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Short On Time?

Our Recommended Best Sliding Mitre Saw Is The Metabo KGS216M!

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You can spend…

Hundreds, if not thousands on a sliding mitre saw. These tools are devilishly clever and angelically time-saving. So why should the big budgets have all the fun? We’ve examined some of the sliding mitre saws you can buy for under £200 and found the market is brimming with options.

For those looking at a mitre as a way into DIY and hobby craft, those already working in the industry who need a new mate, and the early adopters who want battery-powered everything, we have collated a list of the top 7 in the market.

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The Product Below May Be Currently Unavailable,

Our recommended alternative is The Evolution Power Tools R185SMS+!

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Evolution Power Tools R255SMS+

A bargain saw, as they all are in this guide, which can cut through wood and metal. The Evolution R255SMS+ has a Multi-Purpose blade as standard, a 2000 W motor, single bevel up to 45 degrees and -50 – +50 degree mitre settings. Evolution also offers a 3-year limited warranty if you purchase the mitre saw in the UK.

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Evolution Out of the Box

Straight out the box – the Evo needs a bit of assembly. The positive stops for a 45 and 90-degree bevel will likely need calibrating. A digital angle finder could be useful here, as well as a quick square.

Stickers coat the base, which is a bit annoying. The extra advertising space for Evolution products is a bit naff. It is best to take them off as soon as possible. They also don’t give you a truly flat surface to work on.

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You’ll also need to check the laser – which personally seems to be a bit of a gimmick. They do not really improve the cutting accuracy – as the line projected is not always in sync with where the blade is going to go. If you’re relying on a laser to do your measuring, you’re doing something wrong.

Evolution Multi-Purpose blades are only intended to cut mild steel without protective coatings. The tips are hand-welded in Japan, so there can be variances between each blade.

If you’re going to make fine cuts, the Evolution is not 100%, down to the millimetre accurate. There is potential for the blade to be a decimal point of a degree out of place. True mitre cuts might be difficult, you might get frustrated. when trying to make mitre cuts which use the full cutting capacity of the saw.

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Cutting About With the Evolution

The full cutting width is 300mm, this is applicable on full tilt mitre and bevel cuts. But the accuracy can waver minutely. So not ideal for ultra-fine cabinet making.

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Cutting metal is possible with the Evolution, but it should be done carefully and with the proper protection equipment – long sleeves and goggles are essential. It produces ready to welt cuts and if you’re on the standard blade it will deal with a few stray screws or nails.

You can also chew through concrete, brick, stone and unglazed tiles if you opt for the diamond-tipped blade- which is sold separately. As it stands the regular blade is tungsten carbide tipped, be aware that the Evo has an inch arbour for blades – not the more common 30mm.

This machine has some rather unpleasant vibration. If you’re working on tough stuff the vibration can shake the locking bolts out of position and send them flying off for you to scrabble around looking for. Additional clamps help with this though.

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The depth stop is manual and hand-turned. The stop needs frequent tightening. The locking nut is less than adequate, a better solution would be for two locking nuts. You can get to a depth of 80mm.

Weighing 15.3kg this is a good lightweight mitre. It works 230 V or 110 V – so you can take it to the site or use at home. The carry handles make it easy to cart upstairs, in and out of vans or onto the patio if it is a hot day. The cord is 3 meters long, so you won’t need loads of dangerous extension cord chains to reach your cutting station.

The measuring guide is useful, but only on one side of the fence. Your holding clamps are found the fence. The clamps can’t quite deal with some small diameter materials – it struggle to hold them. This is compounded when the vibrations kick in, which they’re prone to do when cutting metal.

R255SMS+ Conclusion

It can get through metal, it can get through wood. There may be sparks, there may be shards. But with proper PPE these are no issue – or indeed surprise. But doing two things in an ok-way isn’t what everyone is looking for. So while this saw has a small footprint and will get through a lot of stuff it isn’t for everyone.

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This saw is ideal for someone starting out and working with only thin and mild metals. If you’re looking for something to handle box tubing and beyond – look elsewhere. The Evolution R255SMS does not make the professional cuts necessary.

Evolution R255SMS+ Technical Specifications

• Weight – 15.3kg
• Dimensions – 73 x 70.5 x 36cm
• Voltage – 230 V (Domestic Use) or 110 V (Site Use)
• Power – 2000 Watts
• Blade Size – 225mm
• Blade Arbour – 25.4mm (1″)
• Integrated carry handles
• Laser guidance cutting marker
• Other: 3m cord length, dust port adapter and bag, multiple clamps, M5 and M6 dual-ended Allen key, slide rail protector, and instruction manual included.

