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How to make a miter box for skirting boards. Self-made miter box

Conifers in garden design

The miter box is one of the tools that is practical to use and can be useful for construction and repair work. This article will talk about the features of the device, the scope of its use, and also describe the manual method of manufacture.

What is a stool and what is it used for

A miter box, as a rule, is an additional tool that is used when working with different materials, where you need to cut an object at a specific angle. The tool is of different types:

  • standard;
  • turning;
  • electric.

So, let's look at the characteristics of each type.

A simple-shaped tool is a tray that has grooves at the ends for a saw. This design helps to accurately cut the installed area at a specific angle. In the standard form, the miter box is indicated by 45 degrees and 60, which is most often used in construction.

There are other variations of the miter box that are designed for professional work. One variation is the swivel miter box. This shape helps to cut the object with maximum accuracy and the least deviation. Such a miter box has a stable base, and a rotary part fixed on it, which is a guide element for the saw. This part can be fixed with literally up to 1 degree, which helps to cut the object accurately and accurately.

One of the most expensive and complex variations is the electric miter box. In its form, it consists of two parts: an electric saw and a rotary miter box. Expensive and professional examples are marked with a laser. This kind of miter box helps to make an extremely accurate cut of objects in a minimum amount of time.

In fact, it can be determined that this tool is used in carpentry. In its form, it represents a certain template, which is designed to cut the material at a certain angle. The most popular way of application is the miter box for skirting boards, as well as floor and ceiling. With the tool, the worker can confidently spray items made of plastic, wood, plastic, as well as cable ducts.

The process of using the miter box in practice is not so complicated. First of all, you need to put the object in the middle of the tool and carefully saw it with a hacksaw at the required angle. But still, in any work there are nuances and features. Before starting sawing, it is necessary to determine the angle of the cut: internal or external. Of course, every worker or builder is able to make such a tool himself. The process of making a miter box is simple and does not take much time and quantity of materials.

Advantages of a homemade miter box

Anyone can buy such a tool in a store for a small price. But, a home-made design has its advantages and features:

  • the ability to create a multifunctional tool with different corners;
  • a strong material is used in the manufacture, which helps to serve the product for more than one year;
  • fast manufacturing method;
  • the minimum number of consumable items;
  • tool making will be free if you have old boards from a previous repair at home.

Only one feature remains in a home-made tool to make the correct calculation for the designation of angles.

List of necessary materials and tools for work

Making a miter box with your own hands is not so difficult if you follow the recommendations of experts. To begin with, make sure that the materials prepared for work are sanded. For the manufacture of the miter box, it is important to choose wood that must be dried, without dents, and have a smooth surface without any defects. You should not choose plastic as the starting material, because it is not strong, and therefore can be easily damaged during work. Boards made for the tool should be about 2 centimeters thick.

Before starting work, it is worth preparing such devices:

  • Ruler and pencil;
  • fine-grained skin;
  • hacksaw for metal;
  • vise;
  • drill with a different set of drills;
  • euro screws (confirmations);
  • hacksaw with small teeth, designed for sawing skirting boards.

All of the above tools should be enough to get the job done. Among the additional devices, a hex wrench may come in handy, with which it will be easier to tighten the confirmations. Also, before starting work, it is worth preparing individual elements for a home-made tool. Before proceeding with the description of the instructions: how to make a miter box with your own hands, let's pay attention to a detailed inspection of the manufacture of parts for the fixture.

Choosing a saw or hacksaw for a miter box

First of all, before starting work, it is worth choosing a hacksaw for work in order to make a miter box. Actually, a miter box is chosen for a hacksaw, and not in the reverse order. A good and high-quality saw should have the following characteristics:

  • have a thin blade;
  • small teeth;
  • good cruelty.

The presence of small teeth makes sawing wood neat and flawless. The thin blade adds confidence that the material will be cut straight along the line. Too elastic hacksaw blades is a significant drawback. It is possible to eliminate it with a butt - a special rib of strength and stiffness. Miter box hacksaw - the photo shows all the features of this tool blade.

