Accurate miter tip - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**Gus Dering** · 11-05-2009, 07:27 PM

This is an easy trick for a fast and accurate miter.

In this first pic you can see that I scribed the piece for length and moved the mark up on top of the stick.
That plywood ripping is slightly wider than my work piece and will use that in the next pic

Now I cut partially through the plywood and don't let the thing move afterward.

There is my saw kerf to line up my mark with. Just don't spaz out and move the ripping while you line up the work piece.

Then just cut it. Works fast and easy. And if your eye ain't what it used to be, it's a whole lot more accurate. Enjoy.

WarnerConstInc. · 11-05-2009, 07:31 PM

That Omga doesn't have lasers???
My cheap kapex has dual ones. (never liked lasers untill now)

Good tip Gus, sometimes those little things slip right past people.

CookeCarpentry · 11-05-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gus Dering

Just don't spaz out...

That is one handy piece of advice no matter the project or circumstance.

Warren · 11-05-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

That Omga doesn't have lasers???
My cheap kapex has dual ones. (never liked lasers untill now)

Good tip Gus, sometimes those little things slip right past people.

I will buy a saw with a laser when the laser actually cuts the wood.

WarnerConstInc. · 11-05-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren

I will buy a saw with a laser when the laser actually cuts the wood.

I am officially over sneaking up on a cut now.

KMac · 11-05-2009, 08:10 PM

Damn that's slick! Thanks Gus!

**Gus Dering** · 11-05-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

That Omga doesn't have lasers???
My cheap kapex has dual ones. (never liked lasers untill now)

Good tip Gus, sometimes those little things slip right past people.

Next thing ya know you are gunna want a robot to cut stuff for ya.

Who do you think you are George Jetson?

Where the heck is my jetpack anyway? Thought we would have those by now

KennMacMoragh · 11-05-2009, 09:57 PM

I don't get it

I never have a problem cutting miters though. I find they just take some planning, you go about it differently depending on what you're building.

O.k I get it now, it's so you can see where the blade is going to cut. I use my speed square, but I guess that works.

WarnerConstInc. · 11-05-2009, 09:57 PM

Robot, you mean a CNC?

**Gus Dering** · 11-06-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

Robot, you mean a CNC?

Yes, Warner, the proverbial "Hard Stuff"

You can paint yours green if you want.

basswood · 11-06-2009, 06:38 PM

Hey Gus,

The method you show is similar to how I use my "auxiliary fence and table set up". You did a nice job of showing how to get very accurate miters. It also has the benefit of being zero clearance, so no "exit wounds." Clean cutting.

Many trim carps use fairly sloppy reveals (3/16" +or- 1/16", so they never dial in the accuracy. Your method does help bring the accuracy of trim carpenters into the tighter tolerances of the cabinet makers... which is where they should be.

Cheers,

Bass

WarnerConstInc. · 11-06-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gus Dering

Yes, Warner, the proverbial "Hard Stuff"

You can paint yours green if you want.

I would end up making a bunch of 'Chrome Naked Lady's' out of Azek if I had a CNC!!

WNYcarpenter · 11-06-2009, 07:34 PM

Thanks gus

....

I switch between a chop box and a slide on site. I prefer the chop box (smaller, lighter), but it's hard to line up the tooth/mark like I do with the slide....

**Gus Dering** · 11-06-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswood

Hey Gus,

The method you show is similar to how I use my "auxiliary fence and table set up". You did a nice job of showing how to get very accurate miters. It also has the benefit of being zero clearance, so no "exit wounds." Clean cutting.

Many trim carps use fairly sloppy reveals (3/16" +or- 1/16", so they never dial in the accuracy. Your method does help bring the accuracy of trim carpenters into the tighter tolerances of the cabinet makers... which is where they should be.

Thanks Bass,
I was mitering nosing pieces for the counter top in that cnc video. I have been doing things this way for a long time and it dawned on me that there would be some guys that would benefit from this simple technique. The back up on the cut is a good thing too.

No big deal but it sure does help when your eyes are shot and you can't afford one of those fancy ass green saws with the laser guided blade.

Cheers,

Bass

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

I would end up making a bunch of 'Chrome Naked Lady's' out of Azek if I had a CNC!!

Nice

Send me the dxf and I'll cut your prototype.
If that is out of your reach then just pose like those chicks on the mud flaps and have your wife snap the shot. I'll take it from there.

**framerman** · 11-06-2009, 09:07 PM

I started doing that about 3 years ago. I just thought it up and assumed the good finish carpenters did this. Puts the cut mark right on the money, super accurate.

PA woodbutcher · 11-07-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswood

Hey Gus,

The method you show is similar to how I use my "auxiliary fence and table set up". You did a nice job of showing how to get very accurate miters. It also has the benefit of being zero clearance, so no "exit wounds." Clean cutting.

Many trim carps use fairly sloppy reveals (3/16" +or- 1/16", so they never dial in the accuracy. Your method does help bring the accuracy of trim carpenters into the tighter tolerances of the cabinet makers... which is where they should be.

Cheers,

Bass

I use the 16th all the time. My eyes can't take all those little lines anymore

As long as I'm doing my own cutting which is 99.9% of the time it doesn't create a problem. I'm a pretty good judge of where the 32ths are supposed to be

Only problem that I'm having is 12" blade has too much deflection on the angle cuts unless I use a heavy blade...thinking about dropping to a 10" for the finer work.

mitreman · 11-15-2009, 11:17 AM

I do the same thing but put a couple drops of 2P10 with accelerator to the rip to hold it in place on the fence. Works great if you're cutting mass miters of small molding for raised panels etc. on a 12" saw with a wide fence gap. No more chips flying at you. When you're done, tap the scrap rip with a hammer and it comes off with minimal residue.

**Double-A** · 11-15-2009, 10:41 PM

Old eyes? I had to put on my glasses to see the pictures. What are these old eyes you're talking about?

**Leo G** · 11-15-2009, 10:57 PM

Been doing it for over a decade. Still a great idea.