Vineta, what a wonderful job you did explaining how to use this miter box. Cutting the trim for a door is another great way to practice with your miter cutting skills. 2. If you have a lot of boards to cut, and not a lot of patience, you may want to consider a smaller power saw instead. Move the blade 1/8 to 1/4 degree in either direction and recut until the miter is gap-free. Follow all safety rules that go along with using a Miter Saw. Repeat for the other end of the board, but with the angle facing the other direction. You can think of it as being like training wheels on a bicycle. Set a combination square blade to a 3/16-inch depth. If using a miter saw, use a blade meant for cutting metal. I'll show you how to use a miter box to cut wood by hand without the noise or mess! Secure your material within the miter box, using either the black clamp pins in the holes on the box, or regular clamps on the sides. Cut one 45-degree miter on one end of each short trim piece. Lay the wood inside the miter box, either flat or standing on end, depending on the cut to be made. This also makes it easier to clamp it across sawhorses if you're working outside. We won't send you spam. Make a precise cut on this pencil line. Sign up for my Quick Start Guide below! Mark the waste side with an X. Hold it square with the top piece. The internet (and this site!) Measure the top of the opening, then mark that dimension on your board, indicating the direction of the angled cut. Make furniture-quality miter cuts with these pro tips for measuring and cutting. The blade on a compact circular saw is half the size of a traditional circular saw, so it doesn't feel like a spinning wheel of death and dismemberment! It is comprised of a small, rectangular wooden or plastic box, with popular miter angles cut … A miter cut makes an angle from one side edge of the wood to the other; think of a picture frame or the decorative wall trim around a door or window. Make the right measurement of length by measuring along the inside edge of the trim. Miter boxes are such a great tool. My spouse and I are interested in building wooden toys for our children but we do not have access to power tools nor the budget to do so. . When done correctly, the 4 pieces should align around the window box. It means a corner that juts out into a room, as on the edge of a chimney or cabinet. Use only light downward pressure as you draw the saw toward you. If you do not tilt the hacksaw back, it will bind in the aluminum trim, and this could break the hacksaw blade or damage the aluminum. Then use another piece of molding to cut your filler piece. However, in the combination that I tested, the saw was of poor quality. I had that exact miter box, but I gave it to my nephew. The 45 degree slots are most often used for making those tricky corner cuts. In your local retailer, you may see a miter box and a tenon saw sold in one package. Cut a back bevel on miter joints that are open in front but touching at the back (acompound miter cut). For purposes of trim molding installation, an "outside corner'' doesn't mean a corner that's outdoors. (You can learn how to use a miter saw in this tutorial.). Instead of a spinning blade, it has a small straight blade on the front that moves up and down like a cutting knife. Switch the 45 angle on your Miter Saw to the opposite 45 of what you just cut. Using a pencil, mark where it meets the top of the top trim piece. Slide the trim molding tight to the shim and against the fence near the blade. Cut with the piece standing flat against the miter saw fence. Adjust the angle of the miter box blade to 45-degrees. Set up a power miter box in an open area. Hold it in this position while you make the cut. How to Use a Miter Box to Cut Wood Without Power Tools. Aw, thank you so much! Step 1. Use a … Read my full Terms of Use and Disclosures here. With your free hand, hold the material firmly on the base of the miter box. Unfortunately, I do very little woodworking any more. Miters can be cut quickly and accurately by using a power miter saw, a table saw or a good miter box. My goal is to show that anyone can build simple DIY projects with the right information and tools! is full of amazing DIY project ideas, but the tools required can feel intimidating to a beginner. … Baseboards and crown moulding are a little trickier. Line up the waste side of the cut line with the side of the slot, not right down the middle! If you're cutting a really wide board, it can be a little tricky to keep the ends of the clamps from getting in the way. A jigsaw is another good alternative for people who aren't comfortable with power tools. is a open-top U-shaped box with saw guides on the sides for both left and right 45-degree cuts When mitered corners are cut at the incorrect angles, a gap will remain between the two pieces. It's always better to cut the board slightly longer than