For sawing skirting boards and polyurethane, it is recommended to choose a saw for metal. Such a tool has a perfectly even and thin blade, as well as the necessary rigidity, which is obtained by tensioning the blade. Also, a hacksaw may be suitable for spraying template cuts, and in the field of making fixtures.

Preparing the side walls for the miter box

Parts of plywood or scraps of boards are used as the manufacture of side parts for the miter box. In order for the tool to turn out to be of high quality, it is worth adhering to accurate measurements and recommendations:

  • the approximate dimensions of the side walls should be 10 mm for plywood and 20 mm for the board;
  • their height is selected from 30 to 50 millimeters, depending on the purpose of the tool (30 mm is recommended for ceiling plinths, and about 50 mm for wooden ones);
  • the length of the side walls of the miter box should become 250 mm or more, but it is not recommended to lengthen it too much, since it will be inconvenient to perform work. As an exception, a large length of the miter box can be used, but this is only for massive objects.

After measuring the side parts of the boards, we cut out two absolutely even and identical elements. This is very important for further sawing of boards and their marking tool. In the prepared tools, we make the designations at the bottom under the confirmations.

How to make markings for cuts of the miter box

Answering the question: how to make a miter box? - it is important to first determine the markup for the cuts, after which you can already proceed to the last stage of work. So, the markup manufacturing process is as follows:

1. Two manufactured side walls are applied to each other.

2. We check all the edges, which must exactly match each other.

3. Using a vice, we connect two workpieces.

4. Find a point in the middle of the line and mark it with a pencil or marker.

5. Then we measure the angle of 45 and 90 degrees on opposite edges.

6. Let's start making diagonal cuts with a hacksaw. This device has fine teeth, which will ensure a smooth and accurate cut.

7. For direct spraying, the depth of cut must be significant so that you can continue working with a hacksaw. We make an incision only to the base of the miter box, but not deeper.

8. In the same way, we make another slot perpendicular to this one, which is important for a smooth cut of the edges of the plinth.

9. After all, we clean the cuts from debris with sanding paper or a needle file.

Making a miter box: the last stage

At the last stage of work, it is necessary to connect all the blanks:

1. We will attach the side parts of the blanks to the base so that the end area of ​​the guide boards can be connected to the side ones.

2. According to the previously formed marks, we drill holes with a drill. It is better to use drills with different diameters for the drilling process than using one step designed for confirmations. With larger drills in diameter, we first form an area for confirmation, and with a sharper drill with a certain thread we make a hole of the required length at the base of the butt.

3. With the help of confirmations, we tighten all the details. For better convenience, you can make a hole in the middle of the tool and connect it to a table or other flat surface.

5. You can make cuts at the base of the fixture, which is used as marks for convenience in the process.

Definitely, almost everyone can make a corner miter box, but in any case, it is worth considering the nuances and features of the work. For example, if you want to make the tool collapsible, then it is enough to fix it with confirmations, and the use of glue is not necessary. For professional and stationary work, it is better to attach the tool to a surface, such as a desktop.

With a high work load, it is worth attaching a piece of material, for example, rubber, to the back of the working surface, which will not allow the tool to move. In the process of manufacturing the tool, it is worthwhile to correctly calculate the width of the base. As a rule, it depends on the dimensions of the processed materials.

Rules for using the miter box

To learn how to use a miter box in work, you do not need certain skills and abilities. It's not that difficult to learn the option of sawing corners, and all the knowledge will be useful to you in repair work around the house.

Making a miter box is only one part of the job. To learn how to accurately spray parts, it is important to use the tool correctly in the job. For first-time anglers, you need to learn how to measure angles. To improve your skills, you can first practice on samples of wooden and polyurethane skirting boards.

Attention: When using a miter box, it is necessary to remember some details and features of work. After all, it should be borne in mind that the skirting boards that are connected must have two sides - right and left:

  • the right side is respectively placed on the right side of the plinth, and the sawn off corner is on the left;
  • the left side of the plinth is placed in the tool on the left side, and the sawing angle on the right side.

