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If you are woodwork professional or simply a carpenter, a miter saw is one of the machines that you use in your workshop.10 inches vs 12-inch miter saw is a debate that many professionals have involved themselves in but that does not have a clear answer yet because different projects may require different performance capacities.
There are various options out there, with a great variety to choose from based on models, brand, price, among many other factors. Miter saws also vary when it comes to size. Check out this comparison to help you understand the difference between these two.
Difference
While the 12-inch miter saw boasts power and greater cutting capacity, its 10-inch counterpart is a lovable baby for its variety of blades and their availability. Likewise, the latter provides faster and smoother results thanks to the fact that its blades spin faster than the 12-inch blade. They also differ in cost, with the 12-inch miters seen emerging as the most expensive one between them.
While both of these saws function in the same way, there are several differences between them, some of which do not require you to be a professional to realize. It is these differences that can help you figure out which one to choose between the two for your project. For instance, as much as a 12-inch miter saw is larger than the 10-inch version, it does not mean it is better.
10-inch Miter Saw
The Good
One of their most notable strengths against the 12-inch miter saws is that they are faster. This miter saw has a smaller radius than its 12-inch counterpart. This is why it spins faster than the 12-inch miter saw. Faster is better since it means the blade cuts through the materials quicker and is more precise at it, leaving behind smoother edges behind too.
Also, since the blade is shorter, its chances of wobbling while running is very minimal and lesser than a larger blade. You will get a higher quality cut from a 10-inch miter saw than from a 12-inch miter saw. That is for sure.
In terms of cost, you are in a better position to incur less cost with a 10-inch miter saw than you would with a 12-inch miter saw. That is because they are also easier to find. Since they are the most common on the market, you will have less stress in terms of cost too.
Their spares are easier to find than those of their 12-inch counterparts even if not by far. And you will not have to invest so much in searching for them like you may have to with the 12-inch miter saw.
In terms of price, it is cheaper too. Even after you have hustled to find the 12-inch miters saw, it will still be very expensive. On the contrary, the 10 inch is easier to find and quite affordable.
From the initial purchase to buying new blades later or sharpening the old blades, the 10-inch machine is kinder to people’s bank accounts. It even consumes less electricity, amounting to lesser power bills.
And if you need a machine that will take up a lesser workspace in your workshop between these two, go for the 10-inch one. It is designed to be space-economical than the 12-inch machine. Because of its smaller size, it is also easier to carry from one place to another, which makes it the more portable option here.
The Bad
Its cutting capacity is way less than that of the 12-inch blade. Anything with a thickness above 4×4 is too much for a 10-inch blade to cut more swiftly and effectively.
So as you can see, there are certain projects that a 10 inch can do but a 12 inch can do way better. Also, it is not great for larger projects. Its performance will diminish as the project advances.
YouTube Video Credit Canadian Tire
12-inch Miter Saw
The Good
Just when you are tempted to think that the 10-inch saw is winning in all corners, 12-inch enters with a boom. Hold that thought just a little bit. The 12-inch miter saw might just retaliate hard.
Among its most notable strengths, large-scale projects can only survive and even be performed excellently with this machine capacity. Do not forget the unwavering power kicked out by its 15-amp motors.
It can also handle larger projects no matter how extensive they are. That is why they are a better match for larger workshops. It is also ideal for cutting larger materials and will still be durable no matter how tough the materials are. It cuts through plywood in ways that a 10-inch miter saw cannot. It is the only one that can be used to cut down laminated lumber into small bits.
It is also more durable. Its size and ruggedness contribute significantly to its long-lasting nature. Think of it as a hefty workhorse and the 10-inch miter saw as the master of precision. Its durable natures work well for the huge amount of tough projects that this machine can tackle.
The Bad
Just like we have seen above, some of the disadvantages of this machine are that it consumes a lot of energy, and that will leave you with a lot of electricity bills to pay. However, this degree of power consumption is justified considering the tough projects that it completes. Considering the blade size, it may wobble easily if it has a problem. Also, it is less precise.
Final Verdict
This 10 inch vs 12-inch miter saw comparison find both of these power tools very important in different capacities. The 10-inch saw is more precise and is suitable for smaller cutting projects while the 12-inch miter saw would do an excellent job in large-scale cutting and cutting thicker and tougher materials.
What may make the 12-inch miter saw emerge as the winner is because it can be fitted with a 10-inch blade and produce a better performance than if you used an actual 10-inch miter saw.
