Replies

1. 
   sschefer | Apr 13, 2002 08:46pm | #1

   Yes I do. First square up the 4x4 making each side equal in width. Then divide each side into thirds. Make a line from the inside third of one side to the inside third of the other side. Continue this in a logical fashion from side to side. You'll immediately see how its working. Essentially you'll be cutting off the corners and all 8 resultant flat surfaces will be of equal width.

   Steve - in Northern California

1. 
   JayTran | Apr 13, 2002 08:55pm | #2

   Steve, thats the method I tried but the result was that the diagonal distance was longer than the 1/3 measurement that I started with. I hope that I explained that well enough to understand. I will try again today, I was kind of in a rush when I tried it last night on some scrap. It was a 4x4 post that I used straight from the place I bought it, without squaring up first.  I thought I read about some method using a compass

1. 
   sschefer | Apr 13, 2002 09:04pm | #3

   I guess you could use a compass. I've never done it that way but I can see how it could work. The piece has to start off with 4 equal sides to get 8 equal sides so maybe thats where your attempt went wrong.

   Steve - in Northern California

2. 
   Dutchy1 | Apr 13, 2002 09:06pm | #4

   In "More proven shop tips" pg 41 is descibed how to wok an octagonal: lay your square stock against the blade (with is set 45º).Bring the rip fence up to the stock so that it just touches the corner and lock it. Now lay the stock flat and saw the ocagon.

   Ruud Joling The Netherlands

1. 
   sschefer | Apr 13, 2002 09:12pm | #5

   That sounds even easier than my method. I'll have to give it a try sometime. Still though, that method does require 4 equal sides to start with doesn't it?Steve - in Northern California

1. 
   Dutchy1 | Apr 13, 2002 09:15pm | #6

   I think 4x4" have four equal sides or not?

2. 
   sschefer | Apr 13, 2002 09:21pm | #8

   Hopefully it is square but you have to check it or your results may confound you. Its the old saying, "Measure twice cut once". Steve - in Northern California

2. 
   JayTran | Apr 13, 2002 09:19pm | #7

   Dutchy,  after reading your post, I remembered reading or seeing that tip somewhere. I went down to my shop and gave it a try and it worked out well. Thanks for the help, I just needed someone to jog my memory! Steve if you read this, thanks for your help also.

   I know I can always get fast reliable help from this forum, Thanks guys.--Jay

2. 
   observer | Apr 13, 2002 09:45pm | #9

   Steve, draw that out on paper and you will see why Jaytran got the result he did.

   The 'thirds' need to have a proportion of 1:1.414:1 rather than 1:1:1 based on the length of the hypotenuse of a right angle triangle with two equal legs being the square root of 2 (=approx. 1.414) times the length of the leg.

   Edited 4/13/2002 2:50:05 PM ET by Dick

1. 
   sschefer | Apr 13, 2002 10:16pm | #10

   Jeeze, you're right Dick. I must be compensating somehow. Mine come out fine when I do it my way. Man,,, now I gotta go out to the shop and try to figure out what I do that makes it work.  LOL... good excuse to quit my day job for a while... This is certainly more important than building a dumb computer.... Thanks for the insight...

   Steve - in Northern California

1. 
   observer | Apr 14, 2002 04:36am | #11

   Well Steve, I've heard of defying the law of gravity. I guess there is no reason defying the laws of geometry isn't possible too.

   Doesn't matter how you get there as long as you end up where you planned to be.