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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Albury
    Posts
    2

    Default Long Mitre Cuts for Shelves

    Hi,

    I would like to put up some bookshelves in a corner. I plan to fabricate steel brackets to support wooden shelves.

    I would like to join the shelves with a mitre where they meet in the corner, the shelves will be supported close to each end, so the join doesn't need to be strong, I just see it as the tidiest way for the shelves to meet. Because the shelves will be 280mm deep, that means the 45 degree cuts for the mitre will be just under 400mm long. I'm looking for guidance as to the best way to accurately make this cut.

    So my questions:
    - Will it be possible/practical to make this cut using a hand saw? My instinct is that it should be done with a back saw, but I'm not sure if the saw would have to be longer than the cut. I have a 12" back saw but would need a 16" saw maybe?
    - Is it possible to make these cuts accurately with a hand circular saw? I'm prepared to buy one if it will do the job, but I'm concerned it won't cut cleanly and accurately enough. I guess the best would be a compound mitre saw, but that's a little out of my price range and the ones that I might stretch the budget to only have a capacity of around 300mm at 45 degrees.

    I'll get the pieces cut to length when I buy them, but I would prefer to cut the angles myself so I can get them right, given that the corner of the room is probably not perfectly square.

    Any help appreciated, thanks.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    se Melbourne
    Age
    62
    Posts
    2,567

    Default

    If cost is no object, consider using a track saw. Festool also have a protractor as part of a kit https://www.idealtools.com.au/festoo...s-2-by-festool so you can get a repeatable angle when using your track.
    You might want to consider cutting the angle first, then the length. That way if the angle is not right you can adjust it before cutting to length.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Montmorency Victoria
    Posts
    554

    Default

    Hi David .. welcome to the forum

    I interpret your post to be a corner unit with the shelves making a L shape.

    If I were to try this with a mitre (and in the absence of a table saw) then I would use a circular saw or handsaw using the following method.

    Layout the shelves as they will attach to the wall with one board overlapping the other. If the walls are not exactly 90 degrees the laying out insitu and applying clamps will enable you to maintain the actual angle of the wall. Once clamped together I would then insert a few screws under the shelves to maintain the overlapped angle.

    Then cut the boards with the circular saw (or handsaw) between the internal corner and the outer corner. Since the cut on the two boards is made concurrently then the end result should match perfectly even if not precisely 45 degrees.

    Good fortune with your project .. and use clamps

    Regards

    Rob

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Woodstock (Cowra)
    Age
    74
    Posts
    3,372

    Default

    It doesn't matter what method you use but after you cut them, leave them for about a month, you will be surprised how much the joint will open up, either the heel or toe of the mitre, then true the mitre with a plane and all will be good
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Dungog
    Posts
    273

    Default

    Cut the angle with circular saw then use a shooting board, ok it's a long surface to clean up but it would be a good finish. Or you could use a straight edge and clean up the cut with a router.
    hope it works out for you

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Albury
    Posts
    2

    Default

    Thank you all for the great tips.

    Track saw is a little beyond my budget but cutting the angle first is a great idea.

    You are correct that the result will be an L shape, thanks for the recommendation re. clamping method.

    Will also take on board shooting board and plane ideas, not sure if I'll be able to leave it for a month (pressure from the "boss"), but I'll maybe give it a week.

    I feel like the best hand saw to use would be a back saw, in order to make sure the cut is vertically straight. Is there a technique for using a back saw where the saw is shorter than the cut, or is it better to just forget about that and use a panel saw?

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Mackay
    Posts
    60

    Default

    Hi Rob,

    I have never considered this method before, but like the idea, especially for an amateur like me with long mitres.

    Thanks

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Alexandra Vic
    Age
    69
    Posts
    2,810

    Default

    I could loan you a track saw and give you a run down on using it if you were willing/able to pick up and return to Alexandra (Vic). It's not a posh one (cheapy H&F unit) but quite capable of doing the job for you. Will also toss in a cutting mat with it which pretty well guarantees no chipping either face through the cut, but you might want to back up the exit edge to prevent splintering there.

    I think you might be stretching any sort of backsaw to make a cut that long.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

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