My latest DIY mission is to make simple wooden frames for my wife's burgeoning art collection. Cutting anything at that elusive 45-degree angle is tricky at the best of times. Professional framers often use the Morso Guillotine, but for my more humble needs I found the Ryobi EMS-1426L mitre ideal: I could make a basic frame that we could stretch a canvas over. I had been making do with a cheap £45 job from the local DIY store but it seems you get what you pay for. So what does the Ryobi offer for the extra cash? A laser beam, for one. It takes the guesswork out of guiding the blade into the right place, whatever angle you select. The slice is accurate, clean and fast; the machine can cut wood up to 135mm thick. The saw's large teeth coped easily with my plain pine but would not suit delicate gilt frames.

Changing the angle is simple and the guides allow for easy positioning of the wood. Safety-wise, a plastic hood covers the blade until it reaches optimum speed and is lowered. A small bag at the rear collects most (but not all) of the sawdust. Set-up wasn't quite as simple as expected, so bank on about 40 minutes to get it up and running. However, the proof of the Ryobi's success is the supply of pristine, right-angled frames that now grace my wife's studio.

Hero's verdict: Four stars

Ryobi EMS-1426L 254mm (10in) mitre saw with laser: £119.99 www.ryobipower.co.uk

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