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11
Support long workpieces using any convenient means such as sawhorses or similar devices
to keep the ends from dropping.
CUTTING PICTURE FRAMES, SHADOW BOXES AND OTHER FOUR-SIDED
PROJECTS
To best understand how to make the items listed here, we suggest that you try a few simple
projects using scrap wood until you develop a “FEEL” for your saw.
Your saw is the perfect tool for mitering corners like the one shown in Figure 13. Sketch A in
Figure 12 shows a joint made by using the bevel adjustment to bevel the edges of the two
boards at 45° each to produce a 90° corner. For this joint the miter arm was locked in the
zero position and the bevel adjustment was locked at 45°. The wood was positioned with
the broad flat side against the table and the narrow edge against the fence. The cut could
also be made by mitering right and left with the broad surface against the fence.
FIG. 13
FIG. 14
ANGLE “A”
CUTTING TRIM MOLDING AND OTHER FRAMES
Sketch B in Figure 12 shows a joint made by setting the miter arm at 45° to miter the two
boards to form a 90° corner. To make this type of joint, set the bevel adjustment to zero and
the miter arm to 45°. Once again, position the wood with the broad flat side on the table
and the narrow edge against the fence.
The two sketches in Figure 12 are for four side objects only.
As the number of sides changes, so do the miter and bevel angles. The chart below gives
the proper angles for a variety of shapes.
- EXAMPLES -
NO. SIDES ANGLE MITER OR BEVEL
4 45°
5 36°
6 30°
7 25.7°
8 22.5°
9 20°
10 18°
(The chart assumes that all sides are of equal length.) For a shape that is not shown in the
chart, use the following formula. 180° divided by the number of sides equals the miter (if the
material is cut vertically) or bevel angle (if the material is cut laying flat).
CUTTING COMPOUND MITERS
A compound miter is a cut made using a miter angle and a bevel angle at the same time.
This is the type of cut used to make frames or boxes with slanting sides like the one shown
in Figure14.
NOTE: If the cutting angle varies from cut to cut, check that the bevel clamp knob and the
miter lock knob are securely tightened. These knobs must be tightened after making any
changes in bevel or miter.
The chart (Table 1) will assist you in selecting the proper bevel and miter settings for common
compound miter cuts. To use the chart, select the desired angle “A” (Figure 14) of your project
and locate that angle on the appropriate arc in the chart. From that point follow the chart
straight down to find the correct bevel angle and straight across to find the correct miter angle.
Set your saw to the prescribed angles and make a few trial cuts. Practice fitting the cut
pieces together until you develop a feel for this procedure and feel comfortable with it.
Example: To make a four-sided box with 26° exterior angles (Angle A, Figure 14), use the
upper right arc. Find 26° on the arc scale. Follow the horizontal intersecting line to either side
to get miter angle setting on saw (42°). Likewise, follow the vertical intersecting line to the top or
bottom to get the bevel angle setting on the saw (18°). Always try cuts on a few scrap pieces
of wood to verify settings on saw.
VERNIER SCALE
Your saw is equipped with a vernier scale for added precision. The vernier scale allows you
to accurately set miter angles to the nearest 1/4°. To use the vernier scale follow the steps
listed below.
(As an example, let’s assume that the angle you want to miter is 24-1/4° right).
1. Turn off miter saw.
2. Set the miter angle to the nearest whole degree desired by aligning the center mark in
the vernier scale, shown in Figure 15, with the whole degree number etched in the miter
scale. Examine Figure 16 closely; the setting shown is 24° right miter.
FIG. 15
MITER
ANGLE
CENTER MARK ON VERNIER SCALE
ALIGNS WITH DESIRED WHOLE ANGLE
ON MITER SCALE (24° RIGHT MITER)
KERF PLATE
FIG. 16
1/4° VERNIER MARK ALIGNS WITH
CLOSEST WHOLE DEGREE MARK ON
MITER SCALE (24-1/4° RIGHT MITER)
3. To set the additional 1/4°, squeeze the miter arm lock and carefully move the arm to the
RIGHT until the 1/4° vernier mark aligns with the CLOSEST degree mark on the miter
scale. In our example, the closest degree mark on the miter scale happens to be 25°.
Figure 16 shows a setting of 24-1/4° right miter.
For settings that require partial degrees (1/4, 1/2, 3/4°) align the desired vernier mark with
the CLOSEST degree mark on the miter scale, as described below (The plastic vernier plate
is inscribed with marks for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1°. Only the 1/2° and the 1° are numerically
labeled.)
WHEN MITERING TO THE RIGHT
To increase the miter angle when mitering to the right, move the arm to align the appropriate
vernier mark with the closest mark on the miter scale to the right. To decrease the miter