Craftsman Miter Box Saw

Craftsman's Miter Box Saw (CMHT20600) is a tool that, on paper, promises to deliver precise angled cuts for woodworking enthusiasts and DIYers. As someone who appreciates the value of hand tools, I was eager to test this miter box saw for a few small projects around my apartment. My experience with it, however, turned out to be rather mixed.

The miter box itself is made from a durable red plastic and comes with cam-shaped pins that twist and lock to secure your workpiece, which I found to be a thoughtful design feature. The box allows for cuts at 45° and 90° angles, and face angles at 45° and 22.5°, which should cover most common cutting needs for trim, molding, and other small woodworking tasks. Additionally, the box has an extended lip on its base for added stability, a built-in saw stop to prevent cutting into the miter box itself, and molded-in storage bins for the cam pins and a pencil.

Setting up the miter box was straightforward. I appreciated the multiple anchor points that allowed me to secure it to my workbench using clamps. This added stability is crucial when making precise cuts, and it’s a feature that many other plastic miter boxes lack. However, my initial enthusiasm began to wane as I started using the saw.

The first few cuts I made were clean and accurate, which was encouraging. However, as I continued, I noticed that the cuts became progressively less precise. The slot for the saw seemed to widen slightly with each use, allowing the saw to wobble and resulting in less accurate cuts. This was particularly problematic when I needed multiple pieces to be identical, as the variation in the cuts became more pronounced.

Another issue I encountered was with the saw itself. While the teeth seemed sharp initially, the saw started binding and catching on the plastic sides of the miter box. This not only slowed down my work but also resulted in the saw chewing into the plastic, creating a mess of red plastic shavings. The saw’s performance was inconsistent, and it often required a lot of effort to complete a cut, which was both frustrating and time-consuming.

One of the standout features, the cam pins, did help in securing the workpiece, but they were not as effective as I had hoped. For smaller, lighter pieces of wood, they worked fine. However, for larger or denser materials, the pins struggled to hold the workpiece firmly, leading to movement during the cut and further compromising accuracy.

Despite these issues, the miter box does have some redeeming qualities. It is lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around and store when not in use. For small, simple projects where absolute precision is not critical, this miter box can get the job done. For instance, when I used it to cut some cedar planks for lining a closet, it performed adequately. The cuts were not perfect, but they were acceptable for the purpose.

However, for projects that require a higher degree of accuracy, such as cutting trim or molding for a more visible area, the limitations of this tool become apparent. The flexibility of the plastic sides and the tendency of the saw to bind make it difficult to achieve clean, straight cuts consistently. Additionally, the saw is not tall enough to handle larger pieces like baseboards effectively, which limits its versatility.

The durability of the miter box is also a concern. After just a few uses, the saw had already started to wear down the plastic slots, making it even harder to achieve accurate cuts. This wear and tear suggest that the tool may not hold up well over time, especially with frequent use.

In conclusion, while the Craftsman Miter Box Saw has some useful features and can handle small, simple projects, it falls short when it comes to precision and durability. The plastic construction, while lightweight and easy to handle, is not sturdy enough to provide the accuracy needed for more demanding tasks. The saw itself is also a weak point, as it tends to bind and wear down quickly.

For those who need a miter box for occasional, light-duty use, this tool might be a cost-effective solution. However, for anyone looking to undertake more detailed or frequent woodworking projects, I would recommend investing in a higher-quality, metal miter box or a small compound miter saw. These options will provide better accuracy, durability, and overall performance, making them a more worthwhile investment in the long run.

Ultimately, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend the Craftsman Miter Box Saw for serious woodworking projects. Its limitations and lack of precision make it more of a temporary solution rather than a reliable tool for long-term use. If you’re in a pinch and need something inexpensive for a quick, simple job, it might suffice. But for those who value precision and durability, looking elsewhere would be the wiser choice.