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Metabo KG216M

German toolmaker Metabo have a range of mitre saws, their KG216M is a mid-range machine capable of cutting wood, but not metal, with a 1500 W motor and an 8″ blade. The standard blade has 40 teeth and cuts up to a width of 305mm. Mitre angles go to 45 degrees on both the left and right. The consensus on Metabo, as a less well-known brand, is that it is better than Evolution but not quite as good as Bosch, DeWalt or Festool.

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Cutting About with the Metabo

They might not, yet, have the recognition of a Makita, but the Metabo definitely gives the big brands a run for their money. The design is sleek and professional – German – and the build quality is second to none. At the price bracket, the only thing limiting the Metabo is the cutting capacity. Which lends itself more to the small, wooden side of things.

The Metabo has an average footprint for a sliding mitre, 82 x 42 x 38cm. For its size, it weighs a nice and light 13.5kg. You can hoik it about with no problem – Metabo even say its ideal for carrying with one hand.

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The cutting width is pretty large – 305mm – with all the angles of the mitre working along the range of this cut. That range is 45 degrees to the left and right. The cutting depth is 65mm -or 2.5 inches – so not as deep as the Evolution. Moreover, the cutting depth at 45 degrees shrinks from 65mm down to 36mm. Excluding it from standard sizes of timber, like 2 x 4, commonly used as rafters.

The motor is 1500 W and had a no-load speed of 5000rpm, and 3750rpm at its rated load. The German design plays out in the buttons and switches. All are clearly marked using colour – red means “I do something”.

The red-topped slide release allows you to slide the dual rails 305mm. These rails are pretty robust and roll on bearings – very smooth. There is a laser, as ever, which is powered through the mains – unlike some which take batteries – so you’ll never be without it – if you really like it. The laser is positioned at the front of the saw, away from any obfuscating dust. More useful than the laser are the triple LEDs positioned above the working area to illuminate your cuts.

What’s really high quality is the mitre table, made from die-cast aluminium. There are no dodgy stickers to remove, it is ready to roll. The red-handled switch released the table, which can turn up to 47 degrees in both left and right directions.

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Top Features of the Metabo

The Metabo has some features which set it apart from the rest. Namely the infinite extenders on the table supports. These are located on the left and right of the machine and include a length stop for accuracy. They are removable, so they can be done away with if you’re working on some particularly length floor or skirting boards.

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Metabo’s German engineering shines again on the dust extraction. There’s a dust scoop which feeds greater volumes of choss into the extraction port. Having a scoop means the debris is guided easily into the port and away into a bag. You can also hook it up with an extractor – Metabo make their own but other brands are available.

Controlling dust is essential in preventing some of the thousands of lung-related illnesses and deaths which occur each year in the construction industry, look after yourselves lads!

Metabo KG216M Conclusions

This is a fantastic saw at a fantastic price. Although it is only suitable for cutting wood, the accuracy and the power mean it will deal with all standard industry timbers. The downside is that you lose cutting depth when working at the biggest angles. This could be an issue for those working with larger diameter timbers – so it is best to assess what you’re going to use it for.

All things considered, the Metabo would be right at home with a keen amateur or a tradesmen who has considered his needs adequately. This machine could well be a future classic, so you’d do well to snap one up now as they’re still available.

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Metabo KGS216M Technical Specifications

• Dimensions: 760 x 475 x 340 mm (L W H)
• Weight: 13.5 kg
• Max. cutting width at 90° / 45°: 305 mm / 205 mm
• Max. cutting depth at 90° / 45°: 65 mm / 36 mm
• Max. cross-section of the workpiece:
  • Straight cut at 90° / 90°: 305 x 65 mm
  • Double mitre at 45° / 45°: 205 x 36 mm
• Turntable setting left / right: 47° / 47°
• Saw blade tilt left/right: 47° / 2°
• Saw blade ∅: 216 x 30 mm
• Rated input power S1 100%: 1200 W
• Rated input power S6 20%: 1500 W
• No-load rpm: 5000 rpm
• Rated rpm: 3750 rpm
• Cable length: 2 m

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Ryobi EMS190DCL ONE+

What is this? A cordless sliding mitre saw. The ultimate in portability or an underpowered gimmick? Ryobi are famed for their quality bench tools, and have branched out into a cordless range. They keep their Japanese quality and make it so you can take it anywhere.

