So you got the miter saw, but it doesn’t come with a stand. Before you decide which one to get, figure out what you actually need. Many Pros move toward wheeled stands that make transportation simpler. But what about options like the Milwaukee Folding Miter Saw Stand?
There are no wheels and it’s not as sexy on the surface as the round steel tubes you find on gravity rise designs. Those steel tubes also tend to provide plenty of rigid stability to match the ease of use. But Milwaukee’s looks a little more like a glorified sawhorse. But as if Lee Corso himself were here to say it: Not so fast, my friend!
The simple appearance gives way to a pretty clever design that some Pros are going to love.
Editor’s Note: Check out our best miter saw article for our top recommendations.
Top Features
Easy Locking Legs
Each of the legs locks independently when the stand is folded up. To unlock them, just press the trigger on each one as you pull it out. It’s not as quick as a gravity rise stand, but it is a simple, easy process. When you fold the stand back up, the legs will slide over the locks on their own. Grab hold of the handle and you’re off to the races.
Solid Wing Support
Support wings come out to both the left and right to give you up to 100 inches of reach. A thumbscrew locks it in place. The wings slide easily and the screw locks them securely, but the metal-on-metal connection will likely leave some blemishes pretty quickly. It’s a jobsite tool – are you really worried about surface scratches?
The top of each wing support has a pivoting stop so you can make multiple cuts of the same length without remeasuring every time. If the material is longer than the support, just swing the stop down and out of the way.
There is a bit of a negative here. The support ends lock down with just a single thumbscrew that leaves some play – so perfectly accurate repeat cuts might be a challenge. A second thumbscrew on the opposite side would help lock it down better. Also, if you set the stand down on its side or top, it’s not difficult to torque these out of being square. Those of you on the more conscientious side may want to remove them during transport.
Universal Compatibility
I’ll go further into the clamping system in a moment. For now, know that there’s a lot of versatility in length between mounting points, both forward/back and left/right. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a miter saw that won’t fit on the Milwaukee Folding Miter Saw Stand.
Optional Accessories
There are a couple of extras you can buy to go with the stand and both are pretty helpful. First up is the shoulder strap. It clips to point on the far left and right of the frame. The best way to use it is to run the strap over your head so it comes across your chest and swing the stand parallel to the ground. We had to let it out pretty far to get it right. In this position, it’s fairly easy to move around the jobsite, especially when you have to take the stairs.
The side table is a must-have for me. I’m still a pencil and notebook kind of guy, and I like having both next to me at all times. During a project, the notebook is where I keep my measurements. Yes, I have a smartphone—I’ve gone through many, actually – but I just like having my notes written down where I don’t need electricity to access them.
The side table has a big win with the recessed area. It’s great for keeping your pencil from rolling away on you or for holding smaller hand tools and fasteners. There’s also a point of “maybe we should rethink that,” though. Being both metal and black means this table gets HOT quickly. Here in Central Florida, we might be able to cook breakfast on it during the summer!
Design Intent
One of the first things you need to realize when you look at the Milwaukee Folding Miter Saw Stand is that you’re not supposed to carry it with the saw attached. Trust me, we tried just for the sake of the argument. It doesn’t end well.
The saw mounts on two clamps with a couple of helpful key design features. The first is that you can lay out just the supports without having them attached to the stand. That makes adjusting them to the saw much easier.
Second, the brackets don’t require a nut – just the bolts and washers, so it’s not as awkward to tighten down.
Installation Tip: When you install the supports, make sure the long end is to the back of the saw so you can properly line up the miter saw’s table to the support wings.
Once you have the clamps installed on your saw, you lift the assembly onto the stand, use the handle triggers to open the locking mechanisms, pull the saw forward until the back end slips into place, let the front end drop-down, and release the triggers.
Pro Tip: You can buy additional stand clamps if you use more than one miter saw. Simply install a set on each one, say a M18 Fuel 10″ miter saw for big jobs and an M18 Fuel 7-1/4″ miter saw for trim or punch list work. Then, just take the saw you need to the jobsite without worrying about bringing a second stand.
So the entire purpose of this design is to make a system that moves to and from the job as separate parts instead of one rolling piece of equipment.
Who Benefits from This Design?
There are Pros from all areas of the construction industry who might find a setup like this advantageous. But the real winner is the solo contractor. Unless you have a trailer that you can roll your miter saw in and out of, separating the saw and stand makes a lot of sense. It takes two trips, but your back will thank you in the long run. Of course, if you’ve got someone else working with you, you can enjoy the support of the shoulder strap and they can carry the heavy saw. Or vice versa if you’re a nice guy. This design is also a huge benefit if you’re taking your saw up the stairs on a new construction or remodel.
The Bottom Line
Not everyone will see the Milwaukee Folding Miter Saw Stand as a big win. If you’ve got some extra muscle to get the saw in and out of the truck or roll it in and out of the trailer, you might be in better shape with a rolling gravity rise stand. But for the contractor that works alone even part of the time, separating the weight of the saw and the stand makes a lot of sense. It’s an awfully long day if you start by throwing out your back.
You’ll have to decide if you’re willing to lift the weight of your miter saw, though. There are some 12″ models that I have zero desire to lift on my own. On the other hand, several 10″ and compact miter saws do beautifully in this scenario.
Despite its sawhorse-esque look, there’s enough weight in the aluminum structure to be stable and there’s an adjustable leg to give you some leveling help, so don’t let that dissuade you.
Let’s talk price. The stand on its own is $199, the strap is $14.99, and the table is $24.99, so you’re in around $240 for the whole shebang. You can get rolling gravity rise stands in that price range, so this isn’t a matter of picking a cheaper option. It’s really about whether you need to carry your saw and stand separately as a preference.
That said, other premium stands similar to this design are right in the ballpark, so you’re not paying a premium for the Milwaukee name. What Milwaukee is bringing to the table is several pounds of weight loss without sacrificing quality and stability to get it. Plus, you get access to an optional strap and table to make it a more versatile stand.
Milwaukee Folding Miter Saw Stand Key Features
- Mounting brackets work with all brands of miter saws
- Lightweight aluminum construction for easy portability
- Compact folding design for easy storage
- Supports up to 500 lbs off main beam
- Extends to a maximum of 100″ to support large workpieces
- Quick and easy adjustments for fast setup and tear down
- Accepts Milwaukee Miter Saw Stand Table Top Accessory
- Adjustable foot for leveling on uneven surfaces
Milwaukee Folding Miter Saw Stand Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 48-08-0551
- Length: 43.5″ – 100″
- Width: 27″
- Height: 32″
- Load weight capacity: 500 lbs
- Weight: 31 lbs
- Price: $239
