Circular Miter
May 18th, 2009
Precision Woodworking – How to Cut Wood to Length Precisely With Your Miter Saw
Woodworking is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding endeavors that anyone can participate in. Homeowners take pride in the projects that they accomplish to add value to their homes. But, there is one area that they often have trouble with. Measuring and cutting to length.
Do you have trouble cutting window and door casing or any other kind of molding accurately so the the joints fit together perfectly without gaps? You love your miter saw but you just can’t seem to cut accurately with it? Would you like to learn some tips on how to make joints that would even impress an experienced finishing carpenter? Here’s how you can do it yourself successfully:
- Measure – you can relax and forget about measuring accurately. Measure in the normal way and add 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch to your measurement. Cut the piece to length and check it to where you will be installing that piece. Remember, all these techniques start out this way.
Now comes the fun part. Here are three ways to sneak up on your measurement using your miter saw:
- Playing cards - if the piece you are cutting is a short piece then you can use a stop block on the fence of your miter saw. You can sneak up to the right size by placing playing cards between the stop block and the piece that you’re cutting – one at a time – until your piece fits precisely. Each playing card is approximately 10/1000ths of an inch thick. Always have a deck on hand for this and other similar uses.
- Use the Saw Blade - every saw blade starts out as a blank circular piece of steel before the teeth are either added or set. The teeth are also referred to as the kerf of the blade. The kerf is wider than the saw blade blank. For moulding I use a blade that has either 60 or 80 teeth per blade and has a thin kerf for more accuracy. Starting with the miter saw turned off I lower the blade until the teeth are below the deck of the saw. I then push my piece against the blank part of the blade and hold it firmly. With the miter saw still turned off I lift the blade above my work. I then turn the saw on and cut my piece. I’ve just cut the piece 1/2 the difference between the thickness of the kerf and the thickness of the blank part of the blade. This is a very controlled way to cut your piece.
- Another way to use the Saw Blade - although I have used this technique in the past I don’t use it anymore. You may find that you like this technique and it may become your favorite but I find it is not as accurate as the other two. With your saw turned off lower the blade until the teeth are just above the deck of your saw. Push your piece against 1 or more teeth until it feels like you’ve bent the saw blade slightly. You don’t have to push hard. Hold your piece firmly and raise the saw blade. Turn on your miter saw and make the cut.
About the Author
You can find more precision woodworking tips and reviews at http://www.thejigjoint.com
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2 VA BY BOSCH 12″ TITANIUM CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADES 30T CARBIDE TOOTH $0.99 |
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SHOPSMITH MITER FINDER & BOARD FEET CALCULATOR CIRCULAR SLIDE RULE $0.99 |
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2 12″ 80T Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide Tip $0.99 |
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2 VA BY BOSCH 12″ TITANIUM CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADES 30T CARBIDE TOOTH $0.99 |
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★ FiX for CORDLESS RECIPROCATING CIRCULAR JIG MITER SAW $4.97 |
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★ FiX for CORDLESS RECIPROCATING CIRCULAR JIG MITER SAW $4.97 |
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★ FiX for CORDLESS RECIPROCATING CIRCULAR JIG MITER SAW $4.97 |
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BLACK&DECKER 73-007 Rip/Crosscut/Miter 7-1/4″ Circular Saw Blade 20T $6.99 |
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Fine Homebuilding Build a Deck DVD use circular table miter saw drill NEW 2011!! $15.95 |
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Build a Shed DVD Fine Homebuilding use circular table miter saw drill NEW 2011!! $15.95 |
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IRWIN MARATHON 24 CARBIDE TEETH BLADE USE WITH 8″ & 8 1/4″ SAW CIRCULAR, MITER $15.99 |
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10″ 40 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES ( 40 Tooth) WOOD CUTTING FAST RIPPING $19.00 |
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(5) 7 1/4″ 24 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES WOOD CUTTING FAST CUT LONG LIFE $20.00 |
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2 12″ 80T Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide Tip $20.05 |
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3 NEW 10″ SAW BLADES 60 & 80 Tooth CARBIDE TIP Blade Table Chop Miter Circular $24.88 |
