Miter saw station height is an important part of setting up a comfortable work station. If you use your miter saw often, or you plan to start a big project in the near future, you may be considering a miter station or stand for your saw. Inevitably, the question of height arises. How tall should a miter saw stand be?
The answer — as it is so often — is it depends. The right height of a miter station comes down to the height of the operator: you! The ideal height of a miter saw stand is the height that is comfortable for you. Too low and your back will likely ache, too high, and it could be equally uncomfortable to use. For reference, most workbenches range somewhere from three feet to four and a half feet high.
The miter saw is used for making simple angled cuts, but using the saw without a good stand or station (such as just plopping your saw on the ground) can lead to sloppy work. You can lose accuracy and speed while using the miter saw without a stand.
What to Look For When Purchasing a Miter Saw Stand Or Station
To ensure that you are getting the best miter station for your workshop, you need to consider five key factors: stability, versatility, weight capacity, durability, and portability. Let’s look at each of these factors individually:
Stability
A good stand will be very stable. You should not notice any wobbling, vibrating, shaking, or shifting no matter what type of material you are cutting. Stability is not just about accuracy of cuts either. A miter station that shifts while you are using it is very likely to lead to serious injuries.
To be sure that your stand is stable, you will want feet with rubberized grips or wheels that lock. If you can’t test out a model in the store, a good way to see how it handles is to watch review videos on line. Find someone using their miter saw on the stand and watch carefully for any shaking or shifting while the reviewer is cutting.
Versatility
Being able to adjust your station allows you the versatility to not only accommodate your saw, but it should also allow you to get the miter saw stand at the perfect height for your comfort. If your height is on the far ends of the spectrum, you may need to look into a more custom option, but for those of average height, a versatile stand should accommodate your needs.
In addition to suiting your height needs, versatility also allows you to use the stand with miter saws of various sizes. Since there are plenty of different brands and models of miter saws to choose from, you want a miter station that will easily fit whatever model you happen to own. A versatile stand is also an excellent choice for the woodworker that has multiple miter saws of varying sizes. There are universal-style stands that can be used with a wide range of miter saws. (This is also a great option for when you upgrade your tools!)
Weight Capacity
The capacity of a miter station refers to the weight of the saw that it can support. On average, a miter saw stand will be capable of supporting saws somewhere between 300 to 700 pounds. It is important to remember that the max weight on the stand also includes the weight of the wood that you are cutting. For example, if your station has a weight capacity of 300, your saw can’t weight 300 pounds on its own because then there is no capacity for your project!
Durability
Your miter saw is a hefty tool, and as such, it can produce a great amount of force. To withstand this force, you will need your miter station to be durable. While a flimsier stand may be more budget friendly, it will likely be unstable thus making it unsafe for use. Look for stands made from a reliable material like steel that have an ample weight capacity.
Portability
Finally, the last aspect you should consider is the miter stand’s portability. This factor will heavily rely on your woodworking needs. If you only complete projects in your own workshop, then a heavy-duty stand without much portability will be perfectly suitable. However, if you need to take your saw to various jobsites or even just to different spots in your own house, a more light-weight and portable model will be more appropriate.
The Ideal Miter Saw station Table Height
Everyone’s idea of the perfect miter saw table height will be specific to their own needs. However, if you ensure that you can stand comfortably with your project and saw controls within easy reach, you will have found the ideal height for you! If you don’t know where to start with your miter station heights, you can go with a popular stand height of 43” and work up and down from there.
