Table saw vs miter saw vs chop saw: which one do you need?
A table saw rips boards and sheets. A miter saw crosscuts and cuts angles. A true chop saw cuts metal. Compare specs, safety and which to buy first.
Hub
Saws & cutting
Browse guides by topic and find the next step for your project.
This hub helps you cut a material cleanly with the saw you have, or pick the saw you need. It covers saw types, blades and discs, and step-by-step methods for wood, metal, tile, drywall, plastic and more.
A bad cut is most often the wrong blade, not the wrong saw. Tooth count, blade type and speed matter as much as the tool. So the guides are grouped two ways: by saw, and by the material you're cutting.
How to pick a guide:
- Buying a saw? Start with table saw vs miter saw vs chop saw. If someone said "buzz saw," read what is a buzz saw.
- Cutting tile? See how to cut tile without a wet saw.
- Cutting metal? Read how to cut 1/4-inch steel plate and the metal guides.
- Using the wrong saw on purpose? Check first. Can you cut drywall with a circular saw explains why that one is rarely the best choice.
Each cluster starts with one main guide. Material pages link every cutting guide for that material.
Safety basics for this job
- Keep the guard working. OSHA requires guards on portable circular saws. Never pin or tie a lower guard open.
- Unplug it or pull the battery before you change a blade. A bumped trigger can start the saw.
- Control silica dust. Tile, stone and concrete give off silica dust when cut. OSHA's rule calls for water or dust collection on most of these saws.
- Protect your eyes and ears. Wear safety glasses for every cut, and hearing protection for long or loud jobs.
Start here
How to cut tile without a wet saw (4 methods, ranked)
Cut tile without a wet saw: score and snap for straight cuts, nippers for curves, an angle grinder for thick porcelain, an oscillating tool for notches.
How to cut 1/4-inch steel plate at home
Cut 1/4-inch steel plate with an angle grinder, a metal-cutting circular saw, a plasma cutter, a torch or a hacksaw. Which tool to pick and how to use it.
Can you cut drywall with a circular saw? You can, but you shouldn't
A circular saw cuts drywall but fills the room with gypsum dust. See when it makes sense, how to do it safely, and the faster score-and-snap method.
What is a buzz saw?
A buzz saw is a circular saw: a power saw with a round, toothed blade. Learn what people mean by it, what it's used for, and how it compares to other saws.
Topics in this hub
Types of saws
Table, miter, chop, circular, band, jig and track saws: what each one cuts and which to buy.
Blades & discs
Tooth count, kerf and blade types for circular saws, recip saws, jigsaws and angle grinders.
Cutting tile
Cut porcelain and ceramic tile with or without a wet saw, including outlet holes.
Cutting by material
The right tool and blade for steel, aluminum, acrylic, fiberglass, laminate, drywall and more.
Technique & fixes
Straight lines, clean circles, square miter cuts, and how to stop kickback and burning.
All saws & cutting guides
What is a portable band saw used for?
A portable band saw cuts metal pipe, conduit, strut, rod and angle cleanly, with few sparks. See what it cuts, how big it cuts, and which blade to fit.
Table saw vs miter saw vs chop saw: which one do you need?
A table saw rips boards and sheets. A miter saw crosscuts and cuts angles. A true chop saw cuts metal. Compare specs, safety and which to buy first.
How to cut plexiglass with a circular saw
Yes, a circular saw cuts plexiglass. Use a fine carbide triple-chip blade, clamp the sheet under a straightedge, leave the film on and feed steadily.
How to cut aluminum: sheet, tube, angle and bar
Cut aluminum with a non-ferrous carbide blade, a metal jigsaw blade, a fine hacksaw or snips. Pick the tool by shape, then clamp, wax and deburr.
How to cut a circle with a jigsaw (or a router)
Cut a round circle with a jigsaw: mark it, drill a start hole, use a circle guide and a narrow blade. Plus how to cut plexiglass circles without cracks.
How to cut 1/4-inch steel plate at home
Cut 1/4-inch steel plate with an angle grinder, a metal-cutting circular saw, a plasma cutter, a torch or a hacksaw. Which tool to pick and how to use it.
Corded vs cordless miter saw: which one should you buy?
Corded miter saws never run out of power. Cordless ones go anywhere. Compare runtime, weight, cost and cut capacity, and see which fits home use.
Can a miter saw cut metal or aluminum?
Most wood miter saws can cut aluminum with a non-ferrous blade, but not steel. See which saws can cut mild steel and why an abrasive wheel is a no.
Brushed vs brushless tools: what you actually get for the money
Brushless tools have no carbon brushes, so they waste less battery and run cooler. Makers claim up to 50% more runtime. When it's worth paying more.
What is a trim saw and when would you use one?
A trim saw is a small 4-1/2 to 5-3/8 inch circular saw for light cuts in trim, plywood and sheet goods. See what it cuts, its limits and when to use one.
What is a panel saw?
A panel saw cuts big sheets of plywood, MDF or acrylic into parts. Learn how vertical and sliding-table panel saws work, plus the handsaw of the same name.
What is a buzz saw?
A buzz saw is a circular saw: a power saw with a round, toothed blade. Learn what people mean by it, what it's used for, and how it compares to other saws.
What blade to cut up a hot tub (and how to do it safely)
Cut up an old hot tub with a reciprocating saw: long demolition blades for the frame and foam, abrasive blades for the fiberglass shell. Safety first.
How to sharpen a diamond blade (dress it, don't grind it)
A diamond blade that stops cutting is usually glazed, not worn out. Dress it with a few cuts in a soft abrasive. Steps for tile saws, grinders and more.
How to remove tile from a concrete floor (and the thin-set under it)
Chisel tile off a slab with a rotary hammer, then grind the thin-set flat for the new floor. Plus the asbestos check and silica dust rules to follow first.
How to cut tile without a wet saw (4 methods, ranked)
Cut tile without a wet saw: score and snap for straight cuts, nippers for curves, an angle grinder for thick porcelain, an oscillating tool for notches.
How to cut laminate flooring without a saw
No saw? Cut laminate planks with a laminate cutter, a utility knife or an oscillating tool. Which method fits each cut, plus gaps, door jambs and pipes.
How to build a hot saw: parts, rules and safety
A hot saw is a racing chainsaw built around a big one-cylinder engine. See the parts, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS rules, the real risks and safer ways to start.
Can you cut drywall with a circular saw? You can, but you shouldn't
A circular saw cuts drywall but fills the room with gypsum dust. See when it makes sense, how to do it safely, and the faster score-and-snap method.