Miter Saw Angles

[djscotty]

Not sure if this is the right place but I am lost.

I have a standard 10" Miter Saw and need to cut a 60 degrees off square. I have learned that I would subtract 90-60=30 but my saw and most saws that I have seen only go to 45-50. How do you guys cut an acute angle?

 

[McFarmer]

Other side of the blade ?

 

[djscotty]

Other side of the blade ?

It still only goes to 45. This is the only way that I figured out how to do by using an already cut 60 degree block and doubling it up but I cant clamp anything down so it's at the mercy of me.

 

[bad_idea]

My 12" Dewalt sliding compound miter saw goes to 60 degrees. It cost good money, but it has done most anything I have needed. Perhaps there is a member near you that could help you out. Where you located?

 

[steel 35]

If I remember correctly if you tilt & twist both angles 45 on a compound miter saw it will give you a 60* Cut but its not very useful unless you want it on one end of a tube.

 

[fivespdcat]

Set it to 30 and use the other side of the blade. Then you will have a 60 degree angle.

 

[fury9]

It doesn't work that way, you set it at 30 you're getting a 30 I don't care what side of the blade you use.

 

[csp]

Build a fixture that you can clamp to your fence which places the piece you need to cut 90 degrees to the fence. Then set the blade at 30 degrees and you'll get a 60 degree cut.

 

[djscotty]

Build a fixture that you can clamp to your fence which places the piece you need to cut 90 degrees to the fence. Then set the blade at 30 degrees and you'll get a 60 degree cut.

I made it work by using my homemade piece of angle wood, just would of felt more comfortable having it clamped. I think it turned out pretty well for my first time doing acute angles. Yeah I need to buy a 12" sliding Miter saw but wedding comes first.

My first project was a farm house table and benches so I decided to build this coffee table with angles.

 

[aggierailroad]

It doesn't work that way, you set it at 30 you're getting a 30 I don't care what side of the blade you use.

Let's try to play nice, shall we?

He needs to cut 60 off of square - so, using 90-60=30.... ta da.

He has a 30 degree board, but a 60 degree cut.

 

[Gizmosity]

Yea, it gets a little confusing when the saw is reading "0" on a 90 degree setting.

I always tell my students to say the angle setting outloud and add the phrase "off of 90". So if they set the saw to 30 degrees, as someone mentioned, they would say "30 degrees off of 90"....so the board will have an angle of 60.

 

[McFarmer]

Other side of the blade ?

I was a little too quick to reply.

You need a 90* piece of plywood clamped to the right of your blade. Then set the saw at 60* to the left and place the work piece straight into the fence held against the plywood.
90-60=30

Or maybe somebody has an easier way.

 

[McFarmer]

Let's try to play nice, shall we?

He needs to cut 60 off of square - so, using 90-60=30.... ta da.

He has a 30 degree board, but a 60 degree cut.

I don't think my saw goes that far.

 

[Kevin54]

Let's try to play nice, shall we?

He needs to cut 60 off of square - so, using 90-60=30.... ta da.

He has a 30 degree board, but a 60 degree cut.

That pic will still be confusing to some. Flip the pic upside down, then look at it. The saw he has only has a 45 degree swing maximum, but what yours shows is a 60 degree swing. That why the board would have to be in the vertical plane and cut at 30, or in the horizontal plane, cut at 60 which he can't do without added help from introducing another block. Notice the large radius at the bottom would be the swing of the saw

 

[aggierailroad]

Thanks, Kevin. It was meant more as a study in geometry rather than a mockup of a miter saw.

 

[Kevin54]

Sorry. I didn't mean or imply that you were wrong. I just thought I would make it easier for some that may still not have understood, which was me I guess.

 

[aggierailroad]

No no you are absolutely correct. I appreciate your clarification.

 

[McFarmer]

I made it work by using my homemade piece of angle wood, just would of felt more comfortable having it clamped. I think it turned out pretty well for my first time doing acute angles. Yeah I need to buy a 12" sliding Miter saw but wedding comes first.



My first project was a farm house table and benches so I decided to build this coffee table with angles.

Very nice. What kind of stain did you use ? Sometimes pine can turn "muddy" when stained, that looks good.

 

[csp]

He needs to cut 60 off of square - so, using 90-60=30.... ta da.

He has a 30 degree board, but a 60 degree cut.

The thing with the "other side of the blade" suggestion is that the fence is 180°, not 90°.

The OP wants a 60° cut and there's no way to do that with the piece to be cut placed against the fence regardless of what side of the blade the cut is taken from.

 

[djscotty]

Very nice. What kind of stain did you use ? Sometimes pine can turn "muddy" when stained, that looks good.

To make sure I didnt have the muddiness I used Wood Conditioner first and that was the best thing I could of done. The stain is called Special Walnut from Minwax. I used water based poly and applied 8 coats since we will be using the table everyday.

 

[djscotty]

The thing with the "other side of the blade" suggestion is that the fence is 180°, not 90°.

The OP wants a 60° cut and there's no way to do that with the piece to be cut placed against the fence regardless of what side of the blade the cut is taken from.

Your exactly right, I have researched and do not think there is a 10" Compound Miter with a 60 degree setting. Will have to upgrade to a larger size to make an acute cut.

 

[TLCObsession]

I use my speed square (tri-square) as a stop and use the difference between either 45 or 90 degrees and my target angle on the saw. In this case 45 degrees on the square plus 15 degrees on the saw.

I was cutting T&G ceiling on the miter saw late into the night last night, so maybe I am tired, but I think that's right.

 

[jake00]

Your exactly right, I have researched and do not think there is a 10" Compound Miter with a 60 degree setting. Will have to upgrade to a larger size to make an acute cut.

Here's an 8 1/2 that does 60
http://www.dewalt.com/tools/machinery-miter-saws-dw712.aspx

 

[Tweeker]

You can cut any angle you wish on that saw. Dont need jigs, just slow down and think,use math and LOOK at that protractor till you get it. Lots of misleading info being expressed in this thread. Im not gonna write that book again so figure it out.

 

[yhprum]

Draw the cut line on your work and it might help you see it.

 

[aggierailroad]

You can cut any angle you wish on that saw. Dont need jigs, just slow down and think,use math and LOOK at that protractor till you get it. Lots of misleading info being expressed in this thread. Im not gonna write that book again so figure it out.

I hate to kick this dead horse.

But, you're right.

 

[never enuf time]

Cut a scrap at 15 degrees, set on saw, turn saw to 45 degrees. Hold on tight or clamp.

 

[beakie]

My first project was a farm house table and benches so I decided to build this coffee table with angles.

nice, I am collecting boards to do much the same.

have you notices any problems with expansion/contraction causing problems with the breadboard ends you added?
did you mortise the ends, biscuit, domino?

build thread?

 

[MarkG]

There's been times when I've been in the same boat and just drew out my line accurately and cut close to it with a jigsaw and cleaned up to the line with handplanes/sanders. Trying to cut too much of an angle can get too exciting/dangerous for my taste otherwise. Depending on how you like to work, you could also make a dedicated table saw sled for that angle or piece using MDF and some clamping toggle clamps and a fence at the right angle. I've done this too, on occasion if there are enough pieces to make it worthwhile.

 

[xyster101]

+1 to adding a block that is already cut. Just double side tape it down, it will stay put. Then clamp your board down and make the cut.
Or as Mark said, use a jig saw or circular saw and clean it up with a belt sander to get it flush.
Go old school and use a back saw!