Miter saw with wear plates and orientation system therefor

A miter saw comprising:

• a base;
• a table rotatably secured to said base;
• a detent system disposed between said table and said base, said detent system releasably holding said table in at least one position relative to said base;
• and
• a locking mechanism disposed between said base and said table, said locking mechanism movable between a first position where said table is locked to said base, and a second position where said detent system releasably holds said table to said base and a third position where said table is free to rotate relative to said base.

A device for performing working operations on a workpiece, said device comprising:

• a base defining a plurality of first and a second shoulders;
• a table rotatably secured to said base;
• a plurality of generally planar wear plates disposed between said base and said table, each of said plurality of wear plates forming a wear surface and a non-wear surface disposed opposite to said wear surface, with said plurality of wear plates further defining a first end and a second end;
• and
• means for orientating each of said plurality of wear plates with respect to said base, said orientating means comprising said first ends of said wear plates having a first shape corresponding with said plurality of first shoulders on said base and said second ends of said wear plates having a second shape corresponding with said plurality of second shoulders on said base, wherein said first shape is different from said second shape such that proper orientation of said wear plates occurs only when said wear surface faces said table.