitre saw does what it does and it does it very well. They are also very cost effective, especially compared to all the other tools that you are going to need to do what a mitre saw does.

I got mine because my shop is too small for a table saw and I needed it to build some simple furniture for my apartment. I really want to do more now that I've been seeing a lot of the limitations on my saw.

Can’t disagree more. It’s completely influenced by preference, based on past experience. And also: please do a real comparison. If you have decent tablesaw, compare it to a decent miter saw and not that thing in the vid. Also the amount of sleds and jigs would take up much more space then the actual machine. And also mean more trash. As a furniture maker with a limited space, i prefer no jigs at all. And yes, there are many ways to avoid needing jigs/sleds/etc. Kinda like the opposite of this whole vid, no? So again: preference and experience.

I don’t have two table saws in my shop. So when I want to crosscut I just use the 12” miter saw rather than digging out the cross cut sled and leave the fence on the cabinet saw alone for ripping.

I think it boils down to individual preferences. There's many ways to accomplish cuts and details and I enjoy the accuracy and reasons of your methods. But having my woodworking foundations built upon trim carpentry first I find myself using a miter saw a lot for all sorts of builds because I've used it a lot. It is replaceable as you've demonstrated but it can be quite versatile when experimented with. Guess thats the fun part of woodworking theres a million ways to do/learn to accomplish stuff. Hence why I like your videos. Thank you for your wisdom.

That first dramatic reenactment was rough lol. You didnt have to throw his board LMAO! Great info!