Cutting Trim Molding And Other Frames; Cutting Compound Miters; Vernier Scale; Cutting Base Molding - DeWalt DW715 Instruction Manual

CUTTING TRIM MOLDING AND OTHER FRAMES

Sketch B in Figure 12 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 12 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 vari-
ety 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 (if the material is cut vertically) or bevel
angle (if the material is cut laying flat).
- EXAMPLES -
NO. SIDES ANGLE MITER OR BEVEL
4
5
6
7 25.7°
8 22.5°
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 14.
NOTE: If the cutting angle varies from cut to cut, check that
the bevel clamp knob and the miter lock knob are secure-
ly tightened. These knobs must be tightened after making
any changes in bevel or miter.
The chart shown on page 15 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 14) 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 devel-
op a feel for this procedure and feel comfortable with it.
Example: To make a four-sided box with 26° exterior
angles (Angle A, Figure 14), use the upper right arc. Find
26° on the arc scale. Follow the horizontal intersecting line
to either side to get miter angle setting on saw (42°).
Likewise, follow the vertical intersecting line to the top or
bottom to get the bevel angle setting on the saw (18°).
Always try cuts on a few scrap pieces of wood to verify set-
tings on saw.
FIG. 12
A
B
FIG. 14
45°
36°
30°
20°
18°
CENTER MARK ON VERNIER SCALE
ALIGNS WITH DESIRED WHOLE ANGLE
ON MITER SCALE (24° RIGHT MITER)
1/4° VERNIER MARK ALIGNS WITH
CLOSEST WHOLE DEGREE MARK ON
MITER SCALE (24-1/4° RIGHT MITER)
FIG. 13

VERNIER SCALE

Your saw is equipped with a vernier scale for added preci-
sion. The vernier scale allows you to accurately set miter
angles to the nearest 1/4 degree. 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
3. To set the additional 1/4 degree, squeeze the miter
ANGLE "A"
For settings that require partial degrees (1/4, 1/2, 3/4
degrees) align the desired vernier mark with the
FIG. V1 CLOSEST degree mark on the miter scale, as described
below (The plastic vernier plate is inscribed with marks for
KERF
1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 degrees. Only the 1/2 degree and the
PLATE
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
MITER
align the appropriate vernier mark with the closest mark on
ANGLE
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.
FIG. V2

CUTTING BASE MOLDING

ALWAYS MAKE A DRY RUN WITHOUT POWER
BEFORE MAKING ANY CUTS.
Straight 90 degree cuts:
CUTTING BASE MOLDING UP TO 1" (25.4mm) THICK
BY UP TO 3-5/8" (91mm) WIDE VERTICALLY
AGAINST THE FENCE
• Position molding as shown in Figure 15
• All cuts made with the back of the molding against the
10
desired by aligning the center mark in the vernier
scale, shown in Figure V1, with the whole degree num-
ber etched in the miter scale. Examine Figure V2
closely; the setting shown is 24 degrees right miter.
arm 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 hold it in place
as shown in Figure 15. Turn on the saw, allow the blade
to reach full speed and lower the arm smoothly through
the cut.
fence and bottom of the molding against the base