How To Cut 45 Degree Angle with Miter Saw

A miter saw is one of the several essential tools that professional carpenters have in their arsenal to complete different woodworking projects. It comes with an easy-to-use design and allows you to cut wood at different angles.

In this article, I’ll explain how to cut a 45 degree angle with a miter saw. You’ll also learn how to read the miter scale markings in the right way for accurate cuts.

Understand Miter Saw Markings and Angles

If you don’t know how to read miter saw markings, you’ll end up cutting wood at the wrong angles. The numbers that you see on the marking scale of your device don’t represent the actual angle of the cut that it’ll make.

Most good miter saws have 0 in the center and the markings go to 60 in both directions. You’ll need to subtract the marked number from 90 to get the actual angle.

For example, if you set your miter saw to 0, it’ll make a 90-degree angle, as 90 – 0 is equal to 90. Read the following chart to understand the corresponding angles that each marking will make.

Miter Saw Markings	Actual Angle in Degrees
0	90
5	85
10	80
15	75
20	70
25	65
30	60
35	55
40	50
45	45
50	40
55	35
60	30

How To Cut a 45 Degree Angle with Miter Saw

Cutting a 45 degree angle using a miter saw is easier than other angles as it doesn’t involve any mathematical calculation. It’s the only marking that generates the same cut angle because 90 – 45 is equal to 45. 

15 degree angle cuts and 22.5 degree angle cuts with a miter saw require a lot more effort.

Use the following steps to make a cut at a 45 degree angle using any type of miter saw, including a sliding, compound, or even a beginner miter saw.

Step 1: Prepare Setup

Preparing your setup is an important step while working with a miter saw. It involves squaring up your machine to make it error-free. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get accurate results even if you set your miter saw at the desired angle. 

Make sure that you adjust the bevel angle as well if you’re using a double or single bevel miter saw. After that, you’ll need to check the quality of your saw blade. Replace it with the new one if it’s dull, and make sure it’s secure in place properly. 

Lastly, you’ll need to mark your wood board where you want to make the cut. Only a single dot will be sufficient and you can use a carpenter pencil for this purpose.

Step 2: Ensure Safety

Keep in mind that a miter saw is a powerful tool and it can cause injuries if you don’t take safety measures or use it carelessly. You need to make sure that you follow the safety protocols listed below:

• Wear safety goggles and a face mask to protect your eyes and nose from the dust particle that the cutting process produces.
• Protect your ears from the loud noise of the miter saw with earbuds or earmuffs
• Use tight clothes and remove dangling or loose jewelry items that can get stuck into the blade.
• Confine long hair so that it doesn’t get in the blade’s path while you’re cutting wood.

Step 3: Place Board Against Fence

Grab the wooden board that you want to cut at a 45 degree angle and place it against the miter saw fence. Make sure your marked dot is perfectly aligned with the blade. If your saw has a built-in clamp, use it to secure the board against the fence so that it doesn’t move during the cutting process.

You can also use a separate clamp if your saw doesn’t have one. It’ll prevent kickbacks and allow you to get accurate results.

Step 4: Set Blade Angle

After securing your workpiece, unlock the pivot joint of the miter saw and set the blade to the 45 scale marking, whether right or left.

Grab the handle and move the blade down to make sure that the blade is perfectly aligned with your marked spot. Don’t turn on the miter saw while performing this step. 

Loosen the clamp and make adjustments if required and then secure the board again.

Step 5: Start Cutting

Turn on the miter saw and let the saw reach its full speed. Then, move the blade down and cut through the wood. Don’t apply too much pressure and let the blade cut the board.

Turn off the saw after making the cut and wait until the blade stops moving. Loosen the clams and remove your workpiece with a 45 degree angle cut. Use the same technique if you need to cut more wood pieces with the same angle.

Read my in depth review of the Evolution Miter Saw if you’re looking for a good option.

Tips to Use Miter Saw to Cut 45 Degree Angle

Let’s go over some tips and tricks that you can follow to make the entire cutting process easier and safer.

• Keep your miter saw unplugged if you’re not using it.
• Double-check your saw blade and guards to see if they’re properly tightened before turning on the miter saw.
• Check your measurements twice before cutting your workpiece because you can’t undo a wrong cut.
• Use a sliding miter saw if you need to cut a wider workpiece at a 45 degree angle.
• Cut a piece of scrap wood with a miter saw and use a digital protractor or any other angle-measuring tool to test the accuracy of the cut.
• Never use a dull blade because it can lead to unwanted and unforeseen accidents. It can also damage your equipment badly. Change out a dull miter saw blade.
• Never use any power tool such as a miter saw when you’re in a hurry or feeling tired to avoid injuries.
• Keep yourself at least six inches away from your saw blade to ensure safety.
• Always grab the top handle of the miter saw using your dominant hand.
• Clean your miter saw thoroughly after every use to increase its longevity.

FAQs

Bottom Line

The miter saw is the best tool that you can use to make cuts with different angles accurately. The only tricky part of the entire process is understanding the marking scale and the corresponding angles they will create.

We hope the detailed method that I discussed in this guide will help you understand how to cut a 45 degree angle using a miter saw. Just make sure that you ensure your safety while using this powerful tool and make it error-free before starting the cutting process.