I need to cut about a dozen window sashes for the exterior of my mother’s home, and need all to have the same compound cut, with a miter and a bevel. Obviously, I can make a simple miter box out of spare stock, but I’m scratching my head about how to accurately put the guide kerfs into the box. Should I start them on a power saw, and finish them with a backsaw? Should I just draw them out with a protractor, and cut them by hand? Any suggestions will be welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Replies
Starting the cuts with a power saw would be quicker but the resulting saw kerf might be wide enough to allow the handsaw blade to wobble and throw off your accuracy.
If you cut the box with a handsaw, it is easier to follow the line if you orient the box so that the blade of the handsaw stays vertical while you saw, that way you can see the cutting line clearly and gravity isn't fighting you. With a little bit of care, and a sharp saw blade, it shouldn't be hard to do the job by hand.
John W.
Make the miterbox, screw the box together. Then make the cuts with a powersaw, mitersaw or table saw if the blade is high enough. When done, unscrew each piece, place handsaw in kerf. Screw loose piece in new holes against the handsaw. This closes the gap to fit the handsaw, you now have an accurate hand miterbox. When the kerfs wear to the point the saw is sloppy in the kerf, repeat this method.
We used to do large crowns that were too big for a mitersaw this way. Slidesaws and the 15" hitachi mitersaw now takes care of it.
mike
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled