Which type of miter saw protractor should I choose?

There are two different types of miter saw protractor and you need to consider the following factors:

• What will you use it for
• Where will you use it?
• If there are any additional features that will be useful to you

Below is a guide to help you decide which type of protractor is right for you.

Each miter saw protractor has the ability to determine angles for a single cut or miter saw and then transfer those angles to the miter saw. Some miter saw protractors have additional features to help you perform certain tasks.

When choosing a protractor, be mindful of the size of the room you will be working in, as some protractors can be more useful than others, such as a standard narrow-arm miter saw protractor.

Standard Protractors for Miter Saws

If you are looking for a basic miter saw protractor that measures single and miter angles, this type of protractor will suit you.If you often measure single and angle cuts in tight spaces, or if you often carry tools in your pocket, then a standard narrow-arm miter saw protractor would be especially ideal.

Protractors for combination miter saws

A more expensive option is the combination protractor, which performs the same tasks as a standard miter saw protractor, but with a few extra features.

These features include a roof slope scale, an optional dual scale protractor and a conversion table for making complex cuts when installing mouldings.

If you often use bevel and single cuts, work with roofs, or have a penchant for installing eaves, then a combination protractor will suit you.

Things to Consider

Although the standard miter saw protractor does not have the ability to create compound cut angles on its own, it can do so using a compound cut conversion table.

The table can be downloaded from the websites of some manufacturers.

However, when using a conversion table with these types of goniometers, you will either need to own or purchase another angle measuring tool.

This is because standard miter saw protractors cannot measure the spring angle when making compound cuts for crown mouldings. Combination protractors already contain a protractor with two scales that determines the angle of the spring.

If you were to buy a standard miter saw protractor, you would have to buy an angle gauge, which will cost you even more just to do this particular application.

It may be better to purchase a combination protractor if you are going to be making complex cuts, as this will save you money and time.