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This thing looks fantastic. It looks futuristic. It is, unfortunately, under-powered. For most working sites this won’t be enough, I’m sure there is a niche reader out there who is gasping at the Ryobi as it has everything they want. But due to the battery power, it is unlikely to cut it for most of the industry.

Ryobi Out of the Box

Everything can be adjusted using the Allen key and screwdriver (combined) tool which is provided. It is stored behind the fence in a little grommet to stop it from escaping. You adjust the blade and the laser using this tool, it adjusts everything except the bevel angle zero stop – which requires a different Allen key for some reason.

This all-in-one ‘except for that one’ style of design clearly alludes to the consumer, not tradesmen, who is looking for an all-in-one tool. This tool weighs a ridiculous 7kg. It is especially easy to carry due to the ergonomic handle.

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Not all tables are created equally flat. The Ryobi is certainly amongst this number, but it is not outrageously so, merely millimetres from the same plane. This error can be found in even the most expensive saws, so it not something to worry about. Shim it or grind it if you’re really truly bothered by it.

There’s a laser, of course, and it will need aligning. There are better ways to do this and to be honest, it is just wasting battery life.

Cutting Up With the Ryobi ONE+

This cordless saw will handle mitre cuts up to 38mm but 108mm at 90 degrees. There are pre-set mitres, which can be rapidly clicked between, at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6 and 45-degree angles The bevel runs from 0-45 degrees, but does not have any presets.

As standard, the Ryobi comes with a thin kerf, twenty-four toothed carbide-tipped blade. Dust collection is vitally important, the extraction at least manages to get most dust away, to the back, of the saw. With little going forward or to the sides, or worse, just collecting on the table.

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What about the batteries?

The Ryobi batteries are compatible with their range of cordless tools. On a full, 18 V 2.4Ah battery you can hope to achieve 69 cuts of 4 x 1 timber. The 1.4Ah battery will do around 40. You will need to buy more batteries to get the most out of this Ryobi. Adding a few batteries and a decent, multi-battery charger can increase the cost. However, it is also worth considering batteries with an even higher Ah – around 4Ah- to get a good full day out of the Ryobi.

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Ryobi EMS190DCL ONE+ Conclusions

Would I recommend this saw? Not if it was my only saw, as a professional, I would need something else. If you’re looking for something to do neat little jobs, or if you’re a keen amateur DIY wood-worker, I would recommend the Ryobi. It is compact in footprint. And you can dis-assemble and re-assemble the whole thing quickly.

Ryobi EMS190DCL ONE+ Technical Specifications

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Bosch PCM 8

Bosch have a long and storied history of tool making. They’re a German beast with a lot of know-how. Their PCM 8 is a great compact sliding mitre saw, with Bosch quality at bevel cut prices.

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The Bosch offers a lot for those looking at a long term mitre investment. It has the quality to last at home and at work.

Out of the Bosch

You’ll be very surprised at the weight of the PCM 8, it weighs only 7.9kg, close to the Ryobi, and is capable of cutting width of 120mm and depths of 60mm. That’s the downside really, it doesn’t have the larger capacity of the Evolution or the Metabo. You’re stuck cutting the small stuff.

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However, if small stuff is your bread and butter, then Bosch have produced your wet dream. An interior fitter would be well matched to the Bosch PCM 8.

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Cutting with the Bosch

The Bosch PCM 8 has 1200 W motor and a 4800 rpm no-load speed. This powerful little thing can cut through roofing timbers and square timbers for fitting and carcassing like nobody’s business. You can bosch an extraction bag or pipe onto the Bosch to deal with dust extraction.

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If you’re laying flooring the Bosch is the perfect tool for finishing the job. Its compact size means it is easy to move around as you lay parquet or patios.

Horizontal mitre cuts can be made by turning the table left or right up to 48 degrees, this alters the position of the piece in relation to the blade. There are a series of common angles preset – 15, 22.5, 30 and 45 degrees – which automatically lock when turning the table. The maximum width of a workpiece when cutting 90-degree angles (straight cuts) is 120mm and at 45 degrees it is still a healthy 85mm, superior to some of the corded, heavier mitres we’ve reviewed.

