What Is The Proper Gapping For Exotic Hardwoods On The Mitered Corners?

Btrbimmer

I'm concerned about the surfaces where the 45 degree cuts meet.

I've seen it both ways, but I think people differ on which way is "right".

Should it be tight or gapped??

Should the various decking materials be treated the same or differently?

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deckman22

If you want it to look good, cut them tight.

I've seen some guys that router everthing, even mitered cuts & they left a space between, looked like hammered dog doo doo, imo.

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Deckman
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PA woodbutcher

With a composite I usually factor in how warm it is when I put them down also, kinda liek vinyl siding. 90 degrees and up gets little gap. 45 degrees like today I would probably leave up to 3/16.

Hardwoods....don't know, haven't had the pleasure. Will be interesting to se the replies

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Btrbimmer

I almost feel like I could attach the decking tight at the mitered cut, and then run my thin kerf circular saw (Dawalt 18 volt cordless) down the miter and it would set the perfect gap all the way down. Any variation on the miter would be fixed, as long as its not out by mor than the thickness of the blade.

The saw is very accurate compared to other larger types.

As long as a keep all the fasteners out of the way, it would seem to be a viable option.

Is Ipe or Garapa too hard for that type of saw?

Also, I'll be laying decking in a week or so, and its certainly not getting any warmer this year.

Thoughts?

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"Well, sir, opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one." -Clint

genecarp

Tight is how i have always handled it, let the butts move, keep the miters tight. G

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John Hyatt

With any of the S American lumber I not only dont leave any gap I Glue the joints together with tightbond111. I use a 10'' sliding compound Makita for all the cuts. J.

Btrbimmer

Is that the case with any decking material, or just the S. American hard woods?

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"Well, sir, opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one." -Clint

John Hyatt

With any wood project yes. J.

TempestV

Gapping a miter sounds like a recipe for disaster. Gene and John have it right.

tccoggs

Composites may be different due to the fact that they expand and contract in all 4 directions where wood is much greater across the grain and minimal with the grain.

Ipe and Tigerwood decks that I have done were done with tight miters, biscuits and glue. 4 years later they still look good.

Btrbimmer

Is it common to use biscuits for outdoor projects? I've only used them for making furniture and book cases, with no exposure to moisture.

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"Well, sir, opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one." -Clint

tccoggs

There are Plastic Biscuits for exterior use, but I use wood biscuits all the time as an alignment tool. Fast, simple, adjustable. I work alot solo, and they can make life much easier for me when trying to align things properly while tacking it in. I'm never relying on them for a structural connection.

Bond and Fill makes plastic Biscuits, and you can usually find plastic biscuits in use at solid surface shops.