Can A 10 Inch Miter Saw Cut A 4×4?

Can a 10 Inch Miter Saw Cut a 4X4 Stock

Are you a DIY woodworker? Well, at some point, you are going to be faced with working with a 4×4. You will want to cut a 4×4 without having to turn the wood at 90 degrees. Can a 10 inch miter saw cut a 4×4 piece of wood perfectly?

This is a question that is still a subject of debate among most DIY enthusiasts. You will definitely want the right answer to this question so that you can get it right with the size of a miter saw that you will buy.

A 4×4 piece of wood is usually about 3.5-inches high and 3.5-inches wide. If you are new in the woodworking industry, you need to know the right miter saw to use for each type of cut.

When it comes to miter saws, besides the size, the design of the saw also matters since it determines the cutting capacity of your tool.

Can I Use A Miter Saw Cut 4×4 In One Go?

There are people who use circular saws to cut through 4×4. However, using a circular saw seems like too much work. It’s also a little bit sketchy.

Using a miter saw gives you a cleaner and more square cut. Therefore, using a miter saw is a perfect choice.

A 10 inch miter saw will cut through a 4×4 piece of wood perfectly. However, you cannot cut in one go. If you are using a stationary saw, you will have to flip over the material and cut it from the other side.

If you want a miter saw that can cut through a 4×4 in one go, then a 10-inch size is not the ideal one.

If your budget can only allow for a 10-inch miter saw, then we would recommend that you buy a sliding type. A 10-inch sliding miter saw is designed to tilt its blade backward and forward.

This feature will give you more cutting capacity as compared to using a stationary 10-inch miter saw. Although a 10-inch sliding miter saw will give you a higher cutting capacity, it may not offer you the required torque to cut through 4×4 wood with a lot of ease.

This means that you will be constantly pushing your saw beyond its ability. Consequently, this will shorten its lifespan since the blades will not last long. You will have to change the blades more often.

Cut A 4X4 Stock Using A 10 Inch Miter Saw

Will A 12 Inch Blade Do a Better Job?

Definitely. A 12-inch miter saw will do a better job than a 10-inch miter saw. It can cut longer and thicker stocks. Regardless of whether a 12-inch miter saw is a sliding type or not, it will handle a 4×4 stock without any issues.

If you want a miter saw that you can use to cut through a 4×4 wood with just one go, then you are better off with a 12-inch type. 12-inch miter saws also have more teeth on their blades than the 10-inch type.

How To Cut A 4X4 Stock Using A 10 Inch Miter Saw

To get to work on cutting your 4×4 stock, besides your 10 inch miter saw, you need a pencil, protective goggles, a square and a pair of earmuffs.

You can follow these sets of instructions that we have put together so that you can have no challenges while using your miter saw.

  • Mark your Stock Accordingly

This is the first thing you need to do before you start making the cuts. You can use your pencil to mark your 4×4 stock with the measurements that you desire to cut.

  • Configure Your Saw

Once you have accurately marked your stock, the next step is to get your miter saw ready for the task ahead. Place your saw on a workbench and then set the angle of the blade to 90 degrees. You can confirm the accuracy of the angle using a square.

  • Position Your Stock

Turn on your saw and bring down the blades on your stock. Ensure that you do this gently to prevent your miter saw from suffering a kickback.

Since you are using a 10-inch miter saw, you cannot complete the cutting through just one cut, you will turn the stock to cut through the other sides.

See the below video for how to cut a 4×4 with a circular saw. Also, you can approach this similar to a 10-inch miter saw.

Conclusion

Can a 10-inch miter saw cut a 4×4 stock? If we were to answer the question straight away, the answer is yes.

But you will take several turns on the stock to cutting. Using a 10-inch miter saw to cut a 4×4 piece of wood if it’s not usually the recurring requirement to do this.

However, if you are a professional carpenter, then using a 10 inch saw will not be ideal. Since you will want to make clean and easy cuttings, a 12 inch miter saw would be the best tool to go for.

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