This rule is intended mostly for beginners, but still you should not ignore it in your work.

The second rule is to relate to pressing the necessary object to the sides of the miter box, that is, it is necessary to determine whether the sawn object will be placed closer or farther from the master. This adjustment should be considered on examples and mistakes that are made by employees.

There are four main errors that workers make when using a miter box with a hacksaw incorrectly.

1. The first mistake is inaccurate pacification of the plinth. In most cases, this leads to the fact that the cut corners of the skirting boards turned out to be uneven among themselves. To avoid this mistake, it is worth dividing the plinth into certain parts, and adjusting them along the periphery, and not at the corners, taking into account direct inserts.

2. The second error occurs as a result of confusion in the definition of external or internal corners. For cash, it is important to mark the object, with markings at the appropriate corners. After that, it is necessary to connect the marks with the grooves on the tool, fix the plinth and spray it.

3. The next mistake is the wrong cut of the skirting boards for the ceiling. They are opposite to the floor plinths, and therefore they must be sawn the other way around.

4. The last mistake is that after cutting the skirting board with an exact angle, they do not match. Thus, it is worth fixing the object in the tool as it is located on the ceiling.

When working with a swivel chair, you must follow the same instructions and recommendations, regardless of the angle set.

Using our tips and tricks, you can easily make a homemade miter box without any extra effort. We hope that the instructions and explanations provided by us will help you do your job without difficulty and will be useful to you in practice.

Experienced and novice craftsmen prefer to use devices in their activities that make their work easier. Among such tools, the miter box stands out. It is indispensable when performing cuts on wooden blanks and products made of profiled material at various angles.

What is the device used for?

The miter box is a template in the form of a tray made of wood, plaster, plastic and other convenient materials. It is designed to ensure the formation of the correct cut on the bars and other workpieces. The angle of the cut can be set independently or it is set constructively. But the greatest convenience when attaching parts is provided by a cutting angle of 45 degrees.

To make a cut, you need to take a miter box with a saw and prepare the material - wood, plastic, and other types of profiled blanks. Due to the presence of grooves, the cuts are accurate and even, since the saw will take a given position.

The tool makes it possible to closely connect the parts, and if necessary, it is possible to change the angle - it can be increased or decreased according to a new drawing.


Varieties of devices

There are many types of this auxiliary tool, which differ in design and sawing capabilities. Therefore, it is necessary to initially determine which miter box to choose for a specific scope of work, whether it will be a professional or household model.

box model

A simple modification of the miter box can be industrially manufactured or created at home. As a rule, such a miter box is made of plastic and has several slots, which are convenient guides for the cutting tool.

With it, you can saw slats, wooden bars, drywall. You can choose the angle in the horizontal plane 22.5, 45, 90, 135 degrees and 45 degrees in the vertical position. Although models with two positions are often sold - at 45 and 90 degrees.

This is a simple and mobile model, which, however, has strictly fixed cutting angles. The quality of the cut surface also suffers, and the movements themselves must be short, which leads to the frequent loss of the hacksaw from the groove.

Mechanical miter box rotary type

To improve the accuracy of cutting, a rotary miter box is used. It is used for processing wood or plastic workpieces of medium and small thickness. In work, you can operate a hacksaw from 290-600 mm with a turn of 15-135 degrees. There are also models with the ability to rotate up to 180 degrees. Structurally, the device consists of a metal frame.


Instead of a side wall, a swivel structure is equipped, which involves fastening the blade for cutting in the guides of the swivel unit. The miter box is supplemented with a back or bow saw. The base of the miter box has a special clamp for fixing the workpiece.

Among the available models, you can choose Fit Profi and Champion 180, the ZUBR miter box saw. The advantage of the design is the high accuracy of work, as well as the long stroke of the saw, as a result of which the sawing speed increases. The depth of cut will be higher, it is possible to process parts of different lengths and thicknesses.

Electric miter box

In this device, two elements are distinguished - an electric saw with a miter box of a rotary type. This is an expensive tool that allows you to cut with maximum accuracy and minimal loss of working time. As part of the design, a laser is allocated to mark the markup.

