Miter Saw Rip Cut – How to Do it the Right Way (2021)

Do you want to know the truth about the miter saw rip cut? A Miter Saw Rip-Cut is a cut that is made at an angle across the wood grain, in order to create a shorter piece of lumber.

This technique can be used on boards and plywood with ease, but may not always work for larger pieces of timber. In this guide, we will discuss if it is possible to make a proper miter saw rip cut.

Besides that, I’ll also explain how to do it efficiently without ruining the workpiece or damaging your mite saw. In addition to this, I will give you some tips for making successful rip cuts every time!

So without any further ado, let’s get started and make sure to read this article to the end.

Is it Possible to Rip-Cut with a Miter Saw?

One of the primary functions of a Miter Saw is to make rip-cut cuts. However, this may not always be possible for every workpiece and saw blade combination.

The first thing you need to consider before making any type of cut with your miter saw is whether or not it will actually fit on the table surface.

If there’s no room left (or if you’re trying to use a large piece), then unfortunately we can’t make a Miter Saw Rip Cut without some help from other tools!

If you are able to get past that step though, then read on – I’ll show what kind of blades should be used in order to successfully complete the task at hand.

How to Choose your Miter Saw for Rip Cutting?

Now that you have learned that you can actually use your miter saw to rip cut. However, there are still a few things you need to know. First of all, you will have to select the right type of miter saw for rip cutting.

Let’s take a look at the different miter saws and their features to see which one will work best for your needs.

Basically, there are three types of miter saws.

miter saw rip cut

If you are looking for a saw mainly for ripping the wood then a single bevel miter saw will work best for you. If you have a budget and can afford the compound miter saw then I would highly recommend it.

However, that’s only one feature and the major thing to keep in mind is the size of your miter saw. A large miter saw will allow you to cut through a piece of wood in one go. However, the downside is that it can be quite difficult to maneuver.

If there are many tight corners or tricky angles then I would recommend getting a small-sized compound miter saw. It is because they offer better control and movement over much tighter spaces.

I personally have a 12 inch Dewalt miter saw and I am quite happy with it. It works like a charm on almost any kind of project and it hasn’t disappointed me yet.

If you don’t know which miter saw to get for ripping the lumber then I would recommend going for the 12-inch sliding compound miter saw from DeWalt.

Choosing the Right Blade for Ripping the Wood

If you want to rip the wood with a miter saw then it is important that you choose the right blade for this purpose.

A general-purpose blade will be good enough but if your project requires a cleaner and smoother cut, then I would recommend getting an 80 tooth carbide-tipped blade from Bosch or Diablo.

Otherwise, just use any standard 40 teeth blades like Makita’s DMS20160GCTP40T Blade or Bosch 1420sz1480t Carbide Tipped Sawblade.

Once you have selected the right blade for your miter saw you will have no issue while rip cutting the wood with the miter saw.

Tips for Miter Saw Rip Cut

Here are a few tips that can help you in finishing the project. Keeping the following points in mind will help you rip the wood more efficiently using your miter saw.

  1. When cutting, make sure to keep your fingers on the other side of the fence guard.
  2. Do not extend any part of your body off either side of the saw blade if you are making a rip cut with a miter saw
  3. Always wear safety goggles or glasses when operating machinery such as power tools and never operate them without wearing protection for at least one eye.
  4. Never wear any loose clothes, neckties, or long hair when operating machinery.
  5. Wear slip-resistant footwear for added safety and balance
  6. Do not stand in front of the wood being cut if you are making a rip cut with a miter saw as this can cause injury to your lower body
  7. Always make sure that when using a straight edge guide there is no gap between the blade and the board so it doesn’t touch any part of your hand while ripping through on one side. Make sure to keep fingers out from either end of the fence guard before cutting.

How to Rip-Cut with a Miter Saw?

Here is a step-by-step approach to ripping wood with a miter saw. I am assuming that you have selected the right miter saw and mounted the right blade before starting.

This section will help you understand how to approach the project and get better results.

– Use your straight edge to mark a line on the board that you want to cut.

– Hold the wood firmly against the fence and lock it down with one hand. Be careful not to touch any part of the blade or get fingers in front of it while cutting because this can cause injury.

– Make sure there is no gap between where you are holding the piece and where you start ripping from, as well as nowhere for your hands to go should they slip away when starting up the saw (i.e., keep them out from either end).

Now be ready – use both hands together so that one side controls speed while the other controls guiding accuracy: “Put your right hand’s thumb near but not at or on the saw’s lever and use it to push down on the left side of the board”.

Hold onto some part of your wood (a fence or a hold-down guide) so that you can pull back with your right hand if need be in order to keep control over how deep into/through the saw blade.

– Pull the saw back so that you’re not touching anything and then use your right hand’s thumb to push down on the left side of the board while using your left hand to hold it in place.

Repeat this process with a small piece or two before going for a long cut—this ensures any “kinks” are out of the system.

– Slowly bring the blade up until it is flush with where you want to start ripping from (against one end). If done correctly, there should be no gap between what you are holding and where you will rip from because if there is space, your hands could slip away when starting up the saw which can lead to injury.

Now keep both hands together: “Put your right hand on top of the left and then slide your right thumb in between them, taking out as much slack as you can”

– Slide your hands apart from each other to start up the saw. The blade should now be flush against what you’re holding onto with a small gap, but not enough that it will lead to an accident if there is slippage.

If done correctly, this process should have made the rip go all the way through without any “sawdust” being created at either end—just one continuous line down both sides of what used to be two boards.

To clean things off after finishing a cut: *Use compressed air (from a compressor) or knock away dust with your arm.*

Final Words

If you are a complete beginner then you may have several questions in your mind regarding the miter saw rip cut. I have explained everything in detail in the above article.

You can use your miter saw for ripping the lumber. However, there are a few things you need to ensure before working on such kinds of projects.

The first thing is to make sure that you are using the right type of miter saw. Ideally the bigger the saw the easier will be the process. However, bigger saws are usually limited when it comes to maneuverability.

Apart from that, make sure you have equipped the right blade for the job. It will help you a lot when it comes to finishing the project with maximum efficiency.

If you have any questions regarding the miter saw or any other power tools feel free to let me know in the comments. Besides that, if you want to add something to this article feel free to share your ideas.

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