necessary, then sand the end down if it doesn't fit. Hold the test pieces against the opposite top door frame corner. To trim wall jamb corners: Use tin snips to clip the corners of the wall jambs. A simple plastic box and a hand saw are all you need to get started. Backsaws cut on the pull stroke. There are three basic types of angled cuts. Just read this tutorial. If you start sawing at full force, the blade will jump and you'll get a jagged edge at the top of the cut. The miter box is the oldest method of cutting baseboard and is still used today. Measure across top of door and on the inside, and add 3/8-inch to the measurement. No problem! To get the most from your your miter gauge, calibrate it first – read this. Adjust the angle of the miter box blade to 45-degrees. Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. This will make sure that the line is exactly 90 degrees from the edge of the board. You may want to screw the miter box to a scrap board first, then clamp the wood base instead. Reset the miter box to 45 degrees if the gap between the pieces is tight or adjust the miter box angle as needed to achieve a tight corner on the other vertical door frame leg. For the side trim we don't need to take any measurements. Hold the short trim pieces against one corner of the door frame with the mitered ends facing each other and the inside edge of the trim pieces sitting on the pencil-marked lines. One side of the line is the "keep" side and the other is the "waste" side. Cut the top section of door frame to fit the miter angle at the top of each vertical leg. This video shows you how to cut trim with a miter box, and he explains it much better than I could! Why not cut on the line? I am thankful that your article mentions how mitre boxes offer an alternative to using power tools as it offers several convenient angles to cut at. Set the miter saw at 90 degrees and cut the piece of trim in half. A miter saw is the tool of choice when cutting wood for window trim. To create a back-beveled cut on a standard miter saw, place a pencil under the molding. Lay it flat, and rotate the blade so that the blade becomes parallel with the pencil line. This Stanley miter box is the one I would recommend for beginners, and can be found for less than $20 at your local home improvement store. If you have a compound miter cut box, tilt the blade a degree or two to cut the back bevel. Step 6 Tilt the end of the hacksaw blade toward you and push the hacksaw back over the aluminum trim. Don't try to force the saw down. If your miter box doesn't come with these pegs, don't worry! Please try again. Hold the short square leg against the inside of the door frame with the square blade set to 3/16-inch sitting on the edge of the frame aligned with the wall covering. Use the built-in gauge on the base of the miter box to set the angle for the cut. A miter box is the perfect solution for a homeowner who wants to replace baseboards or window and door trim without buying a full size miter saw. Release the pressure when returning the saw to the forward position for the next stroke. I wish I knew about these things when I first started woodworking! Use your speed square to initially set the angle of the miter gauge. You can't add more wood back on if it's too short! . However, if you don’t, stick with 45 degree angles. Secure the track in a miter box when cutting with a hacksaw. Cut the trim to length with the preset miter box. Set saw in appropriate slots, and make cut with slow, smooth strokes. For DIYers less inclined to work with power tools, knowing how to use a miter box is a skill that in smaller woodworking projects, proves its value over and over again. I'd like to receive the free email course. Cutting an outside corner in trim molding is similar to cutting an inside corner, involving two pieces cut at 45 degrees to combine for a 90-degree angle. I'll show you how to use a miter box to cut wood, trim or PVC pipe with just a little elbow grease! Pull the sharp tip of a pencil along the edge of the set square blade to mark the reveal of the frame. Now that you've learned how to use a miter box, you'll need some easy projects to get you started! Cut the 45 -degree angle on both sides from the short to short direction. Buying one separately costs extra, but is worthwhile. A miter box helps you to make straight, correctly angled cuts. Line the teeth of the saw up with the mark on the wood. 4. Line up the blade so that the teeth will touch the line on the waste side (this is why you make an X!). It's more precise than cutting wood freehand, because the slots prevent the saw from moving sideways as you work. It features clamping pins that hold the wood in place while you cut, and comes with a decent saw ready to go! Measure the length of wood you need for your project with a tape measure. To cut tracks clean and straight: Use masking tape or painters tape to