Non-Standard Miter Cuts

Non-Standard Miter Cuts

I am putting quarter round (3/4″) molding around a window and I need to miter a 110-degree angle. If I needed a 90 degree angle, I would cut two 45s, so with a 110 degree angle, I need to cut two 55s but my miter only allows up to a 45 degree cut. So how do I make this cut?

Michael Dresdner: By hand. A back saw or dovetail saw, paired with an easily made custom miter box will allow you to cut any angle accurately and quickly, and is far cheaper than another power tool. Sometimes, hand tools are just the ticket, and can leave our beloved power tools in the dust — literally.

Lee Grindinger: You don’t say if this is a miter gauge or a miter saw. Either way you need to make a ten or fifteen degree wedge that acts as an auxiliary fence. The actual angle is unimportant. Since you’ll be micro-adjusting the angle with the saw; simply make sure your wedge is over ten degrees. Use two-sided tape to hold it in place on your miter saw or, in the case of a miter gauge, screw it in place. Be aware that the quarter round will have a greater tendency to slide as you cut it, so be sure it’s firmly held in place when you begin your cut. One other option is an old-fashioned miter box. A miter box has a trough in which the stock is held. Carefully cut across the sides of the miter box with a back saw to make guides for the saw at 55 degrees. Once these cuts are made, insert the stock and make as many cuts as you need.

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