Cutting a board to length. Simple
Cutting a board to length with angles on both ends...Easy.
Their are a lot of reasons why you may want to cut a board to a specific length with angles
cut on both ends.
However, I hear it all the time. People avoid doing projects that have angled cuts in them
because they are not sure of their
ability to be able to do that and be accurate. Now their are a lot of different ways to be
able to go about doing this.
this is just a way that I have found that has given me the most reliable results.
So the first thing I do is I try to find a board that is suitable for my project. And
here is where a lot of new people will
run into the first sticking point Because often times what they are doing is they
are using plans that they have gotten off the internet or maybe a magazine somewhere
and,
They are looking at a cut list. And so they will go from top to bottom on that cut list
and cut all their boards to length.
then what they will do is they will take those boards that are already cut to length and
try to cut the angles into them.
All that does is it forces you into a situation where you have to be extremely accurate in
order to get those angles cut
into those boards. What you have to do is you have to try and find the exact corner
of the board in order to make your cut.
If you are too far this way you get something that looks like this.
Too far this way and you've just cut your board too short for the project.
So I always leave the board an inch or two longer than what I'm finally going to want.
There is nothing more frustrating then cutting the angles only to realize that you didn't
cut the them in the right direction.
So when your first starting out it is helpful to place the board at roughly the same direction
and angle that it will be used in the
project. In my case this is the rough position I need.
Then I'll simulate the adjoining pieces. Again for my situation their is going to be a horizontal
top piece and a vertical
back piece. So here I want the angle cut this way and on this side I want the angle cut
this way.
Now what that does is it gives me a rough visual guide line to assist me from here on out.
I'm ready to make my first cut. No I'm not measuring anything at this point I just want
to make sure I get the angle cut
in the right direction.
Now I will flip this on it's end making sure the longest side of the board is up.
From that side I will mark to my final measurement.
and extend that mark.
Now if I flip it back on its side, one I can't see my mark.
Two if I pull it down the cut is in the wrong direction.
So if I just flip the board over. Now I can see my mark and the cut is in the right direction.
I never get cute and fancy with this second cut and try to hit it dead on first try.
I always sneak up on it.
Once I'm satisfied with where the cut is going to go I will set a stop block and finish it up.
That's because If I need more than one board with the same angles at the same length, I
can just keep flipping the board over to make each subsequent cut.
With the stop block in place I know all my boards are going
to be right in terms of length.
And that is it. Thats all I do to make simple and easy angled cuts.
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If you like this video, here's a couple more you'll like as well.
Until then.