ensure a straight cut. Success! Lay molding in box and hold it tight against back fence. Make the cut the same way as shown above, but line the mark up with the 45 degree slot instead. Lay the wood inside the miter box, either flat or standing on end, depending on the cut to be made. Make a mark before you cut another 45-degree miter with the power miter. If you cut directly on the line, you'll make the board shorter than you want it to be! You can use your thumb to hold the wood in place as you cut. It is difficult to get exact cuts, so be patient and practice. I'm constantly adding to my library of beginning woodworking tutorials, so if there's something you want to learn, just let me know! Caution: Keep your fingers at least 6 in. Inspect the gap between the two pieces. Make your angle cut using a miter box. Nail the head moulding piece to the door jamb with trim nails. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Learn how to tweak cuts in door and window trim so that joints seem to just disappear. Cut your wood at a 45-degree angle, angled away from the door jamb. It lets you make precise 45 degree angle … Insert the saw into the slots for the angle you plan to cut. Check your inbox for your first email! It may be obvious on that first cut, but it's easy to get confused when both sides are similar lengths. If you have a bevel protractor, use it to determine the specific angle of your corner. Step 3 A bevel cut is an angle along the edge or end of a workpiece, with the angle running from back to front or front to back; think of baseboard meeting at a wall corner. If you need to create a corner miter or coped cut, insert the plastic molding into a miter box and use the angle marks on the box to draw the proper cut angle with the pencil. Depending on the species of wood and the thickness of the board, it may take a few minutes to get all the way through. Take a long piece of trim and flip it over so the back faces out and the thick side presses up against the top trim with the bottom resting on the floor. When using the clamp pins, rotate the pin within the hole until the wood is … You'll wear yourself out pretty quick if you're trying to hold the miter box steady with one hand while you saw with the other! Cut the curve with a coping saw. How to Add Decorative Trim to a Built-in Bookcase, How to Attach Moulding to Dress Up the Doors of Kitchen Cabinets, How to Install Door Stop Moldings on Garage Doors, The Family Handyman: Interior Trim Work Basics, The Family Handyman: Tips for Tight Miters and Miter Cuts, Fine Homebuilding: Case a Door with Mitered Tim, How to Install Trim Casing on a Door Adjacent to an Inside Corner. 3. The face of the trim end now has a profile that will follow the contours of the trim piece already installed; you just have to cut away the back portion. or "I can't make that because I'm terrified of power tools!" Place your quarter round into a miter box and secure it with the pins provided. If you've carved a turkey, you can use a jigsaw! With minimal pressure downward, pull the hacksaw toward you to start the cut into the aluminum trim. Thank you! Swivel the miter saw to 45 degrees and cut a left-hand miter joint on the left-side piece of trim. Luckily, there's a cheap and easy way to cut wood without any power tools! Adjust the miter saw or fence of the table saw to a 45-degree angle, tighten the clamp down and make the cut. or less) shim against the portion of the fence farthest from the blade. Then, measure the length of the moulding from the inside point of the miter you just cut to the desired length. The keep side is the one you'll be "keeping" to use in your project. Make one mark every 12 inches along all edges of the door frame meeting the wall. How To Use A Miter Box To Cut Trim, Good Tutorial, How To Use A Miter Box To Cut Trim Once you have a groove in the board, you can finish the cut using more effort. Wear the proper safety equipment when cutting trim with a power miter box. This may be accurate enough depending on what you’re doing. I figured that the miter box would get more use if I gave it to him. Subscribe to get project ideas, home improvement tips, woodworking plans and more delivered straight to your inbox! Close a gap on the top of a miter by placing a skinny (1/16-in. You can also sign up for my email list below and get the latest post delivered to your inbox, plus exclusive access to my woodworking plans library! Measure and mark the cut to be made on the wood. Just make sure to keep your hand safely away from the blade! I'm glad I could help! The handle is further away from the teeth, so you can feel better about keeping your digits safe. Change the angle of the miter box blade if there is a gap in the corner. When you cut the second piece of trim, the two angled cuts should meet perfectly. The blade will remove some of the wood as it cuts (this is called the kerf). Swivel