Stool legs - compound mitres

**02alison2** · 15th July 2013, 11:47 AM

I have been trying to make a stool with sloping legs (a bar stool) for my work shed and the only plan I could find told me to cut a five degree compound mitre on the bottom of the legs (they called it an angle and a slope, I think). I have a new Milwaukee sliding compound mitre saw and it was no problem cutting the required mitre and bevel. But then I got confused, gave up on the compound mitre and just cut a five degree mitre on the legs. This seemed to make the legs slope nicely towards the top and I cut the tops with an 'opposite' five degree mitre, thinking this would make them flat at the top to take the seat.
When I glued it all together I ended up with nicely sloping legs on two sides of the stool and dead square ones on the other two sides. Which made the whole thing look weird and not really work properly.
Can anyone enlighten me about compound mitres for the bottom (and tops?) of such a bar stool? I think I got confused about which way the legs should face after cutting the compound mitre, but I'm not sure. I am using radiata pine thicknessed to 38mm x 38mm for the legs.

**DaveTTC** · 15th July 2013, 12:52 PM

4 legs should be cut identical

Set your compound saw at 5° in both settings.

cut one end of your leg.

without rotating or spinning end for end 'slide' your leg across the saw and fence and cut again exactly the same angles without changing any adjustments.

you can set up a stop for length and all legs will be the same.

repeat the process for each leg.

you will now have a matching set to make your bar stool.

Need anything else - let me know

I can do a sketch if need be

**DaveTTC** · 15th July 2013, 02:40 PM

I did not quite follow what Jrock has sketched

going back to your compound cut this is how it should look as per your discription

dotted line represents 90° marks

green line represents 5° in each direction - this is your cut line

image-2083944611.jpg

the long point at the floor would be at the furthest point of each other leg where they meet the floor. The short point would be the furthest from each other leg where each leg meets the base of the seat.

You cannot cut 5° one way and roll the leg over and cut 5° the other way. You must cut a compound angle. Lay the saw over to 5° and rotate the base to 5° then cut.

Cutting all 4 legs at once works, if you have limited experience I would simply use a stop and cut on leg at a time. If you want to cut all together then perhaps you could tape them all together so they done move. You still need to use the slide technique unless you want to change your settings on the saw the other way.

**02alison2** · 16th July 2013, 09:47 AM

Many thanks. I think it said something like this in the (American) plan I was using but it wasn't as simply expressed as you have done. Even a Dubbo like me can understand what you have said. As soon as I get some more wood I'll give it a go. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

4 legs should be cut identical

Set your compound saw at 5° in both settings.

cut one end of your leg.

without rotating or spinning end for end 'slide' your leg across the saw and fence and cut again exactly the same angles without changing any adjustments.

you can set up a stop for length and all legs will be the same.

repeat the process for each leg.

you will now have a matching set to make your bar stool.

Need anything else - let me know

I can do a sketch if need be

**DaveTTC** · 16th July 2013, 09:54 AM

thats great, wish you well - remember:

we want pics when you're done

**Christos** · 17th July 2013, 12:16 AM

**Tailsnz** · 18th July 2013, 07:10 PM

the easiest way not to make mistakes is to mark your stock clearly... put a scribble to show the waste that you want to cut off. it may take a bit longer but it cuts down on mistakes

**02alison2** · 19th July 2013, 06:03 PM

I practiced on some small pieces of scrap following your directions and, lo and behold, all 'legs' point inwards as they should. Many thanks again. I'll now try again with proper timber and dismantle the first cock-up with a saw and multi-tool.

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

thats great, wish you well - remember:we want pics when you're done

**DaveTTC** · 19th July 2013, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by 02alison2

I practiced on some small pieces of scrap following your directions and, lo and behold, all 'legs' point inwards as they should. Many thanks again. I'll now try again with proper timber and dismantle the first cock-up with a saw and multi-tool.

That is great, cant wait for the next installment - with pics I hope

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