what mitre saw size for straight cut 2 x 4 and 45 degree cut 2 x 4?

[benny1532]

I am looking to get a mitre saw for my shed. I’m in the UK which means our choices for size are basically 185mm, 210mm, and 255mm for blade size.

I basically just need it for cutting 2x4s at straight/cross cut and at a 45 degree (but not bevel) cut.

Can the 210mm (8.25”) blade do this reasonably or do I need to get the 255mm (10”) blade?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I do cuts up to about 6-1/2 x 2in on a 216mm DW mitre saw. I can do 2-1/2in thick on it, too

 

[benny1532]

I do cuts up to about 6-1/2 x 2in on a 216mm DW mitre saw. I can do 2-1/2in thick on it, too

Thanks for the quick response. That’s helpful.

Is it sliding or fixed? And are you talking just straight cuts or the diagonals on a 2x6 as well?

 

[foxhole]

Big is best

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Sliding and I do make mitre cuts. As to "big is best", there speaks a man who's never spent weeks on a site lugging a chop saw stand and vacuum round from location to location, often several moves each day, doing snagging or catch up work when it wasn't actually necessary to have even a 10in/250mm saw (on modern 2nd fix work not really needed most of the time). Your back gets very old, very fast lugging even a 10in/250mm saw about, let alone a 12in/300mm one