Thread: Small angle measurement??

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Wouldnt a couple of sliding bevels get you out of trouble? They come in different sizes.

Can you make a set of templates from 3mm MDF?

cut one side dead straight
saw the other to close enough and then trim to exact fit using a plane clamped upside down in a vise

Do you have to measure the angles? Can you instead simply transfer them directly from the one piece to the other?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by BobL

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Went in to a shop and checked out the bevel protractors - but you need about 70mm each side of the angle before you can get a reference on it.

Originally Posted by rustynail

Wouldnt a couple of sliding bevels get you out of trouble? They come in different sizes.

Smallest I've ever seen is about 120mm long so you still need surfaces of about 40mm before you get enough surface to align to

Originally Posted by ian

Can you make a set of templates from 3mm MDF?
cut one side dead straight
saw the other to close enough and then trim to exact fit using a plane clamped upside down in a vise

This requires skill with hand tools and time - - and I just don't have much of either I'm afraid

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Do you have to measure the angles? Can you instead simply transfer them directly from the one piece to the other?

Regards from Perth

Derek

I needed to know the angles on this project to work out the compund cut angles but you are right - any device small enough to poke in there and lock/hold that angle would do the job so that it could be measured on a protractor or whatever. Even thinking about making a steel version of the pictured angle-finder without the protractor for just that purpose - but the reply I gave Ian applies a little here too

Originally Posted by TTIT

Originally Posted by ian
Can you make a set of templates from 3mm MDF?
cut one side dead straight
saw the other to close enough and then trim to exact fit using a plane clamped upside down in a vise

This requires skill with hand tools and time - - and I just don't have much of either I'm afraid

I think you're mistaken

Don't underrate the skills you already have -- a plane with a sharp blade clamped upside down in a vice is almost as simple as they come
If you have a #7 or #8, you probably don't even need the vise just lay it on its side on your bench.

you hold the template in your fingers.

Not sure if they are available in Aus but have you looked at the Lee valley / Veritas catalogue page 10-11 has the sort of things you want.

But the metal one is a little larger than the plastic one you have.

Find someone with a CNC machine.
Ask them to make a copy of the plastic one in aluminium at the size you need.
There are plenty of CNC members here.
Cheers
Wolffie

Originally Posted by TTIT

(sliding bevel)
Smallest I've ever seen is about 120mm long so you still need surfaces of about 40mm before you get enough surface to align to

the smallest bevel I have, made by Crown tools, has a 70mm stock and the blabe protrudes 45mm

I have the same bevel Ian has refered to, a Crown mini bevel. I also have another which is much smaller again, it fits comfortably in a match box. For the life of me, I cant remember where I got it. A well made little thing, brass/rosewood/blued blade. There is nothing written on it, but its not old, as was new when I bought it about 10years ago. So they are/were around.

Originally Posted by ian

the smallest bevel I have, made by Crown tools, has a 70mm stock and the blabe protrudes 45mm

Originally Posted by rustynail

I have the same bevel Ian has refered to, a Crown mini bevel. I also have another which is much smaller again, it fits comfortably in a match box. For the life of me, I cant remember where I got it. A well made little thing, brass/rosewood/blued blade. There is nothing written on it, but its not old, as was new when I bought it about 10years ago. So they are/were around.

Sounds like just the ticket One of the drawbacks of living in the sticks - hard to judge proportions from pics on the internet I'll see if I can find one and order it immediately! Thanks everyone for the help

I have a large metal one I bought from Timbecon in Perth many years ago - not cheap but invaluable.

Found it http://www.timbecon.com.au/products/...ors-318_1.aspx

Item T-103-C just below the identical one you have and cheaper than what I paid for mine years ago.

Can't you just use a piece of stiff card. Hold it against one edge and a rule against the other. Draw a line using the rule and you have the angle.
Cheers,
Jim

If you want something waaay out of the box, in fact straight from the garbage, you could use plasticine and some talcum powder on an inside angle (eg) to mould the intersection and - if it came away cleanly - measure it at your leisure.

Yes .. I know. I am receiving unprofessional help for it.

Paul.