Miter Saws

Miter Saws  are designed for making precise crosscuts at any angle from 0 to 45 degrees. They're very versatile and highly portable, able to travel from the shop to job locations and back with ease. There are three types of miter saws: the conventional miter saw,  the compound miter saw  and the sliding compound miter saw.  Each has the ability to make angled crosscuts, but there are also some features that are particular to each.

• Conventional  miter saws are mounted on a swing arm that can pivot right or left to make squared angled cuts. The blade head can swing at least 45 degrees and sometimes as much as 60 degrees.

• Compound  miter saws have motors that can swing left and right and tilt for beveled cuts. They're useful for cutting picture frames or any other project that requires making angled cuts in two places.
• A compound angle means cutting a bevel and an angle at the same time.

• Sliding compound  miter saws are much more versatile than either of the above. They're capable of making much longer cuts thanks to a sliding head, similar to radial arm saws. 
• They can handle 11.5-inch stock and are actually safer to use than radial arm saws since you can push the head through the cut instead of pulling it along.
• Head can be tilted for beveled cuts and angled for miter cuts.

Recommendations

There are not many reviews of miter saws. Taunton's 2006 Tool Guide reviewed 12-in. fixed-head compound miter saws, while Workbench Magazine reviewed 12" sliding compound miter saws. Here are their editors' choices and and best buys.

Taunton -- Fixed-Head Compound		Workbench -- Sliding Compound
Editors' Choice	Best Buy	Editors' Choice	Best Buy
Bosch 4212	Bosch 3912	Makita LS1212	DeWalt DW708

Features

• Positive Stops -- These allow precise cuts on specific angles; more positive stops means less set up time.
• Sliding Fences -- Add support to tall stock during regular miter cuts and slide out of the way for bevel cuts.
• Blade Size -- Generally come in 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch diameters. Larger diameters mean longer cuts, but using them also requires more power.
• Electric Brakes -- Reverse the electricity flow in the motor allowing the blade to stop turning much faster when you release the trigger. It's an important safety feature for a blade to stop spinning in 2-3 seconds as opposed to 10 seconds.
• Easy-to-Read Angle Indicator -- Makes setting the saw quick and accurate.

External Links

• American Wood Worker -- Good information on miter saws.
• About.com -- Top rated sliding compound miter saws.
• Popular Mechanics -- Guide to miter saws.