There’s depth stops and adjustable clamps which operate very smoothly, look for the big red knobs and switches. Speaking of red, laser warning. There is a laser, it’s pretty bright but will need calibrating! It could be helpful for those still getting to grips with the finer points of a mitre cut, but pros will know.

Bish, bash, Bosch?

The PCM 8 is a darling bit of kit. It is lightweight and portable, like the Ryobi, but comes with a decent cord length so you won’t run out of charge or room. There’s a healthy cutting depth even when extended to full mitre cutting capacity. I can’t see how those in the know, would like to go without the PCM 8 for too long. It would make an excellent cabinet-making mitre saw too.

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Bosch PCM 8 Technical Specifications

• Power: 1200 W
• Dimensions: 48 x 41 x 29 cm
• No-load speed: 4800 rpm
• Blade diameter: 216mm
• Cutting capacity at 0/0 degrees: 60mm x 210mm
• Cutting capacity at 45/0 degrees: 60 x 85mm
• Weight: 7.9kg
• Comes with working clamp, wood blade, dust bag

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Einhell UK TC-MS 2112

Einhell’s daring red colour scheme belies a very intriguing machine. At a ridiculously low price, you can have a double bevelled, deep cutting, wide rotating, mitre cutting compound saw. What’s the catch?

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Out of the Einhell Box

Einhell have made a high-quality mitre saw, with a highly mobile saw head. The blade will tilt ‘infinitely’ to the left and has work fences on both sides for smooth cuts.

The table is solid die-cast aluminium and has a precise turntable motion with exact angle adjustments. There are several preset locks at commonly used angles. A clamp is built in the secure workpieces before cutting. At the rear is a dust extraction point which can be used with many different systems, or the included dust bag.

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Einhell ship the TC-MS with a quality carbide tipped saw blade. It is perfect for use on plastics, wood, laminate panels. But users should not indulge in any metalwork. It is unlikely that the mitre has a powerful enough engine to get through even mild steel. Changing the blade though, is easy with the spindle lock.

Cutting Around With the Einhell

The Einhell has impressive accuracy and range for its price. The angles for cutting mitres and bevels are generous, and they do not reduce the depth or width greatly when at their maximum. The saw is lovely for using in small work. What’s also tiny is the size of this mitre. It’s got one of the smallest footprints I’ve seen considering the blade size. Not only is she small, but she is very, very light. Weighing 7.1kg once it is out of the packaging.

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Einhell or Einheaven?

The Einhell is a remarkably cheap mitre saw. It has a decent capacity for width and depth. The price is so damn appealing I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new hobby, though professionals will likely be unimpressed by its durability and longevity – at least it is super lightweight!

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Einhell TC-MS 2112 Technical Specifications

• Voltage: 230 V
• Power: 1400 W
• No-load speed: 5000 rpm
• Blade size: 210 mm
• Blade arbour: 30 mm
• No. of Sawteeth: 48
• Swivel range: -45 to +45 degrees
• Mitre Angle: 0 – 45 degrees
• Dimensions: 465 x 324 x 295 mm
• Weight: 7.1kg
• Cutting width 90° x 90°: 120 mm x 55 mm
• Cutting width 90° x 45°: 80 mm x 55 mm
• Cutting width 45° x 90°: 120 mm x 32 mm
• Cutting width 45° x 45°: 80 mm x 32 mm

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Lumberjack SCMS254DB

This Lumberjack mitre saw is a force to be reckoned with. Coming with a 10″ blade you can cut widths of floorboards easily, and with 89mm of depth to the cut, you’ll be getting through rafters like hotcakes. Having a 2000 W motor doesn’t hurt either.

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Lumberjack is a British company, aw, and are based in the West Midlands. They’re selling more and more overseas but you’re unlikely to find spares and repairs easily if you’re reading from the Continent.

Cutting Like a Lumberjack

The double bevel action lets you work whichever way suits you best. The sliding cut will yawn open to swallow floorboard and push back through them with ease. The 45-degree angles in both directions for the mitre cuts add to the versatility of the Lumberjack. The table is solid, though doesn’t feel as quality as the Metabo and definitely not as good as the Bosch. The levels are again slightly out, so you’ll need to shim if you’re making very precise cuts.

