A compound miter saw includes a table on which a workpiece is placed, a miter
saw
unit supporting a saw blade, and a housing pivotally supporting the miter saw unit
related to the table in such a manner that the miter saw unit is at least laterally
pivotable. Further, the miter saw includes a bevel mechanism for selectively determining
the lateral position of the miter saw unit at any of a plurality of pivoted positions,
including a vertical position where the saw blade is positioned substantially vertically
relative to the table, and leftward and rightward pivoted positions where the blade
is inclined laterally leftwardly and laterally rightwardly from the vertical position.
The bevel mechanism includes a movable rod and three fixed stop members, the rod
being operable to move between a first rod position abutting one of the fixed stop
members and a second rod position not abutting the one of the fixed stop members
so as to permit the lateral pivotal movement of the miter saw unit. The first fixed
stop member is disposed so that the rod abuts the first fixed stop member when
the miter saw unit is at the vertical position. Similarly, the second fixed stop
member is disposed so that the rod abuts the second fixed stop member when the
miter saw unit is leftwardly pivoted at a first predetermined angle from the vertical
position. Further, the third fixed stop member is disposed so that the rod abuts
the third fixed stop member when the miter saw unit is rightwardly pivoted at a
second predetermined angle from the vertical position.