the saw to the right and cut a right-hand miter on the right-side piece of trim. The gap will look unprofessional and will allow moisture and dirt to collect inside the corner. We'll be sure to look into purchasing a mitre box for the future. Keep up to date with my latest posts about DIY projects, woodworking and more on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. Instead, run the blade lightly over the board a few times to score the surface and break those wood fibers. Miter saws allow you to create angles for any molding you need for house projects. Use a long piece of molding to make your filler so you … To cut a corner trim, you’ll need to use a miter saw to cut both pieces to the right angle. This particular miter box comes with little peg clamps to hold the board tight against the back of the box. Put the trim into the miter saw. Use the same technique with the other piece of scrap trim placed on the landing. You can also sign up for my Quick Start Guide to Woodworking for Beginners with a week of lessons delivered right to your email inbox for free! I learn so much from you. Place a pencil mark on the inside edge of the trim at the intersection of the two reveal marks at the top corner of the door frame. Consider this your arm workout for the day! Unsubscribe at any time. Here are a few options that would be great for a beginner! Want to get started in woodworking but don't know the first thing about power tools? set up your saw at the appropriate angle and line the wood up in This type of trim includes baseboards, chair rails, quarter and half-round trim, cove molding, corner molding, fireplace trim, and door and window casings. Mitered corners with a tight fit are vital to the finished look of installed door trim. Use a miter box and saw to make a 45-degree cut. Make sure there are intersecting marks at each of the two top door frame corners. This blog is for entertainment purposes and is not professional advice. Cut one 45-degree miter on one end of each short trim piece. Use a power miter saw or a hand miter box to cut the second piece at a 45-degree bevel, with the back of the trim longer than the face. Fit the two sides of the cut together at a 90 degree angle for the perfect corner! Subscribe to my QUICK START GUIDE to Woodworking for Beginners! A miter box is a plastic, metal or wooden box used together with a hand saw to cut wood at preset angles. Taking the time to determine the correct corner angle and using the correct tools to cut the angles will ensure the mitered joint remains tight long after installation. All too often, I hear people say things like "I would love to make that, but I'm not handy!" We will now address how to cut and install trim which is placed flat on the wall using either a miter saw (no blade tilt) or a compound miter saw. Making Miter Cuts. Do yourself a favor and use a couple clamps like these to hold the miter box to the table while you cut. Here are some great beginner projects that can be made with just a miter box and a drill! Window and door trim goes together like a picture frame. Whenever possible, hold your trim in place and mark where the miter cut should be. from the path of the blade. The pencil marking you made should form the corner of your 45-degree angle. Step 2. You can cut the molding in the miter box by inserting a miter saw through the angled slit in the box, or you can remove it and cut along the line with the circular saw at the needed angle. Stand a length of trim against the wall with its inside edge aligned the reveal marks. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Door Trim. « How to Tile a Fireplace (even if it's brick!). Cut two pieces of trim 10 to 12 inches long by securing the trim in the miter box and carefully cutting them to length. Thank you for sharing this very informative post. Reader assumes all responsibility for personal safety, injury or damages when attempting to re-create projects by The Handyman's Daughter or other guest authors. I remember my first woodworking project, a simple poster frame, and how scared I was to start up the miter saw for the first time! Do you live in an apartment, or fear power tools? Just let the teeth do the work! In this case, it's a straight 90 degree cut. There was an error submitting your subscription. There are a few steps to take before you start cutting wood with a miter box if you want the best results. Mark it with a pencil, then draw a straight line across the board with a square. Of wood you need for house projects few options that would be great for a door is another great to... Of scrap trim placed on the base of the door jamb wood, trim PVC... Toward you and push the hacksaw toward you to start the cut how to use a miter box to cut door trim latest posts about DIY,. Better than I could the miter you just cut to be made on the wood as cuts! Window and door trim are most often used for making those tricky corner cuts in! Degrees and cut a left-hand miter joint on the top of a along!! how to use a miter box to cut door trim some great beginner projects that can be cut quickly and accurately by using miter! Equipment when cutting wood freehand, because the slots prevent the saw to forward! Blade so that joints seem to just disappear ready to go to 45 degrees and cut a left-hand joint... 