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Lumberjack have a laser cutting guide on the machine. The line is projected on to the work area, but is quite useless in bright conditions. If anything some nice LED spotlights would do better to improve the accuracy of cuts and measures. When it comes to sliding mitres the action of the arm is crucial. Will it degrade over time? Will I need to maintain it or find repairs? Although it feels well built, Lumberjack does not have the extensive repair and support network you’d get with Bosch or Makita.

There’s minimal set up with the Lumberjack, some tuning and calibrating is required but this is done with the included tool – a two-in-one Allen key and screwdriver. Lumberjack do their best to make a good impression with an extensive set of accessories.

They include some length extender supports to smoothly cut long pieces. There is a solid work clamp. A large bag for dust extraction and some spare mechanical parts.

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It’s Lumberjack and it’s ok?

The Lumberjack is a fair mitre saw, for a fair price. It will appeal to those who need a bit more power, but don’t have a huge budget. The range of Lumberjack tools is growing but adoption in the industry is still slow. For those looking for a mitre saw to use at home this mitre saw is probably a good buy, but those looking for a powerful friend for the site will be best looking at something else.

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Lumberjack SCMS254DB Technical Details

• Power: 2000 W
• Voltage: 230 V
• Blade Diameter: 254mm
• Arbour Diameter: 30mm
• No-Load Speed: 4500 rpm
• Straight Cut 0° x 0° : 305 x 89mm
• Bevel Cut 0° x 45° (Left and Right) : 305 x 38mm
• Mitre Cut 45° x 0° (Left and Right): 216 x 89mm
• Compound Cut 45° x 45° (Left and Right): 216 x 38mm
• Angle Auto Stops (Left and Right): 0°-15°-22.5°-30°-45°
• Tilt Stops (Left and Right) : 0° to 45°
• Weight: 17kg

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Von Haus 1500W 8″

The VonHaus compound sliding mitre is filled with features and has an eye-catching design and finish. That clear as day safety flap won’t stay like that for long though. This is the mid-sized version of what is essential Von Haus’ scalable mite saw. There’s a bigger version and a smaller version. But what stands out about the 8″ 1500 Watt mitre?

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Cutting Around with Von Haus

This mid-sized model can make 220mm wide cuts at a depth fo 70mm when going straight down. But if you want to get fancy and throw some mitre cuts you’re going to hit some issues I think. Making a 0 degree by 45-degree cut will cut you down to 220mm by 35mm (not the decrease in the depth of cut, not the width). And making the maximum 45 by 45 cut you’re chopped down to 155mm by 35mm.

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The lasers included on the Von Haus are bright enough but will require a little calibration if you really want to play.

Aside from this little check, the Von Haus can be used straight out of the box. After a few test cuts, you’ll see if you need to make any radical adjustments, but in general they seem to ship intact and raring to go.

Von Haus pack in a few accessories too – a dust bag, requisite Allen wrench, wood clamps and two extension bars for handling long lengths. The design is incredibly well-executed, folding down to a titchy 58 x 43 x 31cm.

The cable is lengthy – 2 meters – sitting in that spot where you’ll not trip over it and you won’t be rapidly adding extension cables as you move across the floor you’re laying. This is a smaller mitre saw, despite being VonHaus’ middle child, and you can tell this when you’re looking at the loss of depth on larger angled mitre cuts.

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The blade provided is an 8″, 210mm, tungsten carbide tipped affair. However, Von Haus do not sell their own blades. Which is a blessing as it means you get to choose from the dazzling array out there.

Von Haus Conclusions

Although Von Haus are not a big bad name in the tool industry. This compound sliding mitre has some excellent potential for a DIY fanatic or someone making their first steps into the joinery business. What we can’t attest to is how long this thing will last. There’s an element of the middle aisle at Aldi or Lidl to this thing which will definitely put off the established woodworkers and carpenters amongst us.

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Von Haus 1500 W Technical Specifications

• Voltage: 220 – 240V
• Power: 1500W
• No-load Speed: 4500 rpm
• Blade Diameter: 210mm
• Blade Arbour Diameter: 30mm
• Max Cutting Depth: 70mm
• Straight Cut Capacity: 220 x 70mm
• Mitre Cut: 45° Left: 155 x 70mm
• Table Angles: 45°
• Folded Size: L58 x W43 x H31cm

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Our selection of mitre saws

It doesn’t end here. We’ve considered the biggest and best brands, those specifically without a cord for ultra-mobility, the top players in the game and those just starting out.