Wood Blank

Precision Woodworking – How to Cut Wood to Length Precisely With Your Miter Saw

Woodworking is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding endeavors that anyone can participate in.  Homeowners take pride in the projects that they accomplish to add value to their homes.  But, there is one area that they often have trouble with.  Measuring and cutting to length.

Do you have trouble cutting window and door casing or any other kind of molding accurately so the the joints fit together perfectly without gaps?  You love your miter saw but you just can’t seem to cut accurately with it?  Would you like to learn some tips on how to make joints that would even impress an experienced finishing carpenter? Here’s how you can do it yourself successfully:

• Measure – you can relax and forget about measuring accurately.  Measure in the normal way and add 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch to your measurement.  Cut the piece to length and check it to where you will be installing that piece.  Remember, all these techniques start out this way.

Now comes the fun part.  Here are three ways to sneak up on your measurement using your miter saw:

• Playing cards - if the piece you are cutting is a short piece then you can use a stop block on the fence of your miter saw.  You can sneak up to the right size by placing playing cards between the stop block and the piece that you’re cutting – one at a time – until your piece fits precisely.  Each playing card is approximately 10/1000ths of an inch thick.  Always have a deck on hand for this and other similar uses.
• Use the Saw Blade - every saw blade starts out as a blank circular piece of steel before the teeth are either added or set.  The teeth are also referred to as the kerf of the blade.  The kerf is wider than the saw blade blank.  For moulding I use a blade that has either 60 or 80 teeth per blade and has a thin kerf for more accuracy.  Starting with the miter saw turned off I lower the blade until the teeth are below the deck of the saw.  I then push my piece against the blank part of the blade and hold it firmly.  With the miter saw still turned off I lift the blade above my work.  I then turn the saw on and cut my piece.  I’ve just cut the piece 1/2 the difference between the thickness of the kerf and the thickness of the blank part of the blade. This is a very controlled way to cut your piece.
• Another way to use the Saw Blade - although I have used this technique in the past I don’t use it anymore.  You may find that you like this technique and it may become your favorite but I find it is not as accurate as the other two.  With your saw turned off lower the blade until the teeth are just above the deck of your saw.  Push your piece against  1 or more teeth until it feels like you’ve bent the saw blade slightly. You don’t have to push hard.  Hold your piece firmly and raise the saw blade.  Turn on your miter saw and make the cut.

About the Author

You can find more precision woodworking tips and reviews at http://www.thejigjoint.com

Wood Turning a Dried Bowl Blank : Wood Turning Tools

Wilton Print Your Own Fan Kit $9.99 Create a distinctive favor for your special day! Wedding fans not only keep guests comfortable, but let guests wave their approval of the bride and groom! Assembled fan measures approximately 10 in. long. Includes 24 fans, 24 ribbon bows, 24 fan handles, 24 adhesive strips….

Light Oak Dining Sets $299.98 …

Swylite Seven Day Programmable In-Wall Timer Switch with Backlight …

Blood Bank $4.94 This is a CD with music performed by Bon Iver….

Teargarden By Kaleidyscope 1: Songs for a Sailor $29.98 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Greatest Hits-Strauss $4.22 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

A Blank Buffet: Highlights From the Films of Les Blank, 1967-87 $39.95 Best music, food, and people scenes from 13 films. Nothing repeated from the BEST OF LES BLANK. Selections from: THE BLUES ACCORDIN’ TO LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS; SPEND IT ALL; A WELL-SPENT LIFE; DRY WOOD; HOT PEPPER; CHULAS FRONTERAS; ALWAYS FOR PLEASURE; GARLIC IS AS GOOD AS TEN MOTHERS; SPROUT WINGS AND FLY; IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER?; BURDEN OF DREAMS; ZIVELI: MEDICINE FOR THE HEART; GAP-TOOTHED WOM…

Johnny Handsome [VHS] VHS VIDEO! Johnny Handsome! 1989 Film! Mickey Rourke stars as the main character John Sedley in this high-energy action movie, directed by Walter Hill (“Red Heat,” “48HRS.”). Johnny was born severely deformed and makes his living as a small time criminal. During a robbery, he and his best friend Mikey are double-crossed by their partners. Mikey is shot and killed, and John takes the rap for the ro…

Ka-Bar Black Kukri Machete $43.99 The Kukri Machete features a 11 1/2 in. blade made from 1085 Carbon and a black Kraton- G. Machete has an overall length of 17 in. includes lanyard hole and a leather/cordura sheath. ATTRIBUTES Blade Detail: Plain Edge Blade Length (inches): 11.50 Blade Material: 1095 High Carbon Black Carry System: Leather/Cordura Sheath Handle Material: Kraton&nb…

Leviton 80421-W 2-Toggle 1-Decora/GFCI Device Combination Wallplate $0.22 3 gang, 2 toggle, 1 decorative/GFCI device combination wall plate. Standard size, thermoset, device mount….