Metabo HPT 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw, 15-Amp, Single Bevel, C10FCG2

Why it's worth it

A 10-inch single-bevel compound saw that weighs 24 pounds and includes a shadow-line cut indicator, a 40-tooth blade and a clamp. It doesn't slide and it doesn't bevel both ways, but it cuts clean and it's easy to carry up basement stairs.

Most home projects are crosscuts and simple miters on boards under six inches wide, and this saw does those well. The 15-amp motor spins to 5,000 rpm, the miter range runs 0–52° in both directions, and the bevel goes 0–45° to the left. Picture frames, shelf stock, 2x4s, deck balusters, quarter round — all straightforward. Owners repeatedly note it arrives square and needs little adjustment.

At 24 pounds, this is the only saw here you can carry with one hand. That's not a small thing. If your workshop is a corner of the basement or a spot on the driveway you set up and break down, a 60-pound slider becomes a reason not to start the project. This one comes off the shelf and goes back with no ceremony.

From our review of 7 miter saws for woodworking and home shops, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +Most home projects are crosscuts and simple miters on boards under six inches wide, and this saw does those well
• +At 24 pounds, this is the only saw here you can carry with one hand
• +The Xact Cut shadow line is unusual at this price
• +Metabo HPT covers it with a five-year warranty, which is longer than most saws in any price class

What to know

• –Single bevel means crown molding and compound cuts require flipping the workpiece and thinking carefully about which end is up
• –No slide, so your crosscut width is limited to roughly what a 10-inch blade reaches in a chop