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Shark 7-1/4″ 20T Circular Table Miter Saw Blade (10-PK) $24.95 |
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10″ INCH FINE CARBIDE TIP TIPPED CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADE 80 TOOTH $24.99 |
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3 8-1/4 NEIKO CIRCULAR MITER SAW BLADES CARBIDE 24T $24.99 |
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2 VA BY BOSCH 8-1/4 TITANIUM CIRCULAR MITER SAW BLADES 24T CARBIDE TOOTH $24.99 |
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10″ 60 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES ( 60 Tooth) WOOD CUTTING FAST RIPPING $25.00 |
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(5) 7 1/4″ 40 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES WOOD CUTTING FINE CUT LONG LIFE $25.00 |
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5 10″MASTER MECHANIC CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADE 44T $34.99 |
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5 10″ MASTER MECHANIC MM1108 CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADE 80T HOLLOW GROUND $34.99 |
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5 10″ MASTER MECHANIC MM1109 CIRCULAR TABLE COMPOUND MITER SAW BLADES 80T $34.99 |
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(10) 7 1/4″ 24 Tooth CIRCULAR/ MITER SAW BLADES WOOD CUTTING FAST CUT LONG LIFE $35.00 |
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Marathon Miter and Table Saw Blades -10″x36t”x5/8″ marathon circular saw bld $36.98 |
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12″ 60 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES ( 60 Tooth) WOOD CUTTING FAST RIPPING $39.00 |
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2 10″ MASTERCRAFT 40T CARBIDE CIRCULAR TABLE COMPOUND MITER SAW BLADES $39.99 |
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MAC BOARD NIB! converts your circular saw into a compound miter box $39.99 |
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3 10″ IRWIN CARBIDE CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADES 30T $39.99 |
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2 10″ IRWIN 40T CARBIDE CIRCULAR MITER/TABLE SAW BLADES $39.99 |
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(10) 7 1/4″ 40 Tooth CIRCULAR/ MITER SAW BLADES WOOD CUTTING FINE CUT LONG LIFE $40.00 |
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2 10″ NEIKO CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADES CARBIDE 80T $40.99 |
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2 10″ IRWIN Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide 60T $42.99 |
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2 10″ IRWIN 60T CARBIDE CIRCULAR MITER/TABLE SAW BLADES $44.99 |
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2 12″ 80T Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide Tip $44.99 |
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14″ 48 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES ( 48 Tooth) WOOD CUTTING FAST RIPPING $45.00 |
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2 12″ NEIKO CIRCULAR COMPOUND MITER SAW BLADES 80 TOOTH $46.99 |
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2 12″ 80T Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide Tip $46.99 |
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14″ 80 Tooth CIRCULAR / MITER SAW BLADES ( 80 Tooth) WOOD CUTTING FAST RIPPING $49.00 |
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2 10″ IRWIN Circular Table Miter Saw Blades Carbide 60T $49.99 |
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2 VA BY BOSCH 12″ TITANIUM CIRCULAR TABLE MITER SAW BLADES 30T CARBIDE TOOTH $49.99 |
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4 RYOBI 10″ Circular Table Miter Saw Blades 60T & 24T $51.99 |
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QTY 10 Shark 7-1/4″ 24T Miter/Circular saw Blade $56.30 |
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12″ x 100 T AMANA A.G.E. MITER CIRCULAR SAW BLADE INDUSTRIAL QUALITY $69.99 |
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Trojan T-35 Saw horse Miter Circular Table Saw Carpenter Woodworker Contractor $79.95 |
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Circular Miter Saw Blade Sharpener 120v Compound Table $88.75 |
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BOSCH PRO1296VF 12″ 96T Circular Miter Saw Blade NEW! $97.97 |
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Shark 7-1/4″ 20T Circular Table Miter Saw Blade (40-PK) $99.95 |
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Shark 7-1/4″ 18T Circular Table Miter Saw Blade (50-PK) $99.95 |
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Forrest MM14102 Miter Master 14″ Kerf Circular Saw Blad $119.95 |
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2 sets Trojan T-35 Saw horse for Miter Circular Table Saw Carpenter free ship $159.90 |
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Kaltenbach HDM-1300 Steel I-Beam Cutting Circular Cold/Chop Miter Saw 50″ Blade $34,000.00 |