Magnetic modification

A device with wooden or plastic guides in which magnets are built. Due to their presence, the canvas is attracted and fixed in the slots.

This is a compact device that provides cutting at a given angle with a minimum step. Compared to rotary designs, the performance and quality of work is still lower.

Technology of use

The use of a miter box greatly facilitates the work of the master. There is no need to adjust to the cutting angle, determine it by eye or work on fixing the cutting blade. To understand how to use the miter box, you need to follow several basic steps:

Fix the miter box with screws or a clamp on a flat surface. Make markings on the workpiece with a pencil or laser. Place the workpiece in the tray at one of the walls. The markings made should be opposite the corresponding slot with a given angle. Insert a hacksaw and cut.

In this case, you should carefully study the instructions for using the electrical device, as well as carefully use the cutting blade.

If the workpiece is not symmetrical, then its working part must exactly touch the bottom plane of the tray. When working, the force should be evenly distributed on the cutting blade. This will prevent breakage of soft material.

Making a chair at home

If you decide to make a miter box with your own hands, then there is nothing complicated about it. At the first stage, the base material is selected. It is advisable to take a board made of coniferous wood up to 20 mm thick. An oak blank is taken with a thickness of 10-15 mm. It is recommended to prepare a base board with a smooth surface and even corners.

Then it is necessary to make a box with a width of no more than 150 mm for more ergonomic work. The sidewalls are fastened to the lower plane with self-tapping screws. Edges are installed on the base.

Answering the question of how to make a miter box with high quality, you need to pay attention to the technology for making slots. First, you should make an accurate marking with lines parallel to each other and at an equal distance.

To make cuts, use a hacksaw with a sharp blade. The sandpaper will help you widen the grooves.

To work using a miter box, you need to choose the right hacksaw. The canvas should be thin, but durable. Fine teeth preferred.

The miter box is used not only in the field of construction and repairs, but also wherever accurate and accurate sawing is required. The level of marriage is reduced, and the speed of manipulations is significantly increased.

Miter box photo

The number of building tools today just rolls over. Moreover, there are such devices, the task of which is to facilitate the difficult work of the masters. For example, we can recall such a wonderful device as a miter box. This is a useful tool, the operation of which allows you to cut any profiled material, including small boards, slats, etc. at a fixed angle. As a rule, cuts are made at an angle of 45 degrees, but modern models allow you to make angles of any value. But more about everything in our article.

Manual miter box - an auxiliary tool from Germany

This word takes its roots from the German language, the literal translation from which means "junction". The tool itself is a rectangular box, in which there are special slots on the sides. The miter box is inexpensive and is sold at any hardware store. If desired, any master can make a miter box with his own hands, since this process is very simple and absolutely anyone can do it. With the help of the device, you will be able to cut metal and wooden elements at the desired angle.

Outwardly, the device resembles a small tray, in which there are diagonal slots on opposite sides. Slots are guides for the cutting tool. As a rule, the miter box is made of plastic elements, metal or wood. Moreover, depending on the type of product being processed, various miter boxes can be used. So for trimming a small number of simple parts, a wooden miter box is ideal, while a metal counterpart is used when working with molded elements.

When buying a miter box in a store, you should pay attention not only to the quality of the material, but also to the brand of the manufacturer. Many well-known brands are engaged in the release of such products, in addition to the production of their main products. Experts advise using a miter box such as Fit41255, manufactured by the brand of the same name. The model allows you to work with plastic, metal and wooden structures, make cuts at angles of 135, 90, 45 and 22.5 degrees. The device comes with two eccentrics necessary for a strong and reliable fixation of the elements. The complete set of more expensive models of the manufacturer may include additional features, including a saw.

Another very popular and sought-after model is such a miter box as Stanley120112. This tool is produced by injection molding from impact-resistant plastic. Allows work in two planes - horizontal and vertical. It has a convenient and compact size to work in any room. For fixing on workbenches, special fasteners are used, due to which it is possible to avoid the appearance of even a minimal backlash when cutting parts.

