Mitre cuts...what am I doing wrong?

[flatbutt]

I'm fabricating braces for a small door overhang.I cut the pieces on my table saw and as you can see by the speed square the angles are looking good. Yet, you can also see that there is a gap between the two pieces.

WTH?
The gap after mounting in place


The right angle



the 45 degree cut

[Scott Douglas]

When I ran into this problem making some picture frames it was a combination of things that caused it.
Chop saw I was using needed some 'fine' adjustment as I assumed it was good to go 'as is'. My son had used it to cut some angles that weren't standard and I assumed he had returned it to factory specs.
I also found that I needed to be sure I was measuring things from the same edge every time. In machining speak, a datum edge. Wood isn't always parallel so the edges don't translate from side to side correctly, if you get my drift.
Hope this helps, it's my attempt to answer the question, but, I'm not a wood worker by any stretch and actually, uh, dislike working with wood because it's so hard to hold to a close tolerance. I used to be a machinist and could hold 0.0005" all day long once I got to know the machine I was using.
Good luck, I'm going out the garage to work on my RC truck now.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I'm fabricating braces for a small door overhang.I cut the pieces on my table saw and as you can see by the speed square the angles are looking good. Yet, you can also see that there is a gap between the two pieces.

Your angle guide for your table saw isn't calibrated would be my guess. Use "speedy" to mark the angle on the piece you're cutting and see how it lines up while cutting using the saw guide.

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

When I ran into this problem making some picture frames it was a combination of things that caused it.
Chop saw I was using needed some 'fine' adjustment as I assumed it was good to go 'as is'. My son had used it to cut some angles that weren't standard and I assumed he had returned it to factory specs.

^^This

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I also found that I needed to be sure I was measuring things from the same edge every time. In machining speak, a datum edge. Wood isn't always parallel so the edges don't translate from side to side correctly, if you get my drift.
Hope this helps, it's my attempt to answer the question, but, I'm not a wood worker by any stretch and actually, uh, dislike working with wood because it's so hard to hold to a close tolerance. I used to be a machinist and could hold 0.0005" all day long once I got to know the machine I was using.
Good luck, I'm going out the garage to work on my RC truck now.

^^And this

[flatbutt]

Thanks guys. I was thinking I just suck at this.

[Crowbob]

You do, apparently.

[Steve Carlton]

When you're done, send some pics to Glen, so he can post it in the Random Pics thread.

[wilnj]

For starters you’re spelling “miter” wrong but other than that, earlier responses have you covered.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wilnj

For starters you’re spelling “miter” wrong but other than that, earlier responses have you covered.

He's just speaking in the Queens English. He's modelling his cuts in wood, before he changes to aluminium and then paints them a bright colour. He'll have to get the paint at the shoppe, and pay a few guineas for it.

[wilnj]

Originally Posted by masraum

He's just speaking in the Queens English. He's modelling his cuts in wood, before he changes to aluminium and then paints them a bright colour. He'll have to get the paint at the shoppe, and pay a few guineas for it.

He’s from Jersey too. You’s guys shud just be happy we speak any kinda f’in English. Capice?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wilnj

He’s from Jersey too. You’s guys shud just be happy we speak any kinda f’in English. Capice?

I used to support Bellatlantic dial up Internet. It was separated into 2 areas, the NY/NJ area and then the stuff farther south (MD, VA, etc...). We weren't supposed to support the NY/NJ folks, that was another group. When we asked "May I please have your email address" if they said "@banet.net" we were supposed to cold transfer them. We also knew based on their accent and if their response to the email question is "why you fsckin wanna know?" then we knew...

[juanbenae]

had you cut it a half inch or so longer it would have prolly be right on. had it been open on the long end that would have indicated it was a tad long.

cut many a rafter in my carpentry days.

[Crowbob]

I say keep cutting until it’s long enough.

That’s what I do.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Thanks guys. I was thinking I just suck at this.

Well, that's always a possibility too.

[A930Rocket]

Try a framing square instead of a speed square. Turn the framing square both ways. Once you do that, you may need to dial in your fence and or an angle.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by masraum

He's just speaking in the Queens English. He's modelling his cuts in wood, before he changes to aluminium and then paints them a bright colour. He'll have to get the paint at the shoppe, and pay a few guineas for it.

You pay in Italians?

[Pazuzu]

you need to buy a machinist square:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinist_square

Once you get one you'll see how poorly built almost every speed square is.
Machinist squares are built, speed squares are stamped out.

[Bill Douglas]

I cut a mitre, then turn it over and line it up like I'm gong to take a millimetre off it. You will see if it's not correct. Adjust the saw until it's right.

I do this with my picture framing guillotine and my drop/chop saw.

[flatbutt]

You guys are killin' me!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Thanks guys. I was thinking I just suck at this.

You can’t be a genius at EVERYTHING!