Tip #147
Figuring Angle Cuts On The Table Saw
The basics on figuring the correct angles for Table Saw cuts.
Many woodworkers seem to have difficulty figuring the right Table and Miter Gauge angles when making a cut
that’s not within the marked range of their Table/Blade tilt quadrant or Miter Gauge quadrant. Here’s the answer.
With most Table Saws, the tilt quadrant ranges from 45-degrees to 90-degrees. This range represents the relative bevel angle between the Saw Blade and its Worktable. When you need to make a 10-degree bevel cut, for
example...or one of 125-degrees, you’ll soon discover that neither of these numbers can be found on the tilt
quadrant.
When cutting an angle from “0” to 45-degrees, merely subtract the angle you intend to cut from 90-degrees and
set your Table/Blade tilt quadrant at that number. For example, if you want to cut a 10-degree angle, set your tilt
quadrant at 80-degrees.
Angles from 90-degrees to 135-degrees are obtained by subtracting the desired angle from 180-degrees. For
example, if you want to cut a 125-degree angle, you would set your tilt quadrant at 55-degrees.
These same rules apply to Miter Gauge settings. It’s that simple.