By purchasing the Stayer Profi 15402 model, you will receive an auxiliary tool for sawing boards at any angle from 0 to 180 degrees. The cost of such a device is somewhat higher than its competitors, but for this money you will receive a very high-quality and reliable unit that will faithfully serve its owners for a long time. Its distinguishing feature is the presence of a mounting screw, as well as a special mechanism that allows you to set the graduation step to 15 degrees.

Classification division - types of tools

The miter box is a simple tool to use. Learning how to make a miter box at home is very simple. But, despite all this ease of operation and operation, the devices have their own classification scale:

  • Simple is the most popular model that is produced by companies for use in the home. In most cases, the model does not contain additional features or fixtures, with the exception of slots for cutting tools. The simplest miter box model is designed for processing drywall, wood, plastic material, including bars, profiles, slats and skirting boards.
  • Swivel - differs from a simple model in the presence of a hacksaw up to 600 mm long, which is installed on a plastic or metal base. This design has the ability to rotate up to 135 degrees.
  • Electric - practically no different from a rotary miter box. The only difference is that the saw available is electric.

The last two modifications belong to the category of professional tools, they allow cutting products in two planes. When buying such a unit, you should give preference to metal and aluminum models, which are distinguished by the highest rates in terms of durability, durability and reliability. If desired, you can purchase a device made of hardwood, but their cost is very high due to the expensive raw materials for the production of tools.

Professional models can be used at home, but their cost is too high compared to simple devices.

Such models have found their application in professional workshops where maximum precision, high productivity, and the ability to work at various angles are required. Unlike simple miter boxes, in rotary and electric modifications, a cutting structure with a saw blade is used instead of slots. A thickened saw, which is equipped with a special overlay, acts as a saw. Thanks to the functioning of such overlays, craftsmen in the workshops are able to perform accurate cuts of profiles, skirting boards and rails at any angle as quickly and accurately as possible.

Miter box at home - we make the tool ourselves

As noted earlier, the miter box does not belong to the category of goods that can only be found in the store. If you wish, you can always make a miter box with your own hands, spending a little time and effort, but saving some financial resources. The biggest difficulty in this matter is, as you might guess, the accuracy of the device. This will take the most time to achieve the desired angle in the slots, as well as that they perfectly match each other and are located opposite.

First of all, boards up to 2 cm thick will be required. Ideally, you need to find hardwood boards, but coniferous will also work. Using a grinder, it is required to polish the surface, get rid of all mechanical defects and notches. The width of one element is approximately 15 cm. After sanding and cutting the boards to the required width, you will need to connect them into a tray at a right angle.

Next comes the most difficult stage of the operation - marking and creating slots. To begin with, on both ends, a mark of 90 degrees, while both lines should be located exactly opposite each other. Stepping back 15 cm, using a pencil, draw diagonal lines for angles of 45 degrees. Before each next mark, it is required to leave a gap approximately equal to the width of the box - this will significantly increase the duration of the tool.

The last step in creating a miter box is to make cuts with a well-sharpened sharp hacksaw. That's all, you got a ready-made miter box, with which you can cut the boards at an angle of 45 degrees at any time. As a rule, other angles are not required when processing materials at home.

How to use the miter box - features of working with the device

Now it remains only to learn how to properly use the miter box. Regardless of the type of material being cut, the principle of working with the tool is always the same. First of all, you will need to take care of the following additional devices:

  1. 1. Miter box
  2. 2. Pencil
  3. 3. Ruler
  4. 4. Sandpaper
  5. 5. Mounting knife
  6. 6. Hacksaw

When choosing a hacksaw, you should pay attention to the features of each specific material. After all, skirting boards, for example, are made from a variety of materials - wood chips, natural wood, plastic, foam, aluminum. It is required to choose just such a hacksaw that will not spoil the rail, and also will not harm itself. So, a hacksaw for metal is ideal for working not only with metal, but also with plastic, while a regular mounting knife will be indispensable for processing foam. If you want to cut a wooden rail with a miter box, you will need a hacksaw with fine teeth.

