Cutting Compound Miters; Miter Scale; Vernier Scale; When Mitering To The Right - DeWalt DW713-XE Instruction Manual

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 sided 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° 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 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 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 26° exterior angles (Angle A,
Figure 19), 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 settings on saw.

MITER SCALE

The scale is used when calculating angles. To calculate the proper miter
angle, divide 180° by the number of sides of the box or frame. Refer to
the chart on above for some examples.
VERNIER SCALE (FIG. 23, 24)
Your saw is equipped with a vernier scale for added precision. The
vernier scale allows you to accurately set miter angles to the nearest 1/4°
(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°
right).
1. Turn off miter saw.
2. Set the miter angle to the nearest whole degree desired by aligning
the center mark in the vernier scale, shown in Figure 23, with the
whole degree number etched in the miter scale. Examine Figure 23
closely; the setting shown is 24º right miter.
FIG. 17
A.
45°
36°
30°
FIG. 19
25.7°
22.5°
20°
18°
FIG. 20
MITER
SCALE
FIG. 21
FIG. 18
B.
ANGLE "A"
10
3. To set the additional 1/4°, squeeze the 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°.
Figure 24 shows a setting of 24-1/4° right miter.
For settings that require partial degrees (1/4, 1/2, 3/4°) align the desired
vernier mark with the CLOSEST degree mark on the miter scale, as
described above. (The plastic vernier plate is inscribed with marks for 1/4,
1/2, 3/4 and 1°. Only the 1/2° is 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° cuts :
Position the wood against the fence as shown in Figure 21. Turn
on the saw, allow the blade to reach full speed and lower the arm
smoothly through the cut.
CUTTING BASE MOLDING UP TO 88.9 MM (3.5") HIGH VERTICALLY
AGAINST THE FENCE
Position molding as shown in Figure 25.
All cuts are made with the back of the molding against the fence and
bottom of the molding against the base.
INSIDE CORNER:
Left side
1. Miter left 45°
2. Save left side of cut
Right side
1. Miter Right 45°
2. Save right side of cut
OUTSIDE CORNER:
Left side
1. Miter right at 45°
2. Save left side of cut
Right side
1. Miter left at 45°
2. Save right side of cut
Material up to 88.9 mm (3.5") can be cut as described above. For wider
boards [up to 107.95 mm (4.25")] several minor concessions must be
made.
When cutting a board between 88.9 mm (3.5") and 107.95 mm (4.25")
in width the roller on the tip of the guard could hang up on the workpiece.
If this occurs, simply place your right thumb on the upper side of the
guard and roll the guard up just enough to clear the workpiece, as shown
in Figure 28. Once you have cleared the workpiece, you can release the
guard and it will continue to open as the cut progresses.