ENGLISH • 27
CUTTING PICTURE FRAMES, AND OTHER FOUR
SIDED PROJECTS
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To best understand how to make the items listed here,
we suggest that you try a few simple projects using
scrap wood until you develop a “FEEL” for your saw.
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Your saw is the perfect tool for mitering corners like
the ones shown in FIG. H, which shows a joint made
by setting the miter arm at 45º degrees to to miter the
two boards to form a 90º degree corner. To make this
type of joint, set the miter arm to 45o degrees. The
wood was positioned with the broad flat side against
the table and the narrow edge against the fence.
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As the number of sides changes, so do the miter
angles. The chart below gives the proper angles for
a variety of shapes. (The chart assumes that all sides
are of equal length.)
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For a shape that is not shown in the chart, use the
following formula. 180o degrees divided by the
number of sides equals the miter.
EXAMPLES
NO. SIDES
ANGLE MITER
4
45º
5
36º
6
30º
7
25.7º
8
22.5º
9
20º
10
18º
CUTTING COMPOUND MITERS
The 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 Fig. H.
Note: If the cutting angle varies from cut to cut, check that
the bevel clamp knob (10) and the miter clamp handle (4)
are securely tightened. These knobs must be tightened
after making any changes in bevel or miter.
CUTTING CROWN MOLDING
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In order to fit properly, crown molding must be mitered
with extreme accuracy. The two flat surfaces on a
given piece of crown molding are at angles that,
when added together, equal exactly 90º degrees.
Most, but not all, crown molding has a top rear angle
(the section that fits flat against the ceiling) of 52º
degrees and a bottom rear angle (the part that fits flat
against the wall) of 38º degrees.
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Pretesting with scrap material is extremely important!
Place the bottom side (the side that will be against the
wall) against the miter saw fence. Place the top (that
part that will be against the ceiling) against the saw
table and the crown molding fence.
Instructions for cutting crown molding angled
between the fence and the table of the saw for all cuts:
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Angle the molding so the bottom of the molding (part
which goes against the wall when installed) is against
the fence and the top of the molding is resting on the
table of the saw.
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The angled “flats” on the back of the molding must
rest squarely on the fence and table of the saw.
INSIDE CORNER:
Left side
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Miter right at 45°
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Save the right side of cut
Right side
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Miter left at 45°
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Save left side of cut
OUTSIDE CORNER:
Left side
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Miter left at 45°
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Save the right side of cut
Right side
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Miter right at 45°
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Save left side of cut
Always make dry runs to check for clearance and
correctness of cuts.
SPECIAL CUTS
NEVER MAKE ANY CUTS UNLESS THE MATERIAL IS
SECURED ON THE TABLE AND AGAINST THE FENCE.
ALUMINUM CUTTING
(Carbide tipped blade only)
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Aluminum extrusions such as those used when
making aluminum screens and storm windows
can easily be cut with your saw using the proper blade
designed for non-ferrous metal cutting. Position the
material so that you will be cutting the thinnest cross
section, as shown in Fig. I.
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Fig. J illustrates the wrong way to cut these
extrusions. Use a wax lubricant when cutting
aluminum such as Johnson’s Stick Wax No.140. Apply
the stick wax directly to the saw blade before cutting.
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Never apply stick wax to a moving blade. The wax,
available at most hardware stores and industria mill
supply houses, provides proper lubrication and keeps
chips from adhering to the blade.
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Be sure to properly secure work. Certain workpieces,
due to their size, shape or surface finish, may require
the use of a clamp, jig or fixture to prevent movement
during the cut.