In order to avoid problems with how to use the miter box, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

  • Before starting work, check the angle at which the walls converge to avoid large gaps after cutting the baseboard.
  • A small gap of up to 7 mm should be left for fitting, which will be fully compensated by the curvature of the baseboard and an imperfectly flat surface
  • To perform a high-quality cut, you need to use cutting structures designed for processing the material of your choice.
  • The joint can be decorated, for example, with the help of beautiful corners that are made for external and internal joints.

Thus, the miter box is a very convenient and useful tool that allows you to significantly speed up the work when cutting skirting boards, profiles and rails, even for real professionals. By making a miter box yourself or buying it at a hardware store, you will simplify your life and also reduce the percentage of marriage during circumcision.

Framing the ceiling and flooring requires even cutting it in the corners. In order for the ends of the plinth to exactly touch each other in the corners of the apartment, without forming gaps, it is necessary to make even cuts.

A tool that helps to make exactly the right cuts for each other is called a miter box.

What is a miter box for skirting boards, what is its price, is it possible to make such a tool on your own, with your own hands, how to use it correctly for processing skirting boards, which skirting board to choose - questions that our article will answer.

General information

What is a miter box for skirting boards

This word comes from the German word "Stoß" - "joint". The word "Stoßlade" means "miter box." A miter box is a carpentry tool designed for cutting materials at a certain angle.

It is a tray with oblique slots. This tray resembles an inverted letter "P". The width of each slot is such that it should fit a hacksaw blade for sawing skirting boards. Slots are made on the side strips, which are placed on a board 150 mm wide. Side planks have 3 or more slots. Wood, plastic and polyurethane are cut with this carpentry tool.

What are chairs used for?

The carpentry tool miter box is used for:

  1. processing of window and door frames;
  2. production of platbands;
  3. cornices, glazing beads (for fixing glass);
  4. cuts cable - channels;
  5. for the manufacture of baguette frames for photographs and paintings;
  6. cutting corners of skirting boards.

miter box classification

This carpentry tool is divided according to design features and material of manufacture.

By design features, tools are classified into simple, rotary and electric.

Simple or regular miter boxes are formulaic and not adjustable. The material is cut only at an angle laid in the slots. Basically, in such miter boxes there are 3 slots, but there are miter boxes that have more slots - up to 12 pieces. It contains not only angles of 45 and 90 degrees. but also others: 15 degrees, 60, 135, 30.

The width of the miter box is much larger than the dimensions of the material to be cut. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a clamp, with which the workpiece is attached to the miter box, and then sawn off. The clamp helps to fix the workpiece so that it cannot move. If there is no clamp, then when sawing off the baseboard, you need to hold it with your hand.

Some miter boxes have a perforated bottom in which pin-shaped stops are built in. When choosing a hacksaw for sawing off a workpiece using a miter box, it is important to take into account the size of the blade. The width of the web must match the width of the slot. If the canvas is too thick, the slot will increase in size.

The miter box will be damaged, just like the cutting edge of the hacksaw. It is best to buy a kit that, in addition to the miter box, includes a hacksaw. The set is selected so that the width of the hacksaw fully fits under the slot of the miter box. Sometimes there is an overlay on top of the hacksaw, which prevents the cutting edge from touching the bottom of the miter box, and serves as a limiter. Thus, both the miter box and the hacksaw will not suffer when sawing parts. In addition, the overlay increases the rigidity of the hacksaw.

The rotary miter box allows you to shift the direction of the blade relative to the plane of the part, change the angle of inclination. (15 degrees, 22,5,30,90,45,60.)

The design of the rotary miter box depends on the purpose, functionality and purpose of processing the product. The classic swivel miter box is a base made of metal or durable plastic, and on which a swivel platform is installed. A fixed frame with a hacksaw is attached to it on 4 pins. Using a special scale, the cutting angle is set. The workpiece is placed in the tray and fixed.

There are other more accurate rotary miter boxes. This:


An electric miter box helps cut material with filigree precision. This is a tool that is an electric saw mounted on a rotary base. The disadvantage of the electric miter box is its high price and bulky size.

