Cutting Trim Molding And Other Frames; Cutting Compound Miters; Dual Range Miter Scale; Vernier Scale - DeWalt DW705 Instruction Manual

FIG. 22
in the zero position and the bevel adjustment was locked
at 45 degrees. The wood was positioned with the broad
flat side against the table and the narrow edge against the
fence. The cut could also be made by mitering right and
left with the broad surface against the fence.

CUTTING TRIM MOLDING AND OTHER FRAMES

Sketch B in Figure 17 shows a joint made by setting the
miter arm at 45 degrees to miter the two boards to form a
90 degree corner. To make this type of joint, set the bevel
adjustment to zero and the miter arm to 45 degrees. Once
again, position the wood with the broad flat side on the
table and the narrow edge against the fence.
The two sketches in Figure 17 are for four side objects
only.
As the number of sides changes, so do the miter and bevel
angles. The chart below gives the proper angles for a
variety of shapes.
(The chart assumes that all sides are of equal length.) For
a shape that is not shown in the chart, use the following
formula. 180 degrees divided by the number of sides
equals the miter or bevel angle.
- EXAMPLES -
NO. SIDES ANGLE MITER OR BEVEL
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

CUTTING COMPOUND MITERS

A compound miter is a cut made using a miter angle and a
bevel angle at the same time. This is the type of cut used
to make frames or boxes with slanting sides like the one
shown in Figure 18.
NOTE: If the cutting angle varies from cut to cut, check
that the bevel clamp knob and the miter lock knob are
securely tightened. These knobs must be tightened after
making any changes in bevel or miter.
The chart shown on page 13 will assist you in selecting the
proper bevel and miter settings for common compound
miter cuts. To use the chart, select the desired angle "A"
(Figure 19) of your project and locate that angle on the
appropriate arc in the chart. From that point follow the
chart straight down to find the correct bevel angle and
straight across to find the correct miter angle.
Set your saw to the prescribed angles and make a few trial
cuts. Practice fitting the cut pieces together until you develop
a feel for this procedure and feel comfortable with it.
Example: To make a 4 sided box with 25° exterior angles
(Angle A, Figure 19), use the upper right arc. Find 25° on
the arc scale. Follow the horizontal intersecting line to
either side to get miter angle setting on saw (23°).
Likewise, follow the vertical intersecting line to the top or
bottom to get the bevel angle setting on the saw (40°).
Always try cuts on a few scrap pieces of wood to verify
settings on saw.

DUAL RANGE MITER SCALE

The miter scale has two ranges of numbers for
convenience, as shown in Figure 20. One scale indicates 0
degrees when the blade is square to the fence. At this
position the other scale reads 90 degrees.
The 0 degree scale (larger numbers closer to the front
edge) is used when calculating angles. To calculate the
proper miter angle, divide 180 degrees by the number of
sides of the box or frame. Refer to the chart on page 10 for
some examples.
The 90 degree scale (smaller numbers behind the zero
degree scale) is used when a corner of your box or frame
is measured with a protractor. For example: if you
measure the corner of an 8 sided box, the protractor will
read 135 degrees. To determine the proper miter setting,
45°
divide the measured angle by two. The proper miter setting
in this example is 67-1/2 degrees. Set this angle on the 90
36°
degree scale. This is most useful when a corner is at an
30°
odd angle.
25.7°

VERNIER SCALE

Your saw is equipped with a vernier scale for added
22.5°
precision. The vernier scale allows you to accurately set
20°
18°
miter angles to the nearest 1/4 degree (15 minutes). To
use the vernier scale follow the steps listed below.
(As an example, let's assume that the angle you want to
miter is 24 1/4 degree right).
1. Turn off miter saw.
2. Set the miter angle to the nearest whole degree desired
3. To set the additional 1/4 degree, squeeze the miter arm
For settings that require partial degrees (1/4, 1/2, 3/4
degrees) align the desired vernier mark with the
CLOSEST degree mark on the miter scale, as described
below (The plastic vernier plate is inscribed with marks for
1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 degrees. Only the 1/2 degree and the 1
degree are numerically labeled.)
WHEN MITERING TO THE RIGHT
To increase the miter angle when mitering to the right,
move the arm to align the appropriate vernier mark with
the closest mark on the miter scale to the right. To
decrease the miter angle when mitering to the right, move
the arm to align the appropriate vernier mark with the
closest mark on the miter scale to the left.
WHEN MITERING TO THE LEFT
To increase the miter angle when mitering to the left, move
the arm to align the appropriate vernier mark with the
closest mark on the miter scale to the left. To decrease the
miter angle when mitering to the left, move the arm to align
the appropriate vernier mark with the closest mark on the
miter scale to the right.
CUTTING BASE MOLDING
ALWAYS MAKE A DRY RUN WITHOUT POWER
BEFORE MAKING ANY CUTS.
Straight 90 degree cuts –
CUTTING BASE MOLDING UP TO 3-7/8" HIGH
VERTICALLY AGAINST THE FENCE
Position molding as shown in Figure 22
12
by aligning the center mark in the vernier scale, shown
in figure V1, with the whole degree number etched in
the miter scale. Examine Figure V2 closely; the setting
shown is 24 degrees right miter.
lock and carefully move the arm to the RIGHT until the
1/4 degree vernier mark aligns with the CLOSEST
degree mark on the miter scale. In our example, the
closest degree mark on the miter scale happens to be
25 degrees. Figure V2 shows a setting of 24-1/4
degrees right miter.
Position the wood against the fence and clamp it in
place as shown in Figure 21. Turn on the saw, allow the
blade to reach full speed and lower the arm smoothly
through the cut.