If you are currently working on a household DIY project, chances are you will need to use a miter saw. For anything from putting crown molding on your wall to lining a window with trim, a bevel miter saw will give you the freedom and ease to cut at any angle you need.
However, when you purchase that miter saw, you will most likely run into a difficult choice of which saw to buy: single bevel or double bevel? To many, even those DIY experts out there, this is a decision met with confusion and misunderstanding.
To help you avoid the stress of going to the hardware store clueless, we put together a head-to-head comparison of the single bevel miter saw and the double bevel miter saw to guide you. Read on to learn more.
Choosing the Correct Saw for Your Needs
Miter saws are used to make miter cuts in wood. Miter saws make angled cuts across the length of a board.
You can also use a miter saw to make bevel cuts. A bevel cut is a cut made at an angle across the width of a board.
A bevel miter saw can make angled cuts as well as miter cuts and combine them into a compound cut. However, a single bevel and double bevel miter saw have differences in their function that will change how effectively they can make the compound angled cuts.
An essential factor to consider when comparing single bevel versus. double bevel miter saws is how you will use it.
A single bevel miter can only pivot along the vertical axis in one direction, typically 45 degrees. In contrast, the dual bevel can rotate in both directions, usually a total of 90 degrees of movement.
The single bevel and the dual bevel miter can be used to make cross, miter, bevel, and compound angled cuts. The most significant difference between these saws is the broader range of motion of the dual bevel. This wider range allows you to move the saw around the wood more and keep the wood in place more.
To choose the right miter saw for your woodworking projects read this article.
Which Saw has the Best Portability?
Carrying around a large and cumbersome object can take a toll on anyone, both mentally and physically. This maxim applies even more so to handiwork projects. If you are a craftsman who is always on the move, you might want to consider the size and weight of the single vs. double miter saw.
Single Bevel Miter Saw
Single bevel miter saws require less moving parts since it only pivots one direction. This limited range lends it a smaller, compact design with a lighter weight.
This portability comes as a blessing to many contractors who travel from site to site to complete jobs. The single bevel’s lightweight construction makes it the better tool to take along on trips.
Double Bevel Miter Saw
On the other hand, the double bevel compound miter saw will prove larger and more substantial since it has to house more bits and pieces that give it its precision and cutting flexibility.
Stationary workers may tend towards the more advanced but precise nature of the dual bevel saw. If most of your work is done in a workshop or a similar, single location, the sophisticated performance of the dual bevel miter saw is a great technique to have at your disposal
Which Expertise Level is Best for Each Saw?
Using a miter saw with a dual bevel can be a bit tricky for first-time users. Some models of bevel saws even come with a sliding option, adding another plane of motion into the equation.
DIY enthusiasts with experience handling saws might find it helpful to have a broader range of motion of the double bevel saw. The ease with which the double bevel saw allows you to make a wide variety of cuts is an indispensable aspect for complex projects.
If you are new to the home improvement game, you might appreciate the simplicity of the single bevel miter. Keeping track of angles in a compound cut may be much simpler when keeping track of one direction. Add in a whole other range of motion, and things might get over complicated.
Related comparison guide: Sliding Vs. Non-sliding Miter Saw
Price
Working under a budget common for home improvement projects. If you are worried about the cost, choosing between a single bevel and dual bevel compound miter saw can make a noticeable difference.
Single Bevel Miter Saw
Single bevel saws range from $130 to $400. The price depends on the brand name, the model, the size of the blade, and its battery amps. However, a majority of single bevel saws will fall in the range mentioned above.
Double Bevel Miter Saw
Double bevel saws cost between $200 and $800. Again, the exact price depends on the specifications of the individual saw, but you will hardly find anything above or below this range.
When comparing single bevel and double bevel miter saws, you will find that the double bevel models tend to range higher than their single bevel counterparts. If you are willing to forgo the extra range of motion the double bevel saw offers and purchase a single bevel one, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars.
When to Use a Single Bevel Miter Saw?
- If you are a novice DIYer still learning how to handle the equipment and make precise cuts.
- If you need only simple miter, bevel, or compound cuts on one side of a piece of wood.
- If you don’t mind moving the wood around the saw more, or your project does not call for too high a number of cuts on varying sides of the piece of wood.
- Your budget won’t allow you to spend too much on a new saw.
- You are not in a rush to make cuts and finish a project.
When to Use a Dual Bevel Miter Saw?
- You have experience using equipment like this and have the confidence you can measure and make precise and clean bevel cuts
- You need to make bevel cuts quickly to finish a project within a deadline.
- You have a bigger budget to afford these sometimes pricey models.
- You don’t want to spend the time moving the wood around the saw and would rather keep track of more angles and measurements.
Single Bevel vs. Double Bevel Miter Saw: The Bottom Line
If you are in the market for a miter saw, it is essential to go into your purchase keeping the differences between single bevel and double bevel miter saws summarized below in mind.
A single bevel saw is a simple, lightweight tool best suited for beginners or folks who do not have to rush to meet a timeline or perform overly complicated cuts.
A double bevel saw is a more complex, heavy tool best suited for professionals who do not have to lug equipment around too much and who care deeply about performing complicated and numerous cuts in a short amount of time.
Lastly, with budget in mind, single bevel miter saws are best for those with tight wallets while dual bevel miter saws are better for those able and willing to splurge on a purchase.
