Advice for a novice

[lajac]

Good evening,

I have recently taken the step from a combination mitre block and handsaw to a 12" Milwaukee Double Bevel Sliding Mitre saw and would very much appreciate some advice when setting a cut for both bevel and mitre.

If I need to set say, a 20 degree righthand mitre with a 10 degree righthand bevel, would I rotate the table 20 degrees right ie anti-clockwise but for the addition of the10 degree bevel do I rotate the head 10 degrees clockwise ie cutting away from the work or do I rotate the head 10 degrees anticlockwise ie cutting into the work?

TIA

 

[9fingers]

Welcome to the forum.

With over one hundred reads and no replies, readers must be thinking the same as I did on seeing your post.

The way you angle the saw depends on which part of a compound mitre you are cutting. The only choice I can think of is whether you have the wanted piece to the right or left of the cut and that usually is decided by the user being right or left handed.

Bob

 

[OPJ]

Welcome to the forum.

I've seen the price of those Milwaukee saws... That's quite some step-up indeed!!

In addition to Bob's advice, you may (or may not) find you get a slightly cleaner cut if you try to cut "with" the grain - ie. the longest side of the mitre is back against the fence. That would also determine which way you should tilt the saw head for the bevel cut.

Generally though, if that doesn't make a difference to the quality of the cut then, I'd always try and keep my hands well away from the blade! That's where the supplied hold-down clamps come in. I'd guess the one on the Milwaukee must be pretty good?

 

[woodsworth]

Welcome to the Forum, It depends on what you are cutting. If you are cutting a piece of skirting, a small piece of trim or a roof beam.

You first want to orientate the wood so that it is the safest. Then you have to see the geometry in your head and adjust to the blade to that.

When cutting i usually pull the blade lightly across the top towards myself and then down across the front and back. Depending on how thick the wood is will determine whether i go though on the first pass or not.

make sure the offcuts are supported as well so they don't bounce up and hit the saw. Someone wanted to buy one of these saws on the forum at one time but no one had one to say whether they were good or not.

I think a review is in order. Welcome again.

 

[lajac]

Many thanks for your replies which have required speculation on your behalfs due to my lack of content and ambiguity- appologies all round.

What I am acually aiming to achieve is to cut the support legs for a portable mitre stand I am in the process of constructing. The instructions with photo can be viewed here: http://woodworking.about.com/od/woodwor ... tand_4.htm (Apparently the forum doesn't like/allow links-sorry)

The legs are taken from 40"x4"x2" which are positioned perpendicular to the saw fence and the cuts for the 4 legs are 2 set at 20 degrees right mitre with a 7 degree right bevel and repeated for the two left legs.

My query relates to having placed a leg perpendicular to the fence with the appropriate mitre set (20 degrees right - move the mitre adjustment anti clockwise to 20 degrees). To now set the righthand bevel do I move the head (bevel adjustment)7 degrees in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction?
Either direction will produce a 7 degree bevel but which direction of bevel setting will produce a right-hand bevel as opposed to a left-hand bevel?

I hope the above explanation is more understandable than my previous attempt and once again thank you for your replies.

lajac

 

[Chems]

Many thanks for your replies which have required speculation on your behalfs due to my lack of content and ambiguity- appologies all round.

What I am acually aiming to achieve is to cut the support legs for a portable mitre stand I am in the process of constructing. The instructions with photo can be viewed here: http://woodworking.about.com/od/woodwor ... tand_4.htm (Apparently the forum doesn't like/allow links-sorry)

The legs are taken from 40"x4"x2" which are positioned perpendicular to the saw fence and the cuts for the 4 legs are 2 set at 20 degrees right mitre with a 7 degree right bevel and repeated for the two left legs.

My query relates to having placed a leg perpendicular to the fence with the appropriate mitre set (20 degrees right - move the mitre adjustment anti clockwise to 20 degrees). To now set the righthand bevel do I move the head (bevel adjustment)7 degrees in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction?
Either direction will produce a 7 degree bevel but which direction of bevel setting will produce a right-hand bevel as opposed to a left-hand bevel?

I hope the above explanation is more understandable than my previous attempt and once again thank you for your replies.

lajac

 

[Shultzy]

The best suggestion I can give is to make the required cuts on a scrap piece then put it on the saw and orientate the blade to make the cut.