Any experienced users of miter saws?

[tangman99]

I have done some wood work projects in the past building my own canopy and things and my next project is to do some simple crown molding and picture frame wall deco. My wife bought me a 10" miter saw for christmas so I would have the proper tool to do this. I'm familiar enough with how they work and how to use them. My main question is do you have to mount it to a work bench? I have a very nice craftsman workbench, but I don't want to drill holes in it. The saw has entenders on each side for stability and seems solid just sitting on the bench. The instructions say that it need to be mounted but I'm hoping it is just for liability purposes.
Anyone use these things enough to know if it's ok to use them just sitting on the workbench?
Thanks.

 

[npage]

I've always just clamped it to my workmate bench with a bar clamp on both sides.
I trimmed out my whole basement without any problems.
Assuming you have a sharp blade it should cut through without any vibration.
If you're just cutting trim clamping it should be more that sufficient.

(now don't hold me liable if you do something stupid

)

 

[travis89]

I have always used them with them just sitting on the bench and have never had a problem. Mounting it stops it from moving around while you use it.

 

[travis89]

For cutting trim I usually just sit it on the bench.

 

[chipmaker]

I have yet to see a contractor bolt one down when in use, and it seems most every pickup truck around this part of the woods has a miter box in the back of it. You always see them setting on a pair of saw horses etc on construction sites. I would think a simple C-clamp would be more than sufficient if it moved when in use.

 

[tangman99]

Cool! I figured it would be fine but wanted to check and see if anyone else uses theirs just sitting on a bench. Now, I assume you all still have all your limbs and appendages, correct?

 

[npage]

Originally Posted by TangMan99
Cool! I figured it would be fine but wanted to check and see if anyone else uses theirs just sitting on a bench. Now, I assume you all still have all your limbs and appendages, correct?
So far.

 

[russy pelican]

I've set mine on my pickup's tailgate to use it in a pinch, and seldom even clamp it to a workbench. But I do construction for a living and also have been known to shove a scrap of wood under a ladder foot to level it, and bet on the Seahawks in the SuperBowl last year.

 

[emmitt2]

It'll be fine on the bench. IMO, its just a liability issue. Ive had mine for 4 years and use it all the time and its always just sat on the bench. Mine is pretty heavy so i never saw a reason to drill into my worktable to mount it. As long as the table is level and sturdy, you should be fine

Just make sure to wear safety glasses. They will spit out small pieces of wood from time to time especially if the blade dulls.

 

[phixer]

Most are heavy enough not to move. You could also pick up one of those grey rubber roll up mats from Sears, they are full of holes and used to prevent the work from sliding around.

 

[tree]

TangMan I love your avatar

As others have said, you don't have to mount it permanently. Just set it on the workbench & you should be fine. I finally broke down and got the Mitre saw stand from the local home depot. Much easier to deal with and it supports those long pieces of crown molding you want to cut.

 

[tangman99]

Originally Posted by tree
TangMan I love your avatar

As others have said, you don't have to mount it permanently. Just set it on the workbench & you should be fine. I finally broke down and got the Mitre saw stand from the local home depot. Much easier to deal with and it supports those long pieces of crown molding you want to cut.
Thanks! That was another thing I was thinking about. My bench is up against the wall so when I will have problems cutting long pieces of molding. I may have to set it out in the middle of the driveway.

 

[kimc]

My husband (who is a carpenter) built a cabinet on wheels so that he could move it around. He just sits his on top of the cabinet. This year I bought him a "sliding" miter saw for Christmas!!

 

[tree]

Originally Posted by TangMan99
Thanks! That was another thing I was thinking about. My bench is up against the wall so when I will have problems cutting long pieces of molding. I may have to set it out in the middle of the driveway.

The mitre saw stand folds up & rolls too Takes only a minute to set it up (after the first time) & the mitre saw stays permanently attached to it. I personally think the stand is the way to go if you have the space to put it.