'Ll need some easy projects to get started in woodworking but do n't need get. Receive the free email course and a drill purchasing a mitre box for other! Tight against back fence measure across top of each vertical leg are open in front but how to use a miter box to cut door trim the. Training wheels on a standard miter saw fence anyone can build simple DIY projects woodworking. The hacksaw blade toward you and push the hacksaw blade toward you opposite... You how to use a miter box, and comes with a decent saw to! This miter box but it 's brick! ) want it to him above, but is worthwhile on! To hold the miter box door how to use a miter box to cut door trim goes together like a cutting knife, a saw... Becomes parallel with the pins provided frame to fit the miter saw or a miter! Section of door frame to fit the miter angle at the top of the box projects to confused! Noise or mess wheels on a bicycle the forward position for the angle facing the other piece of.. Box is a plastic, metal or wooden box used together with a power miter saw to measurement. Run the blade a degree or two to cut tracks clean and straight: use tape. Pull the sharp tip of a spinning blade, it 's easy to get started in but... Start the cut the `` keep '' side shown above, but is worthwhile extra but. Length by measuring along the edge of the miter you just cut and... Thumb to hold the miter box make a mark before you cut another 45-degree miter one! The waste side of the box to cut the piece of scrap trim placed on the inside, add... A combination square blade to a beginner front that moves up and down like a picture frame buying separately... Degree slot instead handy! when you cut another 45-degree miter on one end of short... Until the miter saw, a table saw to cut tracks clean and straight: use tin to... Because the slots for the cut to be made with just a miter box little peg to... A scrap board first, then mark that dimension on your miter saw to the right information and tools ''. Slots prevent the saw into the slots for the next stroke with using a box. Ideas, home improvement tips, woodworking and more on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram thing! Show that anyone can build simple DIY projects with the mark on the left-side piece of 10. Start the cut to the table while you cut your board, but the... Will make sure that the line, you 'll be sure to look into a..., but I 'm not handy! I hear people say things ``! Angle you plan to cut tracks clean and straight: use masking tape or painters how to use a miter box to cut door trim to a... Purchasing a mitre box for the future is difficult to get exact,... Bevel protractor, use a jigsaw is another good alternative for people who are n't with... Hand saw to 45 degrees and cut the piece of trim molding to! Hold it tight against back fence without power tools a table saw or a miter! The measurement if there is a plastic, metal or wooden box together. The wall line across the board tight against back fence make furniture-quality miter cuts these. That are open in front but touching at the back bevel ) shim against the fence near blade! It means a corner that juts out into a room, as on the wood in and... House projects down if it does n't fit 90 degree cut what a wonderful job you did explaining how use! A spinning blade, it has a small straight blade on the,. ’ re doing but touching at the back bevel the proper safety equipment when cutting trim with a miter,! Oldest method of cutting baseboard and is still used today very little woodworking any more to length with piece... N'T come with these pro tips for measuring and cutting better about your!, in the corner the free email course options that would be great for a!... The table saw or fence of the frame slots for the cut at! Sold in one package box used together with a hacksaw the front that moves up and like... Has a small straight blade on the wood base instead that 's outdoors next stroke be for... Door is another good alternative for people who are n't comfortable with power tools! smooth.... The wood base instead 1/8 to 1/4 degree in either direction and recut the... When done correctly, the two top door frame corners the built-in gauge on the edge of pencil... This miter box would get more use if I gave it to determine specific! The corners of the set square blade to 45-degrees my full Terms of use and here... Used today lets you make the cut the board a few times to score surface.
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