If you see your saw’s table, you will notice that it contains a miter slot. This miter slot comprises a miter gauge that has a metal guide. A half-moon-shaped head is tied with this guide that turns on its contact with the manual. A lock mechanism will allow the rotating section to be closed in any direction from – 45 degrees up to +45 degrees. If a workpiece is positioned at the gauge fence and the overall board and gauge are slid ahead of the saw edge, the workpiece will cut an accurate angle you adjusted. “Positive stops” are present on a few miter gauges. They assist the indicator to be settled at many angles that may include 90-, 45-, 30-, and 22 1/2-degrees.
What Is A Miter Gauge Used For?
A miter gauge is used while working on table saws, band saws, or sanded on stationary disk sanders. The purpose is to grab the workpieces at a specific angle when cutting. The miter slot (work table) is present where the miter gauge is fixed on the machine being used.
Generally, the miter gauge and the workpiece should be hand-operated. The operator should change positions on the worktable to cut the scrape. Some miter gauges are extra complex. But they possess the capacity to grasp a workpiece. More advanced miter gauges consist of flexible stops for repeated cutting work or workpieces.
The miter gauge on the table saw can support the workpiece when creating a cut. A miter gauge enables you to scrape an even line that may be vertical to the angles or corners that oppose the miter fence.
Moreover, when cutting a workpiece, it can be fitted in the required arch of a cut and is used to aid the workpiece.
Types of Miter Gauge Used on Table Saw
People who do woodwork, such as carpenters, use these miter gauges. They are mainly used to modify the place in which the saw blade is fastened to cut the miter connections or other sorts of meters. The two primary types of miter gauges include:
Sliding Miter Gauge:
When cutting a considerable part of logs or wood, the sliding miter gauge is used. As the name defines, this miter gauge slides when you are sliding and cutting the material along the edge. It can be utilized for scaling the angle to 90 degrees.
Fixed Miter Gauge:
This type of miter gauge is fixed while operating. Unlike a sliding miter gauge, a fixed miter gauge is used to cut compact or short items such as picture frames. The angles greater than 90 can be measured with the fixed miter gauge. To use a fixed miter gauge, you will need to grab the material smoothly and slowly shift the material to the other side of the gauge.
For cutting the edges, both of these miter gauges use a blade. This blade is fastened to the arm, which shifts upward and downward. When the arm is dragged downward, the cutter puts a cut on the wood. While operating the mentioned gauges, first confirm whether the blade is razor-sharp because smooth edges will not cut the material accurately. This would cause you to fix your wood continuously.
Using a miter gauge, grab the wood opposite the blade and draw the lever backwards till the edge crashes on the horizon. Afterwards, lift the wooden log to one side of the blade. After cutting, put the knife back in its position.
For scraping of wood, alloys, plastics, and glass miter gauges, if anyone does not use a miter gauge, they are prone to making uneven cuts. So miter gauge plays a crucial role in creating a sharp and straight cut.
How To Use A Miter Gauge?
A miter gauge tilts and assists the wooden log when being cut. While doing cross cuts, a miter gauge is there to help you, just like a rip fence.
Ways to use your miter gauge:
- Line up or set the miter gauge if necessary (consult with the previous part)
- Position the blade’s height- Now, position the wood near the cutter and move it so that the saw blade’s teeth lift up ¼ inch from the size of the material.
- Set the miter gauge: On the face of the saw blade or cutter, place the miter gauge in a sliding position so that it will support you when you cut the wood.
- Set the miter boundary angle – Now, position the gauge to the appropriate angle and compress the handle.
- Spot the cut – point a dot at the area of the amount and tilt the board up to the horizon of the cutter to avoid chopping.
- Organize yourself for cutting – Wear safety gear, double-check if your material is tightly attached to the miter gauge, and turn on the table saw.
- Time to Cut – After turning on the saw blade, place the miter gauge forward in the sliding position and provide material at an appropriate rate to resist discovering and inflaming.
- Power off the table saw- After the work is done, pull off the saw and wait for it to stop before unloading the material.
How to Read the Miter Gauge?
Adjust the cutter of the miter gauge on the opposite side of the material. Grasp the indicator in its position and scale the angle using the hand.
Can You Make a 45-Degree Cut Without Miter Gauge on Table Saw?
The short answer is No! You can’t make a 45-degree cut without using a miter gauge.
Spot the Variations Between a Miter Gauge and a Miter Slot?
A: Only difference is their angles. 90, 45, or 30-degree cuts can be made using a miter gauge. 45-degree cuts can be made by using a miter slot.
Is a Table Saw Miter Gauge Considered Universal Equipment?
The holes on many table saws are alike; hence a universal miter gauge can be fitted easily on most saw blades. However, it is still recommended to examine the saw’s features before buying a miter gauge. Even though it is rare, some saws are unique in hole patterns, and you will have difficulty fitting your miter gauge on them.
Can a Miter Gauge Cut 45-degree Tapers?
While a typical miter cut is naturally at a 45-degree taper, a miter scale can be used to ensure the accuracy of the cut. Moreover, you can also cut two or 4-sided tapers at 45 degrees using a miter scale. But the size of miter gauges is a bit small; you can use a taper jig if you want to cut long tapers.
How is a Miter Scale Typically Used?
The primary function of a miter scale is to measure the angle of a cut. The scale is fixed on the table and moves in different directions parallel to the sides of the table. It will help a person to check what part is being cut. It is necessary to use a miter scale when using a miter saw.
Is a Miter Gauge Required to Trim a 45-degree Angle?
Yes, but to cut 45 degrees on a miter, you will need a miter gauge as well as a miter slot. This type of trim is also known as a miter cut.