ToolGuyd

Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!

  • New Tools
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Best Cordless Power Tool Brand
    • Tool Brands: Who Owns What?
    • Best Cordless Drills (New for 2019!)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Best Multi-Bit Screwdrivers
    • Best Cordless Impact Drivers (2015)
    • Best Cordless Circular Saws
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Cordless Oscillating Tools
    • Best EDC Gear
    • Best Multimeter
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Modular Tool Boxes
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
  • Hand Tools
    • Bit Holders & Drivers
    • EDC, Pocket, & Multitools
    • Electrical Tools
    • Flashlights & Worklights
    • Knives
    • Mechanics’ Tools
    • Pliers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets & Drive Tools
    • Wrenches
    • All Hand Tools
  • Power Tools
    • Accessories
    • Cordless
    • Drills & Drivers
    • Oscillating Tools
    • Saws
    • Woodworking Tools
    • All Power Tools
  • Brands
    • Bosch
    • Craftsman
    • Dewalt
    • Makita
    • Milwaukee
    • Milwaukee NPS19 Tools
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > Power Tools > Saws > How to REALLY Square up a Miter Saw, the Super Professional Expert Way

How to REALLY Square up a Miter Saw, the Super Professional Expert Way

Mar 13, 2018 Stuart 29 Comments

If you buy something through our links, ToolGuyd might earn an affiliate commission.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Sliding Miter Saw in Closed Position

Some folks are upset that I wrote yesterday’s post a little tongue in cheek, where I said that referring to a product manual is the best first step for calibrating a miter saw or table saw.

Okay, maybe I should have elaborated a bit more. Here’s the super duper professional expert ultimate authority way of doing it:

Advertisement

Step 1: Consult the user manual.

Just kidding (but not really). After a 3-day power outage and a bit of exhaustion, I’m allowing myself to be sillier than usual, sorry about that.

Miter Saw Calibration

Most miter saws (at least all I’ve used) have miter scale and bevel stop adjustments.

Dewalt and Bosch Miter Saw Miter Scale Adjustment Diagram

To square up the miter scale, reference a square off of the fence (which is locked in place – don’t leave it loose), and the blade. Be sure to reference the square off the blade body and not the teeth.

The user manual will tell you which screws to adjust if the miter scale or indicator needs to be adjusted.

Dewalt and Bosch Miter Saw Bevel Stop Adjustment Diagram

Then, there’s the bevel stop or scale adjustment. For that, you reference your square off the miter saw table and the blade.

For either adjustment, there should be a pointer or indicator to adjust as well. You adjust the 0° miter and/or bevel positions, and then ensure the pointer, arrow, or other angle indicator properly reflects the angle. You won’t always have to adjust the pointer.

There could (should) also be a stop at 45° or the end of the bevel range which can also be calibrated.

Seriously – refer to the user manual for guidance. Different saws can have very different adjustment points or methods. You can sometimes get by with trial and error, if you’re experienced to know where an adjustment point might be, but that’s ill-advised for the inexperienced. Loosening the wrong fastener can create more problems.

Miter scale and bevel stop adjustment methods can be widely different, depending on the saw. The diagrams above were taken from Dewalt (left) and Bosch (right) product manuals. They really do tell you everything you need to know to square up your miter saw.

The basics are the same for most saws. The fence and table are fixed in place, and so you check the blade’s squareness against those fixed reference planes.

Now, if your fence is crooked and your table warped, squaring up the blade is going to be a lot more challenging.

Tools Required:

6″ Combination Square ($8+ on Amazon)

Or you can get a 12″ square. I have a 12″ square, but sometimes prefer smaller squares. You don’t want an itty-bitty square, but if a square is too big, it can contact blade teeth or hamper you in other ways. If it’s too small, there might not be enough contact area with the reference surface.

Tips

Don’t reference a square off the teeth on a blade, or on a saw’s kerf or clearance plate.

Related posts:

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Circular SawMilwaukee M12 Fuel Circular Saw vs. Makita M18 Sub-Compact Dewalt DW716XPS 12-inch Compound Miter SawI Can’t Decide on a New Miter Saw for a Future “Miter Saw Station” Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Sliding Miter Saw in Closed PositionYour Favorite Tools of 2018?

Sections: Editorial, Saws

« How to Square up a Table Saw or Miter Saw?
Metabo: We’re Not Affected by Hitachi Power Tool’s Name Change to Metabo HPT – But is it True? »

29 Comments

  1. Hilton says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 11:03 am

    Are the liberals getting touchy again?

    Good post, thanks.

    Reply
    • Stuart says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 11:34 am

      No political jabs, please! If you must make a joke, it has to amuse everyone equally, or make everyone groan. e.g.:

      A progressive traditionalist and traditional progressivist walk into a bar. They’re both okay, but was the bar made in the USA or imported?

