Post by reserve on Mar 30, 2013 18:33:36 GMT -5
A little while ago there were some who professed interest in how I do bases so I figured I'd spin a little yarn about how I do this. Having the ability to do this releases one from the tyranny of set sizes of picture frames and also hides unsightly end grain from view on an oil stain finish. To it, then...
You'll need:
re meant to
A regular or compound angle chop saw, a tablesaw with roughing and finish cut blades, and a dado blade.
For those who do not work with such machines, know thay are dangerous. They're meant to cut and they do not care if it's your project or your arm. Pardon my pedantry, but I am compelled to state this and will do so some more in the following.
Set your tablesaw fence to whatever the dimensions are you wish to cut
Here I'm ripping 3/8" strips. The smaller the strips cut the more hazardous the operation. Doing the cut in this manner ensures repeatability in the size of your material.
Use a push stick. Keep fingers, hands, noses, and all else except the wood away from the blade
Set blade height about 1/4-1/2" higher than the material thickness. Feed the wood slowly. When your strips are cut it's time to change to the dado blade.
Be sure to have the saw unplugged during this operation. Here's some more pedantry-dado operations are very dangerous. These blades are very unforgiving, and if you get a hand involved with it while cutting you will loose the hand. I saw one instance where a guy had his arm grabbed and pulled into the saw by one of these things, and now his right arm ends about 4" below the elbow. Use a push stick!!
Cut your dado on one side
Then move the fence to the other side of the blade for the oppisite side cut
Stop your cut while the tail of the material is still on the table. Don't feed the wood until the tail drops into the hole around the blade as bad things will result.
Change blades back and cut you plywood
Then determine your needed lengths and cut them on the chop saw. 45 degree cuts, of course
Do all this and this is what you'll get
I strongly suggest practicing on scrap wood first. Thick scrap as thin wood is more dangerous to work with. Do not try to do this with short lengths of wood, it'll end badly, make sure you workpiece is at least as long as the saw table is. Feed your work slowly don't get in a hurry, if you're pressed for time don't start the project.
Be safe and have fun.
Regards,
Mark
You'll need:
re meant to
A regular or compound angle chop saw, a tablesaw with roughing and finish cut blades, and a dado blade.
For those who do not work with such machines, know thay are dangerous. They're meant to cut and they do not care if it's your project or your arm. Pardon my pedantry, but I am compelled to state this and will do so some more in the following.
Set your tablesaw fence to whatever the dimensions are you wish to cut
Here I'm ripping 3/8" strips. The smaller the strips cut the more hazardous the operation. Doing the cut in this manner ensures repeatability in the size of your material.
Use a push stick. Keep fingers, hands, noses, and all else except the wood away from the blade
Set blade height about 1/4-1/2" higher than the material thickness. Feed the wood slowly. When your strips are cut it's time to change to the dado blade.
Be sure to have the saw unplugged during this operation. Here's some more pedantry-dado operations are very dangerous. These blades are very unforgiving, and if you get a hand involved with it while cutting you will loose the hand. I saw one instance where a guy had his arm grabbed and pulled into the saw by one of these things, and now his right arm ends about 4" below the elbow. Use a push stick!!
Cut your dado on one side
Then move the fence to the other side of the blade for the oppisite side cut
Stop your cut while the tail of the material is still on the table. Don't feed the wood until the tail drops into the hole around the blade as bad things will result.
Change blades back and cut you plywood
Then determine your needed lengths and cut them on the chop saw. 45 degree cuts, of course
Do all this and this is what you'll get
I strongly suggest practicing on scrap wood first. Thick scrap as thin wood is more dangerous to work with. Do not try to do this with short lengths of wood, it'll end badly, make sure you workpiece is at least as long as the saw table is. Feed your work slowly don't get in a hurry, if you're pressed for time don't start the project.
Be safe and have fun.
Regards,
Mark
