Einhell TC-SM 2131 Mitre Saw Review

Product Name: Einhell TC-SM 2131/1 Dual Drag Crosscut and Mitre Saw

Intended Use: It is used for cutting wood, plastic and laminated panels. It is highly effective thanks to the 240V setup with 1800 watts of power, an idle speed of 4900 RPM and its 210mm blade. It has a cutting width of 310mm at 90 degrees and 210mm at 45 degrees. It also does bevels left and right at 45 degrees.

I believe this is a great choice for beginners or serious DIYers for working on projects such as decks, fences and general purpose wood work projects and odd jobs.

Pros & Cons of the Einhell Drag

Comparison with Similar Saws

Just below we have compared the Einhell Dual Drag to the other best selling mitre saws in the UK. Hopefully this helps explain the key differences. Please note average prices are a snapshot in time and can change frequently. Always check any prices at the time of purchase for more accurate information.

We understand this is not an exact comparison. However, the point we are trying to make is that you may lose out on a few features with the Einhell, but the price difference is massive, a strong warranty and the customer satisfaction still remains strong. That explains why it is such a big seller.

The Key Features Explained

Just below we will explain the key features of the Einhell TC-SM 2131/1, and how they impact your experience and use.

Cutting Capacity

It is important to understand this before buying. If the saw is straight (90 degrees) you can cut widths of up to 310 mm. Once you change the angle of the blade the cutting width does get smaller. Just be aware of that as it can be important depending on what you are cutting. For example at a 45 degree angle the cutting width is reduced to 210 mm.

Many buyers get a saw that is too small. Make sure what sizes you are cutting before buying.

Laser Guidance

You don't need a laser line to make a cut but it helps. Most people will mark their wood with a pencil and draw a line and you should still do that. Some people also prefer the reassurance of a laser line to help them make a cut and this saw does offer that.

The big problem with laser lines is that they are not always 100% accurate. We would recommend using it as a guide only and concentrating on a drawn line is better. Draw a line in pencil using a square for the most accurate line.

Motor Size

You will hear engineers say that it is all about the motor and they are of course correct in saying that. The power of the motor will determine hos much stress the tool is under when working. The bigger the better is always the preference. A lot of mitre saws use a 2,000 watt motor and even larger for this purpose. The cheaper saws tend to use smaller 1,500 watt motors.

This Einhell one has a 1,800 watt motor which we think is just about right for home users. Most of us are going to be using this on a project for a while and then not using until the next one. In other words it is not getting constant use. If you plan on doing regular daily/weekly work then you should consider a better saw.

The All Important Blade

This saw is fitted with a 210mm blade that has 48 teeth. It is a good cutting blade that leaves a decent finish. You can use it to cut wood and plastic. If you are working on something like laminate flooring the finish is good. If you want a really smooth finish, then we would recommend getting a 210mm blade with more teeth.

Likewise the supplied blade is no good for cutting metal of any kind. You would need to buy a specialist blade for that type of work.

The Deck

This is where you set the wood that you want to cut. The deck is usually made of metal and should be level and flat. Check your saw when you open the packaging and if it isn't, then send it back is our advice. You can get some saws where this is not level and you will not be able to make straight cuts.

There is nothing that you can really do to fix this problem. A couple of people who had left reviews on this model of the Einhell saw did complain about this so is worth taking a closer look. For most buyers this was not an issue.

Clamps & Extensions

This is another grumble you will frequently hear about all types of electric saws including mitre saws. The clamp is usually just made too flimsy or a little short to properly grip the wood. The better quality mitre saws do use a ratchet style system to tighten and release the clamp. This TC_SM 2131/1 model has a short fixed clamp that needs to be manually turned and released. That's ok for a few cuts but becomes tedious if you have a lot of cutting to do.

The extensions allow the deck to be extended to hold longer pieces of material. There are a couple on this model and overall they do a good job. The important thing is to check they are aligned and if not, then make the required adjustments.

Dust Collection

As a general rule the dust collection on mitre saws is usually pretty awful. If you see a saw with a dust bag it is never going to work properly. The way we summarise this is simple. Wear a dust mask and live with the sawdust unless you are willing to hook up a shop style vacuum and seal the end.

You are cutting wood with a high speed blade and there will be lots of dust. We try where possible to work outside or in a garage or shed, wear a dust mask and use a vacuum to take away as much dust as possible.

The dust bag on this Einhell is no better or worse than any other brand.

Accuracy

We have quite deliberately left this feature to the last one. This is because it is the one that almost always generates the most complaints. People will have different opinions on the accuracy of a saw. Our opinion on this saw is it does need a little adjusting out of the box in terms of alignment.

That is easily done if you have something like a square and a screwdriver and socket set. All you are really checking is if the blade sits at 90 degrees to the deck. Most mitre saws might have been affected in transit so worth quickly checking this and adjusting if required. You will find plenty of videos on YouTube how to do this.

We found this model to be good enough, but a few buyers said they had to adjust so worth checking.

My Opinion