Choosing between a miter saw and a circular saw for my deck frame

I was building a small deck in my backyard and had to pick between buying a miter saw or just using my old circular saw. I went with the circular saw and a simple jig for the angled cuts to save about $200. It took me an extra afternoon to get all the angles right, but the frame is solid. Has anyone else tried this for a deck project and found a good trick for the cuts?

4 comments

4 Comments

logan_wells3mo ago

Honestly, the real win is not having to move a miter saw around on the ground. My back thanks me for using the lighter tool every time.

brianm663mo ago

Totally get what you mean, @logan_wells. I used to wrestle my old 12-inch sliding miter saw off the bench and it was a beast. Now I keep a smaller, lighter one on a rolling stand for quick cuts on trim jobs. My back doesn't ache at the end of the day, and I can actually lift it with one hand to put it in the truck. That little bit of saved effort adds up big time over a whole week.

the_margaret3mo ago

A rolling stand is a total game changer for that.

leo_black761mo agoTop Commenter

My dad was a carpenter for forty years and his whole body is just worn out now. I see guys my age getting smart about this stuff early, like using a lighter saw or a rolling stand. It's not just about the tool, it's about making the job fit you instead of breaking yourself for the job. You see it with knee pads, good boots, anything that saves your body over the long run. That small choice to save your back today means you can still do this work in twenty years.