English
15
FIG. 21
FIG. 22
A
B
CUTTING TRIM MOLDING AND OTHER FRAMES
Diagram B in Figure 22 shows a joint made by setting the miter arm at 45° to miter the two
boards to form a 90° corner. To make this type of joint, set the bevel adjustment to zero and
the miter arm to 45°. Once again, position the wood with the broad flat side on the table and
the narrow edge against the fence.
The two Diagrams in Figure 22 are for four side objects only.
As the number of sides changes, so do the miter and bevel angles. The chart below gives the
proper angles for a variety of shapes.
- EXAMPLES -
NO. SIDES
ANGLE MITER OR BEVEL
4
45°
5
36°
6
30°
7
25.7°
8
22.5°
9
20°
10
18°
(The chart assumes that all sides are of equal length.) For a shape that is not shown in the
chart, use the following formula. 180° divided by the number of sides equals the miter (if the
material is cut vertically) or bevel angle (if the material is cut laying flat).
CUTTING COMPOUND MITERS
A compound miter is a cut made using a miter angle and a bevel angle at the same time.
This is the type of cut used to make frames or boxes with slanting sides like the one shown
in Figure 23.
NOTE:
If the cutting angle varies from cut to cut, check that the bevel clamp knob and the
miter lock knob are securely tightened. These knobs must be tightened after making any
changes in bevel or miter.
The chart (TABLE 1) will assist you in selecting the
FIG. 23
ANGLE “A”
proper bevel and miter settings for common
compound miter cuts. To use the chart,
select the desired angle “A” (Figure 23) of
your project and locate that angle on the
appropriate arc in the chart. From that point
follow the chart straight down to find the
correct bevel angle and straight across to
find the correct miter angle.
Set your saw to the prescribed angles and
make a few trial cuts. Practice fitting the
cut pieces together until you develop a feel for this procedure and feel comfortable with it.
Example:
To make a four-sided box with 26° exterior angles (Angle A, Figure 23), use the
upper right arc. Find 26° on the arc scale. Follow the horizontal intersecting line to either side
to get miter angle setting on saw (42°). Likewise, follow the vertical intersecting line to the top or
bottom to get the bevel angle setting on the saw (18°). Always try cuts on a few scrap pieces
of wood to verify settings on saw.
CUTTING BASE MOLDING
ALWAYS MAKE A DRY RUN WITHOUT POWER BEFORE MAKING ANY CUTS.
Straight 90° cuts:
Position the wood against the fence and hold it in place as shown in Figure 24. Turn on
the saw, allow the blade to reach full speed and lower the arm smoothly through the cut.
CUTTING BASE MOLDING UP TO 6" (152 MM) VERTICALLY AGAINST THE FENCE
Position material as shown in Figure 24.
All cuts made with the back of the molding against the fence and bottom of the molding
against the base.
INSIDE CORNER:
OUTSIDE CORNER:
Left side
Left side
1. Miter left 45
1. Miter right at 45°
2. Save left side of cut
2. Save left side of cut
Right side
Right side
1. Miter Right 45°
1. Miter left at 45°
2. Save right side of cut 2. Save right side of cut
Material up to 6" (152 mm) can be cut as described above.
CUTTING CROWN MOLDING
Your miter saw is better suited to the task of cutting crown molding than any tool made.
In order to fit properly, crown molding must be compound mitered with extreme accuracy.
The two flat surfaces on a given piece of crown molding are at angles that, when added
together, equal exactly 90°. Most, but not all, crown molding has a top rear angle (the section
that fits flat against the ceiling) of 52° and a bottom rear angle (the part that fits flat against
the wall) of 38°.
Your miter saw has special pre-set miter latch points at 31.62° left and right for cutting crown
molding at the proper angle and bevel stop pawls at 33.9º left and right. There is also a mark
on the bevel scale at 33.9°.
The
Bevel Setting/Type of Cut
chart gives the proper settings for cutting crown molding.
(The numbers for the miter and bevel settings are very precise and are not easy to accurately
set on your saw.) Since most rooms do not have angles of precisely 90°, you will have to fine
tune your settings anyway.
PRETESTING WITH SCRAP MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUTTING CROWN MOLDING LAYING FLAT AND USING THE
COMPOUND FEATURES
1. Molding laying with broad back surface down flat on saw table (Figure 25).
2. The settings below are for All Standard (U.S.) crown molding with 52° and 38° angles.
