Home Improvement Skills & Specialties Tools & Materials

Hand Miter Saw and Box: Uses, Tips, and How to Use

Cutting with Manual Saw and Miter Box
Sabine Thielemann / EyeEm / Getty Images

A hand miter saw and box combo may not be found in all homes or workshops, but maybe they should be. At around $15 to $20, this manual tool duo packs a mighty punch. Cut wood at precise angles. Wrap trim or baseboards around a corner. Cut a piece of crown molding. Hack off a dowel rod or a one-by-two. When you're done, shake off the dust and store the pair away on a shelf. Find out what a hand miter saw and box combo is used for, how to use it, and some of its limitations.

What a Hand Miter Saw and Box Combo Is

A hand miter saw is a specialty handsaw, also known as a backsaw, that has a reinforced spine along the back to keep the blade rigid during cutting. It is nearly always used with its companion tool: a miter box. But it can be used as a standalone tool, if needed.

A miter box is a three-sided plastic or wood tool with two open ends for inserting the work material. Vertical slots in the miter box allow for the wood to be cut at 45 degrees, 22-1/2 degrees, and 90 degrees.

Hand Miter Saw and Box Variations

Beyond the basic hand miter saw and box are two variations that make projects go easier: clamping miter boxes and variable angle miter boxes.

  • Clamping boxes: Plastic or wood pegs can be inserted into any of the holes at the base of the miter box to assist with holding the work material in place. You'll still need to hold the material by hand, but the clamps substantially help.
  • Variable angle boxes: Some hand miter boxes have beds that variably adjust to almost any angle you want to cut. These saws have brackets that hold the saw blade vertically during cutting. These boxes are used for precise miter cuts such as for fine craftwork, picture framing, or for cabinetry work. 

How to Use a Hand Miter Saw and Box

  1. Clear the Box

    If the miter box has been used before, clean out the miter box's slots by tapping it upside-down or by quickly using a shop vacuum. Stray dust can impede the cutting.

  2. Place the Material in the Box

    Place the work material in the miter box. Before cutting, make sure that the material is placed correctly. It is easy to become disoriented once the work material is away from the installation area.

  3. Clamp the Material (Optional)

    For miter boxes with a clamping feature, insert two pegs into the base of the box, as close to the material as possible. Then, twist the pegs 90 degrees to further tighten them.

  4. Insert the Saw in the Box

    Insert the saw in the miter box's slot. Let the blade rest on the material. Make a final check that this is the correct angle, then slowly push the saw back and forth. At first, just let the weight of the saw create the initial groove.

  5. Cut the Material

    Backsaws cut on the pull stroke. Use only light downward pressure as you draw the saw toward you. Release the pressure when returning the saw to the forward position for the next stroke. 

  6. Finish the Cut

    With your free hand, hold the material firmly on the base of the miter box. If the material moves at all, the miter cut will not be smooth or straight. You can assist your free hand by using a spring clamp.

Hand Miter Saw and Box Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Inexpensive

  • Easy to store

  • Precise

  • Simple

  • Safe

Cons
  • Shaky

  • Binding

  • Limited angles

  • Small material only

  • Not durable

Pros

  • Inexpensive: A hand miter box with a backsaw can cost as little as one-tenth of the cost of a power miter saw. For casual do-it-yourselfers who cut miters only occasionally, a hand box and saw is usually a better option than an expensive power miter saw.
  • Easy to store: Even if you have a small house or condo, it's possible to have a hand miter saw and box on hand.
  • Precise: A power miter saw can lose its alignment with the material, especially when the tool is first activated. Hand miter boxes and backsaws can cut with greater precision, making them especially good for fine craftwork, such as creating picture frames. A manual miter saw has fine teeth that are excellent for cutting fine moldings without chipping or roughness.
  • Simple: If you need to make just a few basic cuts, setting up and plugging in a big, heavy power saw isn't worth the trouble, especially if you have limited space and need to stow it away when not in use.
  • Safe: Minor injuries are the most you can expect when properly using a hand miter saw. Power miter saws, by contrast, are capable of causing major injuries such as the loss of limbs.

Cons

  • Shaky: Because hand miter boxes are lightweight, they are difficult to hold still. They are especially shaky when cutting hard materials.
  • Binding: The miter saw often wants to cut into the miter box as much as the work material.
  • Limited angles: Hand miter saws and boxes are limited to just a few angles. Electric miter saws can be adjusted to any angle between 0 and 180 degrees.
  • Small material only: With a power miter saw, you can take on those large pieces of wood—even four-by-fours and two-by-eights. With a hand miter box, this is not possible.
  • Not durable: The slots in miter boxes can get chewed up if the saw is not held properly. Even when the saw is held properly, the slots will widen after enough time.

Tips for Using a Hand Miter Saw and Box

  • Miter saws and boxes are prone to cinching up, so the trick is to keep the saw vertical and to move the saw slowly and deliberately.
  • Clamping, screwing, or otherwise mounting the miter box to a solid surface can reduce the shaky movement of a lightweight model. A portable workbench or lumber on a pair of sawhorses works well for this purpose.
  • Avoid cutting large lumber pieces, such as two-by-fours. Not only will the fine teeth on the backsaw take a long time to cut the lumber, but the miter saw will also wear out quickly. Reserve the hand miter box for cutting light wood such as trim.
  • For extra help when cutting crown molding and other shaped pieces, use a miter box with a clamping feature. This holds the work material steady so that you can concentrate on the cutting.
  • Sharpen the blade regularly. Backsaws need to be very sharp to cut accurately, so have yours sharpened frequently or replace it when it becomes dull.