Professionals offer a tool that can replace an electric miter box, but the quality and accuracy of the cut will not suffer. This is a precision miter box, a professional hand tool for DIYers. This tool is a precision saw in special guides. The saw is fixed at the desired angle. Such a miter box is metal and plastic.

According to the material of manufacture, they are:

  • wooden;
  • from plastic;
  • metal.

Wooden miter boxes are rare in recent times. It is difficult to get it on the market. Until recently, wooden miter boxes were common, but with the advent of plastic and metal, they have become less common. When using them, be careful, careless handling of the hacksaw can damage the miter box. In order not to damage it, you need to take a special saw that cuts only the baseboard.

Plastic tools are inexpensive, have a variety of sizes, and are light in weight. But they have one important drawback. They quickly become unusable due to the fact that their width increases each time and, finally, reaches a size that exceeds the allowable rate. As a result of this, the hacksaw occupies an unstable position, the cuts are uneven, inaccurate.

metal miter boxes are durable material. They are made from steel or aluminium. Long service life, reliability of the tool are reflected in its price: it is high. The cuts on this tool are very precise. They are used mainly by professionals.

How to choose a miter box

To choose the right miter box, you need to pay attention to well-known, proven brands. So, the model "Fit 41255" is made of hard plastic. It can cut wood, plastic and metal workpieces. The width of the part to be cut is 120mm. Workpieces can be sawn off at angles of 45,90,22.5 and 135 degrees. Equipped with a back saw.

  • "Stanley1-20-112" famous among craftsmen for its precision and quality of cut. Cuts are made at an angle of 22.5, 45 and 90 degrees in the vertical plane and 45 in the horizontal. Eccentrics firmly fix the workpieces. The miter box is made of impact-resistant plastic.
  • "Zubr15375-75" also appreciated by craftsmen, it allows you to accurately make cuts. It is made of durable ABS plastic, so it is strong and reliable for a long time.
  • Miter box "Stayer 15402" - professional carpentry tool, which differs from others in that it is possible to cut a part in the range from 0 to 180 degrees, the graduation step is 15 degrees. The fixing screw firmly fixes the part.

Professional miter boxes cut corners better and more accurately.

  • "Fit Pro 41321"- a rotary miter box supplied with a steel saw. The part is securely fastened with a clamp. The miter box is made of steel, aluminum or plastic. The length of the working part is 60cm.
  • "Champion180" is half a meter long. This rotary miter box fixes products at 45 and 90 degrees, but at the same time can process polygonal parts (four, five, six, eight and 12 coal). The miter box is equipped with a bow saw with a pitch of 1.4mm. The maximum width of the workpiece is 20 cm. The processing depth is 20 cm.
  • Miter box "Bison-saw" - professional works in horizontal and vertical planes. The rotary fixture allows you to saw off workpieces from non-ferrous metal, alloys and steel. The scale determines the rotation of the saw to the required angle. The rigidity and strength of the swivel saw helps to cut the corner of the baseboard with filigree precision.
  • Miter box-saw "Stayer" allows you to work without additional measuring tools, because its base is marked. The metal base is strong, the maximum width of the workpiece that fits on it is 160mm. Depth of cut 600 mm. Adjustment of the saw tension, its various rotation and inclination contributes to the precise sawing of workpieces.
  • Miter box "Kupper" has great functionality. It not only rotates at a certain angle, but also the carriage moves along the miter box body along the guide. This ability of the carriage helps to fix it in the right place of the workpiece. The part to be cut, while remaining motionless, is fixed with removable clamps. When processing material in a vertical plane, there is a hinge with a scale. You can process the workpiece in vertical and horizontal planes at the same time. On this miter box, you can achieve the desired depth of cut, which helps in the manufacture of parts with spikes. The workpiece diameter can reach 150 mm.

