Replies

1. 
   BrentS | May 05, 2005 01:32am | #1

   Cowboy,

      Is it possible that your stock is creeping during the cut? This is often a cause of angle cut not coming out right.

                                                             Brent

1. 
   Troyboy | May 05, 2005 02:59pm | #3

   I see, I didn't think of that. I will try it again and see what happens

   Thank you so much

   Edited 5/5/2005 8:05 am ET by cowboy

2. 
   forestgirl | May 05, 2005 02:19am | #2

   Brent's suggestion is an important one -- some sandpaper on the fence or using a clamp will help ensure the stock doesn't creep.  In addition, keep in mind that the actual proof that your saw is tuned correctly is a perfect miter.  If you eliminate stock movement as the culprit, then use the actual results of your miter cuts to guide you in the final tuning of your saw.

   Your square could be off, your eye might not be picking something up, there are several possibilities I'd imagine.  Cut to the chase (so-to-speak) and use the cut to tune the saw.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   Troyboy | May 05, 2005 03:04pm | #4

   I had thought of that with my square being off, I guess I didn't want to admit that.  I will try to adjust it with cuts. Is that how you do it? Do you have anything else that you use for gauges?

   Thanks for everything

    

1. 
   forestgirl | May 05, 2005 06:44pm | #7

   "I had thought of that with my square being off, I guess I didn't want to admit that."  Hah, I know what you mean.  I've learned though -- when making some large frames where a small discrepancy meant big wasted time.

   I have two drafting squares that I use and an inexpensive engineering square, all different sizes, the budget solution to machine set-up.  Here's a link to Lee Valley's engineer's squares.  I use a drafting square to check any other square before using it.  This led to my tossing out 3 different combination squares that'd been laying around for years.  They were not square!

   Yep, when I'm setting up either the table saw or the miter saw, I use cut stock to confirm and finalize the settings.  The old "cut 45* and flip* technique which should produce a perfect 90* angle.  Of course, you need an accurate square to check that :-)   

   Drafting squares are inexpensive and easy to find locally.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   Troyboy | May 05, 2005 07:28pm | #9

   Forestgirl

   I will do that. And get a good square. I will play with this this weekend and let you know how it works out

   Thanks a million

    

1. 
   forestgirl | May 05, 2005 07:29pm | #10

   Let us know how it goes!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   Troyboy | May 05, 2005 07:32pm | #12

   Will do !!!!!!

2. 
   Tomknixx | May 05, 2005 10:11pm | #13

   forestgirl - any good suggestions for a nice, accurate, inexpensive drafting square?

   Tom

1. 
   forestgirl | May 06, 2005 03:15am | #14

   Wha'?  I just go to the office supply or artists' store and pick one up off the shelf.  I have a "secret weapon" I didn't mention -- a custom-made square that I can check the drafting squares against.  Haven't gotten a bad one in my 2 buys at Office Depot.

   What is that company that makes the drafting stuff?  Can't remember, but they are ubiquitous.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   MarkRD | May 06, 2005 03:24am | #15

   Alvin?
   Teledyne?
   Pickett?Probably you are thinking of Alvin.Mark

   Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.

3. 
   forestgirl | May 06, 2005 08:39am | #16

   The name I was trying to think of is Staedtler (sp??????)

   But the 2 triangles I have are a new one by "ProArt" and an old one by Keuffel & Esser.  The K&E triangle has extra goodies -- little holes specific distances apart.  Haven't figured them all out though.  Here's a pic:

   View Image

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   Edited 5/6/2005 1:42 am ET by forestgirl

4. 
   forestgirl | May 06, 2005 08:41am | #17

   PS:  When you say "Alvin" I think "Alllll-viiiiiiin!"  He was a chipmunk, or a friend of a chipmunk, or something.  You might not be old enough to remember The Chipmunks.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   yotonyb | May 06, 2005 08:53am | #18

   Simon?  Theodore?

6. 
   forestgirl | May 06, 2005 09:04am | #19

   "Simon?  Theodore?"  YES!!!!!  You're clever, thanks!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

7. 
   MarkRD | May 06, 2005 03:09pm | #20

   We had a chipmunk album when we were kids. "I wanna play my harmonica." was the song I remember most.The holes are probably for lettering - used to be people drafted with pencils and lettered by hand!Mark

   Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.

2. 
   forestgirl | May 05, 2005 07:09pm | #8

   Cowboy, here's an excellent on-line article about setting up a miter saw.  It shows the "cut and rotate" thing I was talking about.  It's a big file but your patience in downloading will be rewarded.  Someday I'm going to take shop pictures and set up a small page (someday!).

   Click here.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   Troyboy | May 05, 2005 07:31pm | #11

   Cool, I will check it out. The more help I can get the better I will be and the less wood I will waste

   I just looked at that file good info

   I will tune in this weekend and give you an update

    

   Edited 5/5/2005 12:39 pm ET by cowboy

3. 
   MarkRD | May 05, 2005 03:10pm | #5

   Don't hand-hold the stock, use a clamp.

   When you cut at 45* half the force of the blade is driving the wood to the fence, the other half is driving the wood along the fence.

   The sandpaper will help but a clamp is even better.

   Oh, and don't forget to check your square. I use drafters squares to set my miters. Quite well made, insensitve to normal temperature changes and unaffected by normal drops...

   Mark

   Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.

1. 
   Troyboy | May 05, 2005 03:22pm | #6

   Ok, that is exactly what I do to. I hold everything. My saw even came with a clamp and I have never used it. I will try this this weekend and let you know what happens.

   Thanks so much