How do I calculate a compound Miter?

[2manyrocks]

The triangle base design tends to be tippy. Here's a folding design that isn't tippy. No compound miters, either. While you can calculate them by several methods, it's another thing entirely to cut them freehand.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/attachment.php?attachmentid=16306&d=1142206306

 

[Spiveyman]

2manyrocks, I like that, and it folds! Good find!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Drum roll please....

Look at the picture below.

I took the peice of wood that I had cut out last night with a 30* bevel and a 30* miter. I measured each angle on each face in turn and transfered that angle to the metal. I'd mark the angle to the right on one peice and then to the left on the other to make mirror image legs. When I was all done I realized that the mirror image legs were really exactly the same.

I cut out the one set, and I'll cut out and tack the other set together later. I am going to true up the base with shims and then scribe around the legs to cut them so that it will sit level on the floor.

I'm still trying to decide if what I did was cheating for the purposes of this project or not.

 

[California]

Looks great! I would say you nailed it.

 

[Spiveyman]

Bravo! No cheating there, you set the angles in your mind, then made it happen. Cheating would have been, cut/try it out/cuss/re-cut/try it out/re-cuss... etc. Looks outstanding to me!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Looks great! I would say you nailed it.

Nope...Welded

(Sorry. I tried to stop myself, but I just couldn't)

 

[2manyrocks]

It does look good. How many hours invested in this so far?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

It does look good. How many hours invested in this so far?

Thought, confusion, and lost sleep = 8 hours (or more).

Actual fabrication including cutting the wood and marking the metal = 20 minutes (if that).

 

[2manyrocks]

Well, looks like you're getting there more quickly than I am on some of my projects.

 

[GuglioLS]

Great job getting the compound angles just right so the legs are what you had hoped for. Looks good all the way around.

Larry