How do professinol cabinet makers cut mitres?

[wobblycogs]

I'm no pro but I find that all the mitres I cut on the SCMS are fine straight off the saw. I made an octagonal pencil holder for the shop a couple of months ago with sides of about 120mm. As it was for the shop I didn't bother checking the angle on the saw I just set the bevel by the inbuilt scale at the back. There is a cumulative error but it's tiny and I'd be happy to sell it.

 

[Karl]

Also interesting to note that no one, thus far, has voted for shooting board.

Steve

That's probably 'cos you've aimed the question firmly at the Pro shop.

Cheers

Karl

 

[woodbloke]

Also interesting to note that no one, thus far, has voted for shooting board.

Steve

That's probably 'cos you've aimed the question firmly at the Pro shop.

Cheers

Karl

Agree with Karl here, pro's would defo use a table saw (provided it's accurate enough) but hobbyist's would use something else...more than likely a shute - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

Also interesting to note that no one, thus far, has voted for shooting board.

As Karl has said, that's because you aimed your question at pros. I'm not a pro, so didn't respond. However, I have a supposedly good quality mitre saw which, surprisingly, my wife bought me :shock: :shock: (must have been a moment of weakness :lol: ). Wouldn't have bought it myself, because I don't find them of much use. I find it almost impossible to get it to cut accurately. I'd only ever use it to cut roughly to size and then use the shooting board.

Maybe pros have far more expensive and accurate powered mitre saws but, for me, the shooting board wins every time.

Haven't voted because I don't meet your criteria.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[zeppfly]

I'll do some tests when the Hitachi is up and running.

you won't be dissapointed if its as good as mine
scms everytime, 9" skirting no problem as long as the blade is sharp

 

[OPJ]

I would tilt the saw to 45 degrees and do a trial cut checking for square.

Mattty, I'm interested to hear why you prefer to tilt the saw blade... Obviously, when your stock reaches a certain length, that's all you can do to cut the mitre.

But do you generally find this is more accurate than swinging the saw around to 45°? Let's say the timber is 70mm wide (within the maximum height capacities of most saws, so you could cut the angle either way).

I find that my Makita is very good is a leave the blade set at 90° to the table and swing that around to 45°. Then again, I've only cut mitres in ex. 2x1in with it, so far...

 

[houtslager]

As with most other pro makers, I use the ts with the blade tilted to the required angle - double checked with my WIXEY anglemaster
if the pieces are small ie; under 75mm in width and less then 10mm thick, I rough cut on my ELU 274e scms and trim to the exact size with my Morso guillotine

 

[Richard Findley]

I'm no pro but I find that all the mitres I cut on the SCMS are fine straight off the saw. I made an octagonal pencil holder for the shop a couple of months ago with sides of about 120mm. As it was for the shop I didn't bother checking the angle on the saw I just set the bevel by the inbuilt scale at the back. There is a cumulative error but it's tiny and I'd be happy to sell it.

In my experience a SCMS will do this but only if it is a top notch one which you would have to spend minimum of about £700 on. I've got a £250 one and it will cut a mitre of sorts but you'd need some serious filler to get it perfect :roll: :roll: :shock: :shock: :evil: :evil: :wink:

Richard

 

[JonnyD]

Not quite sure that a mitre trimmer would be able to do a mitre 120mm long

Steve

Ive just added to the cast iron in my shop with this beast which can do a 170mm high mitre. I am just in the process of cleaning it up but is also shown with a 120mm piece of oak tried it tonight and it cut spot on.

I actually voted panel saw as this is how i would generally cut these mitres but can see the trimmer being useful for final fitting or just taking a gnats off to get a perfect fit.

cheers

jon

 

[wizer]

So guys. My new Hitachi is all ready to go now. What would be a good test to prove the theory that a SCMS is good enough to make mitres straight off the saw? Picture frame?

 

[Mattty]

I would tilt the saw to 45 degrees and do a trial cut checking for square.

Mattty, I'm interested to hear why you prefer to tilt the saw blade... Obviously, when your stock reaches a certain length, that's all you can do to cut the mitre.

But do you generally find this is more accurate than swinging the saw around to 45°? Let's say the timber is 70mm wide (within the maximum height capacities of most saws, so you could cut the angle either way).

I find that my Makita is very good is a leave the blade set at 90° to the table and swing that around to 45°. Then again, I've only cut mitres in ex. 2x1in with it, so far...

Only because the piece described was 120mm wide, if i can i'd rotate the head.

 

[Mattty]

So guys. My new Hitachi is all ready to go now. What would be a good test to prove the theory that a SCMS is good enough to make mitres straight off the saw? Picture frame?

Yeah either a wide frame section or a deep box section- either way it's five minutes cutting when you have the stock prepared. Pics pls :wink:

 

[jasonB]

So guys. My new Hitachi is all ready to go now. What would be a good test to prove the theory that a SCMS is good enough to make mitres straight off the saw? Picture frame?

Yep and make it a wide one :wink: 75-100mm on the face should show up any errors, don't waste decent timber just run off a strip of MDF.

Jason

 

[OPJ]

Then, if that goes well, you could try making a tea or serving tray with compound mitres (angled sides)!! :wink:

 

[Oryxdesign]

I use my table saw but if I was on site and didn't have access to it I would use my Nobex Champion and fettle as I saw fit. I wouldn't use my CSMS, it's good enough for skirting and architrave (barely) but if you need to cut 4 corners and expect them all to meet it will not do.

Simon

 

[wizer]

Sorry, I missed the replies here. Yeh I think I'm going to try making a picture frame to test the saw's capabilities. I can't do anything until the P/T is sorted. So might be tail end of next week. But will indeed do pics.

 

[OPJ]

Sorry, I missed the replies here. Yeh I think I'm going to try making a picture frame to test the saw's capabilities. I can't do anything until the P/T is sorted. So might be tail end of next week. But will indeed do pics.

Why not just use a strip of MDF for the test, as Jason suggested? Better than Cucumbering up good wood! :wink:

 

[wizer]

yeh I'll set it up with MDF or scrap, but I want to make something to prove it works IRL.

 

[jasonB]

Making 4 joints without gaps will proove it works

Making 4 poor joints with good wood will only make firewood :wink:

J