Cutting Quarter Round Without a Miter Saw: Easier than you think!

Even if you aren’t a professional woodworker, there may come a time when you need to make an angled such as when installing quarter round into your home.

The typical go-to tool for this type of project would be a miter saw — but what do you do if you don’t have a miter saw?

Don’t worry. You don’t have to run out to buy a miter saw. There are alternative options available to you. The most common and easiest alternative is a miter box and hand saw. Alternatively, a table saw can be used to cut quarter round as well.

What is a Miter Box?

A miter box is a tool that keeps your cuts true, both straight and at an angle. It is a pre-fashioned box with various slots cut into it.

These slots act as guides for your saw so that you can perfectly cut at 90-degree and 45-degree angles. You should be able to find a very affordable miter box at your local hardware store.

Pro Tip: Miter boxes are a great option for smaller indoor spaces because they minimize noise and sawdust since they are used with a hand-powered saw.

Miter boxes typically come in three different designs:

Molded Plastic: This is the typical miter box that you would find at your local hardware store, home center, or even on Amazon. Considered an entry-level box, this type is very affordable while being user-friendly.
Contractor Grade: If you are planning on using your miter box a lot, you may want to move to the next level and purchase a higher-quality model. A contractor grade miter box generally offers a wider spectrum of angles and is made from machined metal. The extra durability and strength allow you to do more with your miter box.
Fine Woodworking: If you are working on decorative pieces or cutting easily damaged wood, a fine woodworking miter box will be most appropriate. This is a smaller tool that is meant for stock that would be damaged if cut with coarser teeth or even a rotating power tool blade.

How Do You Cut Quarter Round with a Miter Box?

Using a miter box to cut quarter round is pretty straightforward. First, you will need to clamp down your miter box to your cutting surface to ensure that it is secure before doing any cutting.

Next, you will need to measure your cut — a carpenter’s square will do the trick — making sure to account for the long end of your miter.

Once you are secure and measured, you will place your quarter round in the box making sure to orient the piece appropriately for your cut. Clamping down your quarter round will ensure that your wood doesn’t shift while cutting.

Start by scoring your cut line at your pencil mark with a few light passes. When you are confident you are lined up correctly, you can add more effort, cutting through the wood.

How To Cut Quarter Round with a Table Saw

If you have a table saw in your workshop, you can use that to cut your quarter round. You will want to start with accurate measurements, marking your piece of quarter round at the spot you want to cut your angle.

A table saw is generally set up to cut at a 90-degree angle, but most can be adjusted to cut at other angles. There is usually a lever or wheel in the same area of your saw where you adjust the blade height. If you are unsure of where to find this lever or wheel, you should consult your owner’s manual. It is a good idea to do a couple of test cuts on scrap wood to ensure that you have the desired angle before working with your quarter round.

Pro Tip: Always use a crosscut sled or a sturdy miter gage that fits your saw, and make sure the quarter round is supported to avoid kickback or injuries.

A miter saw is a power tool that has a motor that rotates a saw blade to enable you to make cuts at high speed. In order for your cuts to be accurate and clean, the blade must be sharp and in good repair. A bad saw blade means bad cuts!

How a Miter Saw Blade Can Go Bad

Over time, your miter saw blade will go dull or even rust. If you live in an area with high humidity or extreme temperature swings, the blades can warp.

If your blade is bad, you will end up with ragged-looking cuts, or you may even burn the wood. So, how do you know if your miter saw blade is bad? Luckily, the key signs that your blade is on its last leg are easy to identify.

Below are six signs that it may be time to consider replacing your miter saw blade.

Wood Becomes Hard to Cut

If you are attempting to make some of your typical cuts and you notice that the miter saw is no longer powerful enough to get through, it may be a sign that your blade is bad. When your tool is struggling to cut through pieces of wood that use to be a breeze, the blade may be dull.

In addition, you may also notice that each of your cuts takes longer than it used to, or that you have to use more force to push the blade through the material. When your miter saw blade is in a good condition, it should slice through the wood like butter.

Wood Starts Chipping

Cutting across the grain of your wood with a bad miter saw blade can lead to chipping or tear outs. This is because the blade lifts up small pieces of grain as it exits the wood. When this happens, you will end up with ugly edges because there will be splinters at the cutting point.

Assuming your wood position is good, chipping is generally a sign that the miter saw blade either needs to be sharpened or needs to be replaced. A new one should once again give you nice, clean cuts.

Slowly Spinning Blade

A dull blade may result in a slower miter saw. If you notice that the blade rotation speed is significantly reduced when you are making your cuts, you may have a bad blade. Generally, a blade that is spinning slower causes more friction, thus your cuts are more difficult. This increased difficulty also puts more wear on the motor of your saw as it can cause it to overheat. You can even trip a breaker!

A Change in Sound

If you use your miter saw often, you are probably very familiar with the sound it makes while in use. Should this sound change, you may want to inspect your saw blade. A slower-spinning, dull disc will cause the saw to work harder. Thus, the sound from the motor will likely sound more labored.

Burn Marks on Wood

As mentioned above, a dull blade causes more friction when it is cutting through pieces of wood. In addition to being ragged, your cuts may also start showing burn marks on them at the point of contact with the blade. You may even see the wood smoking as it burns.

In general, the burn marks are easy to see making it a clear sign that your miter saw blade is bad. However, you can sometimes confuse burn marks with the contour of the wood, but you should still be able to smell the burnt wood scent. The odor is similar to that of burnt toast.

Missing or Discolored Teeth

A newly purchased saw blade has very shiny teeth that are very sharp. With use, the miter saw blade teeth may become dirty which can cause some of the issues mentioned above like burn marks or less clean cuts.

In addition to dirty teeth, your disc may be missing teeth altogether. Cutting something that is too hard or dropping your blade on a concrete floor can cause some of the teeth to break off. Not only will missing teeth mean substandard cuts, but it can also be dangerous to use a blade in this condition.

When should I change my Miter Saw Blade?

You should change your miter saw blade once you notice any missing teeth or damage to the blade. Most dull blades can be sharpened and continued to be used for a long time after they’ve dulled for the first time.

How to Keep Your Miter Saw Blade From Going Bad

If you want your miter saw blades to last, then you need to take proper care of them. While the act of using the blade will eventually mean it needs to be sharpened, there are a few things you can do to keep it from going bad longer.

First of all, you need to make sure that you are storing your blades in a location that is dry and doesn’t have too much humidity. In some climates, this may be easier said than done, but it will definitely keep your blade from rusting and warping if you can do so.

Secondly, you want to handle them with care. Of course, you know the blades are sharp and mishandling them can lead to injury, but dropping them or storing them carelessly can also lead to missing teeth. Blades should also be cleaned at regular intervals to keep dirt from building up on the teeth.

Many miter saw blades can have their life extended with a simple cleaning. Over time resin or similar materials can build up on the teeth of the blade and reduce the blades cutting ability. A simple cleaning will bring it back to life.