      Reply
      • Hilton says

        Mar 13, 2018 at 11:38 am

        I have no idea which political parties consider themselves as liberal, to me it’s more a state of mind and attitude towards the world in general.

        I get your point though.

        Reply
        • Andrew Q says

          Mar 13, 2018 at 12:24 pm

          This makes your previous comment appear more ignorant to me.

          Reply
          • Hilton says

            Mar 13, 2018 at 12:26 pm

            If you insist.

          • Ed says

            Aug 7, 2018 at 11:56 pm

            Almost like a baseless accusation. Lol.

      • John Blair says

        Mar 13, 2018 at 12:00 pm

        As a luddite, I’m offended that you cover power tools. Tools were meant to be powered by hand, horse or by a water wheel, anything else is a bit too new fangled for me. It’s a slipper slope son, if you don’t change your ways, you will find yourself covering CNC mills, 3D printers and laser cutters.

        Reply
        • Paul says

          Mar 13, 2018 at 12:18 pm

          Personally, I am looking forward to telepathically controlled tools, AI replicators, and the T1000.

          Reply
      • Yadda says

        Mar 13, 2018 at 1:43 pm

        Great joke. Perfect groan moment for a day full of tension headaches.

        Reply
      • JakeVT says

        Mar 14, 2018 at 11:08 am

        What kind of bar did they walk into? Was it rebar? cold rolled steel? crow?? Hope they didn’t get hurt 😀

        Reply
  2. Joe says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    Do people reading ToolGuyd really not know how to true up a mitre or table saw ? I would think this a more sophisticated bunch of followers.

    Reply
    • fred says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 1:10 pm

      I would think that ToolGuyd readers may cover a broad spectrum of experience levels. I sense that some are newbies to woodworking – while others may have 40+ years of experience. There may also be differences between how different manufacturers provide for (or don’t) adjustments. That’s where reading the manual – or added online material may actually help.

      A bit off topic – but I was the neighborhood’s bike mechanic when the kids were growing up. I recall a neighbor coming to me with a partially assembled bicycle made in Taiwan with which he was struggling. The manual (in several languages was printed in Spain. I suppose that the “English” section was translated from Chinese into English by a Spaniard. Some of it was incomprehensible on the face of it – but if you had assembled bikes and Shimano components before – it wasn’t hard.

      Back on topic – Stuart said “Now, if your fence is crooked and your table warped, squaring up the blade is going to be a lot more challenging.” But as pointed out by another commenter in a prior post – the way to adjust such a saw is to return it while you still can.

      Reply
    • Stuart says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      Not necessarily.

      And even if so, people have different levels of comfort with different tools.

      With the Porter Cable 7518 router I bought and will be returning, https://toolguyd.com/why-im-returning-my-brand-new-porter-cable-7518-router/ , I wasn’t sure if the issue was with the tool, or my expectations of it. The 7518’s speed control is unfamiliar to me, as I’m used to trigger switches, dials, buttons, and belts to change speed, and not clunky old-timey sliding switches.

      Reply
    • David Zeller says

      Mar 14, 2018 at 10:21 am

      There really aren’t that many decent tool blogs that aren’t just restatement of press releases, so you might find all types here. I, personally, am beginner to medium. Been around tools and workshops my whole life, can fix or create many things, but dont consider myself truly good at any of them. I come here and learn.

      David

      Reply
  3. Mark Lee Shelton says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    I for one would like to see more content like this. Could you maybe get a little more basic for us newbs though. I’d like to see an article on what a miter saw is, when to use it, and what the advantages of it are over say a… table saw.

    Reply
    • Stuart says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 1:36 pm

      I can add that to my list, but it will be a while until I get to it.

      In short, miter saws excel at cross cuts, where you want to cut a board cross its short dimension. You can use a table saw to do so too, with a miter gauge or a sled, but a miter saw is quicker and easier. Angle adjustments and compound angles are quicker, as well as repeatable cuts if care is taken to set up a solid workpiece stop.

      There is some overlap between what miter saws and table saws can do, but for most typical uses, you cannot use them interchangeable.

      Let’s say you want to cut an 8-foot long 2×4 in half . That’s a lot easier and safer too I imagine, on a miter saw. Let’s say you have a length of 2×4 and want to rip it into 1-1/2″ x 3/4″ strips. There are several ways to do that, but a table saw would be easiest.

      Reply
  4. ktash says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 12:56 pm

    As a woodworker, there are times I wouldn’t use a combination square. I have a couple of Products Engineering engineering squares, but recently saw this one recommended on a reputable site, a Kinex square, and it looks to be good. Less expensive than the PE line:
    https://www.amazon.com/Kinex-4026-12-010-Machinist-Square-microns/dp/B06XNRZJ6K/

    Good video on squares used in woodworking to set up tools, etc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6rCPzoj4w He also recommends a drafting square as a low cost alternative but very accurate.

