How do I calculate a compound Miter?

[jdjllee]

I'll start here with the basics, Click on link below then click on "The Mathematisc of Compound Angles" for Joe Bartok's short article on analysis of compound angles. If I can digest this article I think I can figure out how to use the associated calculator. This is just the tip of ice berg. I would like to do a similar thing as you. I'd like to be able to scribe the appropriate angles on steel stock and cut manually on the scribe lines. In wood I'm interested in angles to set my sliding compound miter or table saw.

For your previous example, if I plug 45 and 45 in the calculator the saw angle settings returned are 35.264 for both miter and bevel. You said somewhere between 45 and 90 so maybe I'm not using and thinking about the calculator correctly. I haven't had time to study it much or play with it on the saw.


If you go to the home page the guy has more stuff than anyone could have dreamed about compound joinery. The answer to your original question on how to calculate compound angles lies within (somewhere).
Not sure this site is actively maintained. It seems to be an archive of sorts.

Saw Blade Angle Calculator

 

[Iplayfarmer]

..For your previous example, if I plug 45 and 45 in the calculator the saw angle settings returned are 35.264 for both miter and bevel. You said somewhere between 45 and 90 so maybe I'm not using and thinking about the calculator correctly. I haven't had time to study it much or play with it on the saw...

Point taken. My mistake is that what I called a 90 degree cut is the result of a saw blade set at 0. I should have said "somewhere between 45 and 0."

I'll have to look at the article you posted. The angle calculators are only half the answer. You have to have a pretty good handle on what you are cutting in order to make it work. As an example, even after you set the angles on your saw you still need to know which face of your board is up and which edge is forward. Hopefully the article can teach me some theory and practical skills that help with the process.

Thanks for posting.