| Cutting a Mitre | | | | the wood when cutting mitre joints. The |
| A mitre joint is used to join two | | | | thickness of the pencil line can make |
| lengths of wood together at a right | | | | all the difference between a perfect |
| angle. Each piece is cut at 45 degrees | | | | mitre and one that is lopsided. |
| so that when they are put together they | | | | The problem with a mitre box is that it |
| form a 90-degree angle. You can cut | | | | only enables you to cut a 45-degree |
| mitres by hand, after marking carefully, | | | | angle. While this is great for putting a |
| but it is much easier to use a mitre | | | | picture frame together or edging a |
| box. This has two pairs of 45-degree | | | | doorway, for generally wood work you |
| slots cut into it to guide the saw as it | | | | will need to cut many different grades. |
| cuts the piece of wood. You are best | | | | Compound Mitre Saws |
| using a tenon saw with a mitre box, as | | | | In the past few years compound mitre |
| it is rigid. This makes it easier to | | | | saws have become cheaper and cheaper, |
| keep parallel with the work surface. | | | | with even top brands like Makita |
| Secure the mitre box with a vice or a | | | | offering a saw for less that a hundred |
| couple of clamps. Once secure this will | | | | quid. Using a powered mitre saw makes |
| give you a free hand to hold the piece | | | | the job of cutting angles I would say |
| of wood being cut. Before using the | | | | about four hundred times easier. |
| mitre box, screw a shallow piece of | | | | More expensive compound mitre saws |
| waste wood to the inside so that the | | | | include a guide laser. This projects a |
| base will not be damaged by saw cuts, | | | | red line onto the piece of timber, |
| Measure and mark the wood to the correct | | | | showing you exactly where the blade is |
| length and line up the mark with the | | | | going to cut. |
| appropriate slots for the right or left | | | | A compound mitre saw also makes an |
| mitre. | | | | excellent alternative to a radial arm |
| Take great care that you get the mitre | | | | saw, providing the panels you want to |
| sloping the right way and that you mark | | | | cut are not too wide for the saw to cut. |
| the wood on the right side. If you mark | | | | Summary |
| the outside of the frame, make sure that | | | | If you are a DIY enthusiast, you are |
| the mitres slope inwards. Get this wrong | | | | best just buying a mitre box. A compound |
| and you may end up with a piece of wood | | | | mitre saw is not worth the money, as |
| that is too short, and hence useless. | | | | cheap as one can be, for making two cuts |
| Hold the piece of wood tight against the | | | | a year. Unless you have, money to burn |
| far side of the box and, keeping the saw | | | | that is. However if you are into |
| parallel with the base, make the cut | | | | woodworking tools I would recommend |
| through the saw guides. | | | | buying a compound mitre saw today. It is |
| Remember to always use a sharp pencil | | | | amazing how easy they make life. |
| or, even better a marking knife to mark | | | | |