How to cut a plank diagonally on a table saw?

[mark]

How can I set up my table saw to cut planks diagonally so as to produce two
long triangles?


mark

[Bill Wright]

First cut a plank diagonally so as to produce two long triangles.
Discard one and use the other as a fence.

Bill

[F Murtz]

:)

[Andrew May]

Surely you don't mean use it as a fence. That will force the plank
across the blade. What you mean is run it along the fence next to the
board to be cut.

[mark]

"Bill Wright" <bi...@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:llfkie$rhs$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

[mark]

"Bill Wright" <bi...@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:llfkie$rhs$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

Not helping.

[newshound]

Use a hand held circular saw and a sawboard, with a second plank
alongside the one you are cutting to provide a supporting surface. Or a
suitable sheet of plywood.

[Bill Wright]

Yes of course.

Bill

[James Harris]

"Bill Wright" <bi...@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:llfnd2$3ue$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

Would it not be difficult to keep triangular piece and plank being cut
together for the full cut?

James

[James Harris]

"mark" <ma...@reepham2003.force9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9ZSdnWZe4d2k0-bO...@brightview.co.uk...

> How can I set up my table saw to cut planks diagonally so as to produce
> two long triangles?

Depending on what you want to do have you considered marking the diagonal
and feeding that to the blade by eye?

James

[mark]

"James Harris" <james.h...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:llfpmk$696$1...@dont-email.me...

[GB]

On 20/05/2014 14:15, Bill Wright wrote:

You don't need that, surely? Just one long straight bit plus a bit of
scrap wood tacked to the end. So that makes two sides of the triangle.
You don't need a full triangle, just the outline, and two sides will do.

[mark]

"James Harris" <james.h...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:llfpmk$696$1...@dont-email.me...

That is the default method. I'm looking for a more efficient method.

mark

[Tricky Dicky]

Preferably using a slightly wider plank than the one you need to cut, nail or screw your plank on top set at the correct angle. A centre line on the guide plank will help alignment, make sure none of the screws or nails are on the saw line. Run the whole assembly along the fence which is suitably positioned to line up on the saw cut. It is essential that no part of the plank to be cut protrudes over the edge of the guide plank that is going to run along the fence.

Richard

[Jon Connell]

On 20/05/2014 13:45, mark wrote:
> How can I set up my table saw to cut planks diagonally so as to produce two
> long triangles?

Using a taper jig, which you can make yourself like this:

http://woodworking.about.com/od/woodworkingplansdesigns/ss/TaperingJig.htm

[Tricky Dicky]

Taper jigs are only really useful on short pieces as the jig has to travel along the fence with the piece to be cut. The OP uses the term plank which suggests something long.

Richard

[michael adams]

"mark" <ma...@reepham2003.force9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9ZSdnWZe4d2k0-bO...@brightview.co.uk...

> How can I set up my table saw to cut planks diagonally so as to produce two long
> triangles?
>
>
> mark

For just one, ideally you need a piece of chip
ply, mdf, etc the exact same size as your plank.
Ripping it to width if needs be. If it isn't
already, as it will be if you've just ripped it,
set the fence to the exact width of this. Mark the
diagonal on this, set your plank against the diagonal
screw it to the chip etc and feed this through,
overhang first. For balance purposes you may want to
screw another long piece of waste underneath the overhang
allowing plenty of room for the blade

You say planks which suggests you have more than one.
If this is the case and they're all the same size -
but you don't intend to cut them all you could one of
of the planks instaed of the chip.


michael adams

...

[John Rumm]

On 20/05/2014 13:45, mark wrote:

> How can I set up my table saw to cut planks diagonally so as to produce two
> long triangles?

A few options depending on how big they are and the angles required.

The first would be to build what is in effect a taper jig - a
rectangular bit of scrap large enough that will let you clamp the piece
to be cut to it, at the angle required. The scrap can then be run
against the fence, and it will guide the diagonal cut. This technique is
best for acute angles and smaller bits of stock.

If you were trying to cut an 8x4' sheet of ply, then I would probably
admit defeat and use a sawboard[1] and a handheld saw unless you have a
big table saw with lots of side and outfeed table space.

[1] http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Sawboard



--
Cheers,

John.

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[stuart noble]

If the saw bed has grooves, a cross cutting jig is very useful for all
sorts of things. No doubt there are details on the web, but essentially
it's a lump of ply with two strips glued to the underside which run in
the grooves.
Freehand cross-cutting is asking for trouble IMO

[michael adams]

"stuart noble" <stuart...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:qwMev.99149$_h6....@fx19.am4...

Not sure where cross cutting comes into this, these boards are being
ripped end to end at an angle. Cross cut jigs and fences are indeed
useful with the rip fence removed when cutting mitres etc. or with
a stop for cutting timber for length.

michael adams

...

[John Rumm]

For long stuff, just use a second plank and some double sided sticky tape:

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=File:Cutting-Diagonal-on-Saw.png

[The Medway Handyman]

Its also a dangerous method. IMO you should never feed timber into a
table saw without using a fence.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

[The Medway Handyman]

Is the correct answer.

[Roger Mills]

On 20/05/2014 13:45, mark wrote:

With difficulty!

I wouldn't use a table saw for that job - I'd use a sliding mitre saw.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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checked.

[stuart noble]

Sounds like me getting the wrong end of the stick (plank) again

[Dave Liquorice]

On Tue, 20 May 2014 22:25:46 +0100, Roger Mills wrote:

>> How can I set up my table saw to cut planks diagonally so as to
produce
>> two long triangles?
>

> With difficulty!
>
> I wouldn't use a table saw for that job - I'd use a sliding mitre saw.

For "long triangles"? I read that to mean cutting a plank say 12'
long and 8" wide between diagonal corners. We really need to know the
dimensions of thes eplanks and how long is "long".

For a one off I'd go "freehand" and stand on the same side of the
blade as the bit of plank I'm pushing so if the saw does kick the
free bit whizzes past me not into me. One ought to do that anyway ...

--
Cheers
Dave.

[Dave Liquorice]

On Tue, 20 May 2014 16:24:39 +0100, Jon Connell wrote:

> Using a taper jig, which you can make yourself like this:
>
> http://woodworking.about.com/od/woodworkingplansdesigns
> /ss/TaperingJig.htm

Thnaks for that, though drilling the holes for the two coach bolts
might be a challenge to get accurate and making the stay. Think I'd
use a nice brass screw down window stay,
like:

http://www.handles4doors.co.uk/window_furniture_security_locks/window_
stays/carlisle_brass_aa73_screw_down_window_stay_254mm_long.htm

250 mm is a bit long but the stay could be cut down. The screw down
and end pivot would stop the boards fully closing but a suitable
spacer block
at the hinge end would cure that.

--
Cheers
Dave.