    Reply
  5. Yadda says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 1:46 pm

    I appreciate this information. I recently moved all of my father’s woodworking tools almost 700 miles to my garage. I need to resquare all of my tools.

    Reply
    • Yadda says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      Resquare? Square up?

      Reply
      • JakeVT says

        Mar 14, 2018 at 11:10 am

        Resquare/Squareup? Reply? or critique? Word police? You gotta say it exactly right or we are going to shame you

        Reply
  6. Nathan says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    Yeah I figure it as part of a mx interval. IE check my stuff about yearly. Or – anytime I install a new blade. that also works.

    Reply
  7. Julian says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    Bosch has the very best manuals. Dewalt’s are pretty good, Makita manuals suck, and Festool manuals are the worst.

    Jt

    Reply
    • glenn says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 7:08 pm

      Can’t totally agree. I think Milwaukee have the worst manuals, I have tossed about 20 of them, lol.

      Actually, Makita have fairly decent manuals, I have kept about a dozen of them!

      In all seriousness though, check out this Makita mitre saw manual, its about as thorough as it gets.

      https://www.makita.com.au/media/documents/manuals/DLS111ZU_manual.pdf

      Reply
    • Stuart says

      Mar 13, 2018 at 7:38 pm

      Festool tools have manuals and then supplemental manuals you have to download. *rolls eyes*

      Reply
  8. Kurt says

    Mar 13, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    If you can find one to match the arbor of your saw, be it table, miter, or radial arm, a sanding disc makes a better reference than a blade. Here is one example:

    https://www.woodcraft.com/products/woodriver-10-table-saw-sanding-disc-mounting-plate

    Reply
    • 123dcp says

      Aug 17, 2020 at 11:28 pm

      Anyone have an idea where a person could find a calibration/sanding disk 12″ or more in diameter for use calibrating a larger saw.

      Reply
  9. David Zeller says

    Mar 14, 2018 at 10:24 am

    Your link for a 6″ combination square just searches Amazon for the number six.

    David

    Reply
    • Stuart says

      Mar 14, 2018 at 10:29 am

      Thanks! Fixed it. Apparently the double quote (inch mark) broke the link.

      Reply
  10. Hang Fire says

    Mar 15, 2018 at 10:15 am

    “Don’t reference a square off the teeth on a blade, or on a saw’s kerf or clearance plate.”

    In some cases, this may require a notch in the square.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest tool news.

ToolGuyd Forum

Recent Comments

  • Steve on Hart Stack – Another Modular Tool Box System?: “It’s just Walmart’s Ryobi. TTi had to do something in the Entry Level/DIY to Prosumer range after SBD went all…”
  • Aaron on Hart Stack – Another Modular Tool Box System?: “Here’s another system from Masterforce: https://www.menards.com/main/c-1526043700147.htm?searchTermToCategory=masterforce%20tool&searchString=Tool%20Boxes&tid=1059953776855861640”
  • docjavadude on Giveaway: Milwaukee Packout 3-Drawer Tool Box + Wall Shelving Rack!: “This would be a fantastic home for many of my tool accessories, fasteners, and small hand tools. My workshop space…”
  • Robert Adkins on New Harbor Freight Quinn “Premium” Screwdrivers: “I love my Pittsburgh set. I bought them to reside in my tractor shed, where I expected them to rust…”
  • Greg on New KA-BAR USSF (United States Space Force) Tools and Knives: “Both knives are in stock on the kabar website, the breach bar is out of stock. https://www.kabar.com/products/thumbnail.jsp?shop=all-products”
  • CountyCork on Bosch PROFACTOR Cordless Power Tool Hype Continues to Build: “You can always make your own. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6fglEDmFO/?igshid=yrgtq41dupty”

Recent Posts

  • Olight Valentine's Day Flashlight Sale 2021
  • Hart Stack - Another Modular Tool Box System?
  • New Bosch Profactor Cordless Axial-Glide Miter Saw (Updated)
  • Bosch PROFACTOR Cordless Power Tool Hype Continues to Build
  • Mora Carpentry Chisel Knife Dropped in Price
  • New KA-BAR USSF (United States Space Force) Tools and Knives
  • The New Ridgid Cordless Miter Saw Looks Very Familiar (R48607B)
  • ToolGuyd Misc Tool Talk and Social Media Summary (1/23/21)
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Cordless Impact Drivers
  • Best Cordless Multi-Tools
  • Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Modular Tool Storage Systems
  • Ultimate Tool Gift & Upgrade Guide
ToolGuyd Knife Reviews Image

Knife Reviews

ToolGuyd Multi-Tool Reviews Image

Multi-Tool Reviews

ToolGuyd LED Flashlight and Worklight Reviews Image

LED Light Reviews

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stores
  • Videos
  • Gear
  • AMZN Deal Finder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure