When cutting wood, not all saws are the same. There are many different models of the miter saw out there, each with their benefits and drawbacks.
Two of the most common models of miter saws are the non-sliding and sliding standard miter saws. If you are new to the saw game, you may be asking yourself, ” I know one of these saws must be able to slide, but other than that, what is the difference?”
To help you wade through the technical and often tricky waters of the DIY world, we put together a side-by-side comparison of the sliding and non-sliding miter saws. To learn what is the difference between these saws, read on.
Differences in Design Between the Sliding and Non-Sliding Miter Saw
When looking at the design of the non-sliding miter saws and the sliding compound miter saws, it might be hard to find a difference immediately. The basic build of these two machines is very similar.
Similar Features
Both have a miter base, a fence to hold the wood in place, a bevel adjustment hinge to adjust the cut angle, and the motor, belt, and saw that make up the body.
Different Fasteners
The difference appears when you examine how the body of the saw is fastened to the supporting rails. A non-sliding miter is fixed in a stationary manner to the tracks. A sliding standard miter has a variety of fastenings it utilizes to attach the body to the rails and allow for the sliding movement it is named after.
A sliding saw can either have the sliding rails fastened to the body of the saw or the support. Some sliding saws even have an articulating hinge mechanism that allows the sliding motion. These are known as axial glide saws.
Check out our other comparison guide: Table Saw Vs Miter Saw Vs Circular Saw
Best Uses for Non-Sliding and Sliding Miter Saws
When comparing non- sliding and sliding compound miter saws, their use may appear to be somewhat similar. However, there is one small difference between these saws that, in the long run, can add up to a significant variation.
Non-Sliding Miter Saw
When cutting with stationary standard miter saws, the cutting motion is a simple up-and-down plunging motion. This movement is useful for making simple miter or cross cuts on vertical or smaller pieces of wood.
The upside to cutting with non-sliding miter saws are the wider range of motion it has. Since the stationary saw is not limited by the rails that allow its counterpart to slide, you can adjust the angle of the saw and make more extreme-angled cuts.
Sliding Miter Saw
When cutting with a sliding miter saw, another plane of motion is added to the plunging action. This new movement allows you to push and pull the saw body forward and backward while moving it up and down at the same time.
This minor distinction in cutting styles has two benefits:
- Sliding the saw body back and forth allows you to cut larger and wider pieces of wood.
- Pushing the length of saw blade through the plank as opposed to directly up and down engages less of the teeth on the edge, allowing more heat and sawdust to escape and putting less wear on the blade.
What do these two benefits mean in practical terms? The blades that dull slower equal less time and money spent at stores buying new ones. This also means you will be able to cut a wider variety of large wood pieces than you wood with a non-sliding miter saw.
Related: 10-Inch vs. 12-Inch Miter Saw – Which One to Choose?
Price Comparisons
When shopping around for a new tool, especially as big of a purchase as a compound miter saw, budget is an essential measurement to adhere to. When comparing sliding and stationary miter saws, the price difference can be a significant factor affecting your budget.
Non-Sliding Miter Saw
A non-sliding miter saw ranges from $100 to $200. The simple design and basic use of the stationary miter make it a cheaper purchase, friendly to beginner DIYers and skinny wallets.
Sliding Miter Saw
A sliding compound miter saw can cost anywhere between $300 and $800. The price varies so much due to the wide variety of sliding joints the saw can have, the bevel range, the model, brand name, and even amps it possesses.
The higher-priced sliding saw is more suited to those willing to endure a high price tag or for professionals in need of the machine’s complexities.
A Closer Look at Portability
Many artisans find that their work takes them all over the place without the luxury of doing many of their jobs in one workshop. In such a case, ease of transport is a crucial factor to consider when purchasing a miter saw.
Non-Sliding Miter Saw
The stationary miter saw sports a compact and simple design, free of rails or hinges. This build gives it a lighter and more portable nature.
The lighter weight is perfect for contractors who are always on the go and completing jobs at different work sites. The non-sliding miter saw is much easier to carry around and handle at various different locations.
Sliding Miter Saw
Conversely, the sliding compound miter saw has sliding rails or articulating hinges that allow it to achieve the back and forth motion it is named after. This build adds some more bulk and weight to its body, making it more suitable for sitting in a workshop than traveling to a worksite.
When Should You Use a Non-Sliding Miter Saw?
- If you are a beginner to the DIY game or have little experience handling large and sophisticated tools as a compound saw.
- If you need to stay lightweight to travel to and from worksites and cannot be weighed down by large and weighty tools.
- If you have a smaller budget.
- If you are working mostly with small or vertical pieces of wood that the up and down motion of the stationary saw can accurately cut.
- If you need to make cuts at a steeper angle.
When Should You Use a Sliding Miter Saw?
- If you have wide or thick pieces of wood larger than ten inches, that will clog up the blade of a stationary miter saw.
- If you are a professional craftsman who cares about making numerous intricate cuts in a precise manner.
- If you do not have to be mobile or lug around large tools to your job sites.
- If you have a budget hefty enough to afford this specialized tool.
Sliding vs. Non-Sliding Miter Saw: The Bottom Line
Mobile, budget-restricted, novice craftspeople working with crown molding, baseboard, or other vertical and small wood pieces would be better off using a stationary miter saw. It is a simple but effective way to achieve any number of cuts your project requires, especially those tricky cuts at a steep angle.
A sliding compound miter saw adds in the forward and backward sliding motion that gives more precision to sophisticated cuts on large pieces of wood. It is pricier and more cumbersome to take along with you to worksites but turns to make large cuts on wide pieces of wood a simple task.
The differences between these tools are small but significant. The trick is deciding which one is right for you and the project you are working on.
