Best Chop Saws & Miter Saws

ProsDry cuts metal up to 2×2Vise is easily releasedUser protection featuresLow heat, low sparksNo lubrication of motor bearings neededGreat saw for weldersConsBit NoisyCostBest Feature: Dry Cut for Metal Cutting metal is always an intense operation, with a lot of noise, a lot of sparks, a lot of action and maybe a little bit of doubt as to whether the attempt will be successful. But with this Evolution Power Chop Saw, you can allay those concerns.

Oh, you’ll still get the noise, a few sparks and action, but the doubt will be gone. With a 15-horsepower motor, spinning a 14 or 15-inch blade at 2400 RPMs, this chop saw is going to cut pretty much anything you lay in its vise.

It will cut up 2 x 2 mild steel (also known as low carbon steel) and many other materials (wood, aluminum, etc.) with ease, creating less heat, fewer sparks and faster, cleaner results.

Pros15-Amp Motor @ 4000 RPMsQuick-Fence quick adjustmentKeyless blade changeAdjustable spark guardGood durabilityConsStart-up draws excessive ampsBest Feature: Quick Blade Change This powerful chop saw by DeWalt comes with a 15-amp motor, generating 5.5 horsepower and a no-load maximum 4000 RPMs, so plug it in and watch the blade spin. It will cut angles up to 45° and take on all sorts of wood, from dinky quarter-round to pressure treated 4 x 4s or even a bundle of steel wall studs.

A sturdy vice holds lumber in place during the cut, and the fence is quickly and easily adjusted for the various angles, using a patented “Quick Fence” feature.

Okay, so it’s not technically a chop saw (more on that here) but it’s one heck of a saw if you plan on doing more than just a few simple cuts. We won’t discuss Milwaukee as a brand because we’ll assume you already know how great their reputation is. But we will discuss this M18 Fuel Chop Saw which is an absolute powerhouse.

The first thing to note about this miter saw is that it’s one of the best portable chop saws on the market. Weighing only 45 lbs., it’s light enough that you can carry it like a lunch box with its built-in handles on the top and side. Powered by a high-demand 18V battery (sold separately), it’s cordless and can cut up to 400 cuts before needing to be recharged.

Although that’s a lot of cuts, you might want to carry an extra battery pack around just in case, since there’s no option for an adapter to plug the saw in. There’s no lack of power with this saw and many cannot tell the difference between this cordless miter saw and a corded miter saw. Its brushless motor provides up to 4,000 RPMs and cuts through just about anything you can throw at it.

ProsDry cuts metal up to 2×2Vise is easily releasedUser protection featuresLow heat, low sparksNo lubrication of motor bearings neededGreat saw for weldersConsBit NoisyCostBest Feature: Dry Cut for Metal Cutting metal is always an intense operation, with a lot of noise, a lot of sparks, a lot of action and maybe a little bit of doubt as to whether the attempt will be successful. But with this Evolution Power Chop Saw, you can allay those concerns.

Oh, you’ll still get the noise, a few sparks and action, but the doubt will be gone. With a 15-horsepower motor, spinning a 14 or 15-inch blade at 2400 RPMs, this chop saw is going to cut pretty much anything you lay in its vise.

It will cut up 2 x 2 mild steel (also known as low carbon steel) and many other materials (wood, aluminum, etc.) with ease, creating less heat, fewer sparks and faster, cleaner results.