Cutting Compound Miters - RIDGID MS1060 Owner's Manual

Cutting Compound Miters

Cutting Compound Miters on Picture Frames and
Boxes
A compound miter is a cut requiring both a miter setting
and bevel setting. A compound miter is used for making
frames or boxes that have sloping sides and are wide at
one end and narrow at the opposite end. Compound
miters are "tricky" to make because the miter setting and
bevel setting are directly related to each other. Every time
the miter setting is changed the bevel setting must also
be adjusted; likewise every adjustment to bevel requires
a corresponding adjustment to miter. Because it may take
several tries to obtain the desired angle, it is advisable to
make test cuts on a scrap piece of material.
Tips for Cutting Moldings
A compound miter saw is also excellent for cutting mold-
ing. Molding is sometimes difficult because in order to fit
correctly it must be precisely cut.
Cutting Base Moldings
Base moldings and many other moldings can be cut on a
miter saw. The set up of the saw depends on your mold-
ing and your application as shown. Always make sure
moldings rest firmly against fence and table.
Cutting Crown Moldings
Your compound miter saw does an excellent job of cutting
crown molding. However, in order to fit properly, crown
molding must be cut with extreme accuracy. Remember to
plan ahead so that you are not tempted to reach across
the saw blade to steady a newly severed workpiece.
Two Methods of Cutting Crown Molding
Crown molding may either be cut (1) flat on the miter saw
table or (2) angled to the table and fence. Most standard
(U.S.) crown molding has a top rear angle (angle that fits
next to the ceiling) of 52° and a bottom rear angle (angle
that fits against wall) of 38°. Your miter saw has special
miter settings at 31.6° left and right and a bevel setting at
33.9° to use when cutting crown molding flat on the miter
saw table. These settings are identified with a "CM" mark.
Remember: Even though all of these angles are stan-
dard, rooms are very rarely constructed so the cor-
ners are exactly 90°. You will need to "fine tune"
these settings and make necessary adjustments to
the cutting angles.
Cutting Crown Molding Flat on the Miter Saw Table
The advantage of cutting crown molding flat on the table
is that it is easier to secure the molding at the correct cut-
ting position.
1. Set the bevel and miter angles using the chart at right.
Tighten the miter lock knob and the bevel lock knob.
2. Once again using the chart correctly position the mold-
ing.
3. Lower the head assembly, activate the switch and
make the cut. Wait until the blade comes to a complete
stop before allowing the head assembly to return to the
"UP" position and/or removing the workpiece.
4. ALWAYS PRETEST COMPOUND SETTINGS ON
SCRAP MATERIAL TO CONFIRM CORRECT ANGLES.
Compound Cut Box
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Miter Saw Table
Cutting Base Molding
(Miter at 45°, Bevel at 0°)
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Miter Saw Table
1. Workpiece Lying Flat
See Chart for Bevel
and Miter Settings
23
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Miter Saw Table
(Miter at 0°, Bevel at 45°)
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Miter Saw Table
2. Workpiece Standing
Up