Are manual Mitre saws any good?
Michael King
Updated on February 26, 2026
Fine Cuts: A manual miter saw has fine teeth that are excellent for cutting fine moldings without chipping or roughness. Precise: A power miter saw can lose its alignment with the material, especially when the tool is first activated.
What is a manual miter saw used for?
Hand mitre saws are often used for applications such as wooden moulding, skirting boards or picture framing, when the finished joint will be on show and so will require a neat and precise cut. A more basic version of the hand mitre saw is available which is simply a plastic or wooden tray with slits at various angles.Are miter saws worth it?
A miter saw is definitely worth having and is an asset in any power tool collection. Miter saws are great at cutting miter joints moldings, doing trim work, cutting rafters, cutting wider wood boards, and straight cutting, and can be used to cut many different types of materials other than wood.Can you Mitre with a hand saw?
A great hobby shop addition, a fine woodworking miter hand saw is used for wood stock that might see damage from the rotating blade of a power tool, or by any saw with coarser teeth. Due to its limited size, this type of miter box works best with light and small trim or decorative pieces.What can I use instead of a miter saw?
The following options can be used instead of a miter saw.
- A table saw with the blade tilted, the miter fence, or a jig.
- A circular saw with the footplate adjusted or a jig.
- A jigsaw with the footplate angled or a jig.
- A hand saw with a miter box.
- Taking advantage of your local tool library.