The Affordable Tool That Belongs In Every DIYers Back Pocket (Anyone Can Use It)

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If you're doing crafts or DIY around the home and yard, then sooner or later, you're going to need to cut material at an angle. Often, this needs to be accurate so the edges meet properly and there aren't any ugly gaps. If you're working with store-bought lumber, then a miter saw is ideal and one of the tools worth investing in to start woodworking at home. However, you'll certainly pay upwards of a hundred bucks for one, and if you're cutting narrow trim, moldings, trunking, etc., those big, noisy machines are overkill. On the other hand, trying to cut precisely with a handsaw is tricky even for those with a lot of skill.

There is one affordable tool that will often do the job, and it is one of the devices and supplies that every DIYer needs to own. They are called miter shears. They are a bit like heavy-duty scissors, but with a cutting plate that has a precision guide attached. Anyone can use them. You simply set the guide in the required angle (usually anywhere from 45 degrees to 135 degrees), lock it in place, hold your workpiece against it, and squeeze to cut. Miter shears come in a variety of sizes, some small enough to slip conveniently into a back pocket. Prices start at under twenty bucks for the popular Towot Miter Shear Cutter available from Amazon. For a few bucks more, you can get one with replacement blades included.

Miter shears can be used to cut leather, PVC and other plastic, rubber, plus quarter-round and other softwood moldings. All of the materials you would use for decorative trim, trunking, and weatherstripping. The scale on the miter shears is engraved so it won't wear off, and comfortable handles ensure a firm grip. They can be used right- or left-handed, and although it will depend on the size of the tool and the material, they can usually cut widths up to approximately 1½ inches.

They won't usually cut through hardwood (unless it's very thin), and they can't cope with metal. They won't cut glass, but then neither will most saws. You need a specialist tool for that. As noted, there is a limit to the thickness of material they can slice through. Being mechanical, there's also the question of how much physical pressure you can bring to the task.

There are a bunch of genius tips for creating the perfect miter cut, but quite a few assume you are using a power saw. There will certainly be times when those tools are the best way to achieve the joint required. However, for small jobs around the home and craft projects that need neat angles, miter shears are affordable, accurate, and easy to use.