Author Topic: Can't get perfect miter cuts  (Read 3073 times)

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Offline charles p

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Can't get perfect miter cuts
« on: December 20, 2009, 06:34:46 AM »
I have a compound miter saw and a table saw.  Try as I might, my miter cuts do not go together very well.  Tell me your secrets.

Offline mirage1988

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2009, 06:45:47 AM »
Most common problem is that your saw isn't at 90 degrees, lift up the guard and put a square next to the blade. Are you trimming your house, or building furniture?

Offline ShadowMover

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2009, 09:00:44 AM »
This may be too basic and obvious, in which case I apologize, but are you allowing for the thickness of the blade when you make your cuts? Always mark the wood you are cutting with a pencil to indicate which is the Scrap side. I use a little s. Position the blade so it cuts into the scrap side, not into the part you want to keep. Don't center the blade on the line you want to cut. Another trick is to cut the wood a little long and check for a fit, then use the saw to cut another very thin ( less than half a blade width) cut. I used to install wooden shutters, and I never saw a square house or window. Don't assume that walls and window openings are square. Again my apologies to the craftsmen who always build square buildings ;-)

You don't mention why they don't 'go together'. Asking the right questions is the first step in solving the problem. Are the pieces too short, or are the angles wrong so the assembled pieces don't look right?  You also have to remember to make the cut at exactly half of the total angle you want to go around. For example, if you wanted to make a 90 degree angle with two pieces of molding, you have to make them both 45 degrees so the faces will be the same length. If you make one 50 and the other 40, the will make a 90 degree angle, but the face of one will be longer than the other.

As mirage said, check those blade settings, don't assume they are right from the factory, don't trust those laser pointers.  Make some 45 degree cuts and put them together and measure the thing against a good square.

Offline charles p

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2009, 10:39:58 AM »
I am attempting to build small rectangular frames.  My 45 degree angle cuts do not come together perfectly at all four sides.  I'm thinking my wood is not flat on the saw table, thus causing a compound cut rather than a vertical cut at 45%.  I ripped the wood on my table saw and that is probably where the error crept in.  I do not have a planer.  Will go back to the table saw and check to see if blade is square to table top.

Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2009, 10:49:42 AM »
Check for square and check the 45 degree setting also.

Use a fresh blade as a dull one will make the wood "wander" and cause the angles to be off. this is especially true on a mitre saw.

Also on a table saw, if it's possible, cut with the blade tilted towards the fence, this holds the wood towards the fence better. If you cut with the blade facing away from the fence the wood may want to pull over the blade. This is mostly for larger peices of wood or plywood.

All four peices need to be exactly the same size, or this will affect the joints also.
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Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2009, 10:52:00 AM »
Also if this is moved to the woodworking forum, you might more responses. ;)
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Offline mirage1988

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2009, 10:58:52 AM »
Try cutting the miters on your miter saw, you will have better luck than on your table saw. cut two miters, dry fit them, and check them with a square, you might have to tweak the angle on your saw a bit to get 90 degrees.
Also if this is moved to the woodworking forum, you might more responses. ;)
+1 Jim

Offline Dee

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2009, 11:23:14 AM »
I used to have that problem occasionally, and then I spent way too much money on a "double compound" mitre saw.
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Offline charles p

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2009, 12:55:48 PM »
My miter saw will cut on a slope and an angle - if you can figure out what you want it to do.  I once did hip roof ridges on it and nearly lost my mind, and my lumber supply.

Offline torpedoman

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2009, 03:41:39 PM »
use stop blocks to make sure that the sides are absolutely equal length. that usually cures to problem of having them just slightly off.
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Offline ruger204

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2010, 11:51:50 AM »
Build a sled for your table saw and you will cut pirfect every time. Google  "table saw sled plans" and you will get all the instructions you need.
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Offline wncchester

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2010, 07:24:51 AM »
"I am attempting to build small rectangular frames.  My 45 degree angle cuts do not come together perfectly at all four sides."

"Spect Torpedo has the cure, make certain the opposite sides are precisely equal in length.
Common sense is an uncommon virtue

Offline Casull

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2010, 10:58:29 AM »
Dee, what the heck is a "double compound" miter saw?
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Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2010, 02:14:40 PM »
The head tilts right and left and also goes on an angle. ;)
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Offline torpedoman

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2010, 02:33:55 PM »
another cure for the saw that's just a hair off is to cut one side of the joint on the left of the blade the mating cut on the right side of the blade.
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Offline Casull

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2010, 03:01:01 PM »
Quote
The head tilts right and left and also goes on an angle.


Jim, isn't that just a compound miter saw?
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Offline mirage1988

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #16 on: January 05, 2010, 04:24:38 PM »
Quote
The head tilts right and left and also goes on an angle.


Jim, isn't that just a compound miter saw?

Most compound miter saws only tilt (bevel) to the left because they are direct drive and there isn't clearance on the motor side to tilt to the right. Double miter saws have either a belt drive to put the motor behind and above the blade, or a bevel gear drive that puts the motor at an angle for clearance.

Offline Dee

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2010, 04:40:11 PM »
There ya go, mirage. And my wife almost flipped when she saw the price. Too late. I already had used it. Couldn't take it back. It's really great when your running trim, like wide crown mold in odd shaped rooms.
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Offline Casull

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #18 on: January 05, 2010, 05:02:53 PM »
Quote
Most compound miter saws only tilt (bevel) to the left because they are direct drive and there isn't clearance on the motor side to tilt to the right. Double miter saws have either a belt drive to put the motor behind and above the blade, or a bevel gear drive that puts the motor at an angle for clearance.


Well, learn something everyday.  I haven't seen one of those (or didn't know it if I did).  Think I'd save my money and just flip my stock with my compound miter saw.   ;)
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Offline mirage1988

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #19 on: January 05, 2010, 05:10:15 PM »

Double miter saws are nice, but you can make the same cuts on a standard miter saw, but it takes a bit more thinkin' as some are made upside down and backwards.

Offline Dee

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Re: Can't get perfect miter cuts
« Reply #20 on: January 06, 2010, 01:39:19 AM »
It speeds things up quite a bit mirage, especially if you have a lot to do, and another job waitin on ya. But I don't have to tell you that. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. It was a couple hundred more and it paid for itself in time pretty quickly.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett