All about combi miter saws

The Combi Miter Saw is a versatile power tool for joinery and can cut both straight and oblique joints. Its main feature is the combination of two devices in one device at once: miter and circular saws.

The tool is based on a miter model, and the saw blade acts as the main working element. The design includes a metal bed, a turntable and a guide mechanism. The latter provides free movement of the working disk over the surface of the working table, and the rotary table serves for angular movement of the workpieces to the desired angle. The device also includes a tool head, which is adjusted to a given cutting angle by means of a measuring scale. The working unit consists of a particularly robust housing with a built-in electric motor, on the shaft of which a saw blade is installed.

Some models of combination saws are equipped with a broaching mechanism that allows you to reliably fix and cut especially large workpieces. The device control buttons are located on a common panel, which makes it easy to control the operation of the saw blade and, if necessary, adjust it. As an option, many devices are equipped with a set of working discs with different diameters, sizes and tooth pitch.

The scope of application of combined trimming models is quite wide. Their help is indispensable when installing skirting boards, window openings and door frames, as well as in the production of lining and the arrangement of wooden floors.

The high appraisal of professionals and the growing consumer demand for combination miter saws are due to a number of important advantages of these devices.

1. The device incorporates the best performance characteristics of both tools: from the miter saw, it inherited the high accuracy of measuring workpieces, and from the circular saw - an absolutely smooth and even cutting surface.
2. The ability to create slices of arbitrary configuration contributes to the implementation of any, even very complex technical tasks.
3. The combination of two tools in one device at once eliminates the need to purchase each of them separately. This allows for significant budget savings and more efficient use of space in the workshop or garage.
4. The versatility of the devices allows you to install saw blades of various purposes in them, which makes it possible to work with almost any material.
5. The ability to perform not only transverse, but also longitudinal cuts allows you to trim the edge of lumber and engage in the production of narrow blanks.
6. Despite its versatility, the tool is quite mobile and can be easily moved to the desired location.

Like any complex electromechanical device, combination saws have a number of disadvantages. These include the rather high price of the device, which, however, is still less than the cost of two separate saws.Also, many professionals note the small, unlike traditional miter saws, the cutting depth, which does not allow them to be used for cutting thick material.

The classification of combined miter saws occurs according to such an important technical indicator as the power of the tool. According to this criterion, devices are divided into two categories: household and professional.

The first ones are represented by units with an engine power from 1.2 to 1.5 kW and are designed to work with saw blades, the size of which does not exceed 25 cm.The rotational speed of the working shaft in household models varies from 5000 to 6000 rpm. The simplest household model can be purchased for 8 thousand rubles.

Professional saws are equipped with a motor with a power of up to 2.5 kW and can work with discs up to 30.5 cm in diameter. Such devices are often equipped with a speed controller of the working discs and laser rulers, which guarantee high accuracy of measurement and cutting.

The feasibility of purchasing a combined model depends on the complexity and amount of work that is planned to be performed. The purchase of such a product must be technically and financially justified, otherwise there is a possibility that an expensive high-tech device after repairs or construction of a bathhouse in the apartment will be idle unnecessarily. You can also refuse to buy a device if high cutting accuracy is not so important. For rough work, a regular circular saw is quite suitable, which is much cheaper than the combined options.

It is also necessary to take into account the weight of the future model. Typically, a power tool of this category weighs from 15 to 28 kg, and therefore it is better to purchase an easier option if you plan to regularly move the model around the workshop or the surrounding area. If the saw is chosen for professional work, then you need to pay attention to the availability of additional options. They, of course, do not have a significant effect on the operation of the tool, but they certainly can simplify use and increase safety. These functions include: a laser rangefinder tape measure, a backlight, a working shaft speed regulator and a soft start button.

A huge number of combined miter saws of different brands are presented on the domestic power tool market. Despite the fact that most of them are made quite soundly and represent quality products, some models are worth highlighting.

• Japanese semi-professional model Makita LH 1040 can perform longitudinal, transverse and oblique sawing of wood, plastic and aluminum workpieces. The turning angle of the trimming to the right reaches 52 degrees, to the left - 45. The device is equipped with a 1.65 kW motor and is designed for mounting a disc with a diameter of 26 cm. The diameter of the shaft bore is standard and is 3 cm. The saw is equipped with protection against unintentional start-up and has double protection isolation. The depth of the cut at a right angle is 93 mm, at an angle of 45 degrees - 53 mm. The rotational speed of the working shaft is 4800 rpm, the weight of the device is 14.3 kg. The basic equipment of the model is represented by a saw blade, a dust collector, an adjusting triangle, a socket wrench and a limit plate. Such a unit costs 29,990 rubles.

• Combined saw "Interskol PTK-250/1500" belongs to professional tools and is equipped with a 1.7 kW motor.The device is designed for all types of carpentry work and is capable of straight and angular cutting of MDF, chipboard, sheet metal, plastics and other materials. The unit can often be seen in furniture, window frames and doors, as well as baguette and lumber mills. The saw is complete with a stop for the lower and upper table, a hex wrench, a pusher for the upper table and a lower disc guard. The rotational speed of the saw blade is 4300 rpm, the weight of the device reaches 11 kg, and such a unit costs only 15 310 rubles.

• Saw, manufactured in China under the Polish brand, Graphite 59G824 is a modern universal device and features a folding desktop design. This provides convenient transportation and storage of the unit, which distinguishes it favorably from models with stationary tables. The power of the brush motor is 1.4 kW, which classifies the device as a household appliance. The shaft rotation speed reaches 500 rpm, the saw blade size is 216 mm. The indicator of the maximum cutting depth at a right angle is 60 mm, at an angle of 45 degrees - 55 mm. The model is equipped with four foldaway legs with clamps, a guide rail, a clip, a saw blade guard, a square, a pusher, a dust collector and an Allen wrench. The weight of the device reaches 26 kg, the price is 21,990 rubles.

• Of the Russian brands, the products of the Zubr company should be noted, and especially the model "Bison Master-ZPTK 210-1500". Although this device is produced in China, it undergoes strict quality control, it can perform all types of straight and angle cuts, removes chips in a timely manner and can be used both in everyday life and in production. The model costs 11,000 rubles.

An overview of the combination miter saw from the Bosch brand, see below.