Compound Miter Saws for Dummies

Compound miter saw

If you read through the bazillions of posts on eHow.com, you might come to the impression that almost everyone who searches the internet is looking for help in "troubleshooting" something. Well, at least the ones who aren't looking for porn or information about the Kardashians (those are different, aren't they?). The problem is that, if the seekers ends up at eHow, they're not gonna get much help. In fact, they're likely to end up finding junk like Patrick Nelson and his eHow.com post, "How to Troubleshoot a Compound Miter Saw."

We have no idea whether Nelson's ever used a compound miter saw (we have plenty staffers who have), but it's a pretty safe bet that his educational and experiential background – "professional writer" in the music trades – didn't prepare him to address the topic. That's apparent in his lack of familiarity with the tool...

"Compound miter saws can be used for multiple types of cut, including bevel cuts, crosscuts, freehand cuts and more."

"[A]nd more"? what's this "more" of which he speaks? And why doesn't he mention miter cuts, since that word's in the name? Patrick continues his introduction by explaining that

"Every cut needs to be set up properly with a square blade in relation to the fence, if you're using a fence. Other important prerequisites include a calibrated miter scale. Problems with a compound miter saw can include issues related to the motor, blade and mechanism. These kinds of problems can usually be pinpointed by troubleshooting." First, how can you even use a miter saw without a fence? or make "freehand cuts"? And second, what issues are related to what "mechanism"? Sheesh, here's a guy who has no idea what he's talking about... such as his advice about checking the brushes:

"Let the motor cool down and unplug the saw. Pull out the brush from under the cap and replace it if has less than ¼ inch of carbon on it."

Really? just "pull [it] out from under the cap"? what cap? For that matter, what's a "brush"? We bet Nelson doesn't know... he just cribbed the information from the owner's manual for a specific saw. Sigh. And then there's the rather bizarre statement,

"Adjust the depth stop if the blade hits the table."

Again, specific instructions for a specific miter saw; and it's a sliding miter saw, which is a different kettle of fish.

But what's missing, in its entirety, is troubleshooting the quality and accuracy of the cuts: no adjustment of the miter table, squaring the blade with the table or fence, calibrating the bevel setting -- nothing. And here Nelson thought he could get away with writing about an unfamiliar topic -- but noooooo! Patrick's reward for that is being named the Dumbass of the Day. So there.

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