 |
|
A simple project, this gauge will tell you at a glance what angle to set your table at. |
Practice your relief cutting skills while making a useful shop tool
By John Nelson
Relief cutting is a great way to add depth to a project —but it is some-times tough to know what angle to set your table and what direction to cut.
All saws cut differently, so when a pat-tern tells you to cut at a specific angle, that angle may not be the correct one for you. Using a different blade than the author will also change the angle. With this gauge, you can tell at a glance what angle to set your table at based on your saw and blade choice.
Step 1: Make a copy of the pattern below and attach it to a knot-free piece of pine or similar wood.
Step 2: Set the saw table at a 21⁄2° angle, left side down. (If you have a saw that doesn’t tip to the left, tilt your table to the right, but cut in the opposite direction of the arrows on all projects.)
Step 3: Carefully, make the fi rst pair of cuts for 21⁄2° angle where indicated on the pattern. Save and mark all the pieces and keep in order for further use.
Step 4: Follow the same procedure for the remaining cutouts, changing the saw table angle for each pair of cuts.
Step 5: Re-position all of the pieces and push or pull them until they are snug. You will find the 21⁄2° pieces almost come through, while the 51⁄2° pieces project in or out very little.
Table Tilt |
|
Clockwise |
Counter-clockwise |
Left Down |
Recessed or In |
Protruded or Out |
Right Down |
Protruded or Out |
Recessed or In |
Step 6: From the back, glue the eight cut-out pieces in place. Keep this tester handy for easy reference on various relief cutting projects. Experiment with different blade sizes and label each cutting gauge with the blade used.
|
