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