Instructions for using the miter box

The miter box is placed on the desktop and secured with screws or a clamp. The workpiece must be marked, then inserted into the miter box so that the mark is opposite the required cut. Press the workpiece by hand or secure. A hacksaw is inserted into the cut and the workpiece is cut at a certain angle. It is necessary to use a special backing hacksaw so that the cut is accurate, accurate. Insert the second workpiece with the other side and make a cut. Smooth out the irregularities with fine sandpaper.

You can buy a miter box in a store, on the market or make it yourself.

Advantages of a homemade miter box

Creating a miter box with your own hands has several advantages:

  1. small consumption of materials left after repair. Making a tool with your own hands does not require investment;
  2. for the manufacture of the miter box you use a strong, reliable, environmentally friendly material;
  3. you can create a multifunctional working tool that will last you for many years;
  4. you can make grooves at such angles as you need, but for this you need to correctly calculate and mark out materials for work;
  5. a quick manufacturing method will not require significant labor efforts from you.

How to make a miter box with your own hands

Before you start working on making a miter box with your own hands, you need to prepare high-quality material. The wood must be well dried, with a smooth surface, without defects and dents. It is better not to take plastic for an independent miter box, because it can be damaged during its manufacture. The thickness of the boards should be about 2cm. Prepare a ruler and a pencil, fine sandpaper, a vise, a drill with a set of drills, euro screws and a hex key to tighten them. hacksaw for metal.

Make the side walls of the miter box. They can be made from 1cm thick plywood or 2cm thick boards. The height of each of the boards can vary from 30 to 50 mm, the length is 25 cm, but not more, too long boards will interfere with work. On the surface of the boards, make marks to indicate the holes for the screws, and then mark the cuts.

To do this, accurately connect the two workpieces, fastening them with a vise. Make a mark in the middle of the line with a pencil or marker. Mark 45 and 90 degree angles on opposite edges. Make cuts with a hacksaw. The depth of cut should be significant, but not reach the bottom of the miter box. Make a cut perpendicular to this one. Clean the cuts with fine sandpaper. Now you need to connect the sides to the base. Connect the end sides of the bottom of the future miter box with the side boards.

Drill holes according to the marks on the sides of the miter box intended for confirmations. Fasten the boards with screws. It is best to make a hole in the middle of the base to connect to the desktop. In the process of making the miter box yourself, do not use glue, because a collapsible tool is more convenient than a glued one. It is important to reinforce a piece of rubber on the back of the work surface, which will help the tool to be motionless. The width of the miter box base depends on the size of the processed materials.

Attention: the right side of the plinth must be placed in the tool on the right side, and the cut off corner on the left side. And vice versa: the left side of the plinth is on the left side of the miter box, and the sawn off corner is on the right side.

How to cut a ceiling plinth without a miter box

To hide the uneven border between the walls and the ceiling, you can cut off the inner and outer corners on the plinth without a miter box. It would seem that there is nothing easier in cutting off the edges of the ceiling plinths: I made an angle of 45 degrees on each fillet and glued one to the other.

However, this is not so, because the angles in the apartments, especially in old buildings, are not the same. One corner of the room can be 93 degrees, another 87, the third 91, etc. Due to the fact that the corners of the apartment are not the same, when joining the edges of the skirting boards cut at 45 degrees, gaps are formed between them, violating the harmony of the interior. So that there are no gaps between the skirting boards, it is necessary to strictly and strictly follow our advice.

To properly cut corners without a miter box, you need:

  • prepare a cutting tool. It can be a saw for metal or a sharp knife. Take a ceiling plinth (in another way it is called a fillet) and attach it to the corner of the ceiling as you will glue it;
  • draw a line along the baseboard on the ceiling, and then remove the part;
  • the next step is to place another fillet at that corner and draw a line along it. After removing the plinth, you will see markings on the ceiling. The lines from the two skirting boards will intersect at a certain point in the corner;
  • again attach the first plinth to the ceiling along the markings and mark the intersection point on its inside. Then remove the plinth;
  • draw a line from the marked point to the opposite corner of the fillet. This will be the place to cut the plinth. Do the same with the other plinth. Next, cut out the inner corner along the drawn line with a sharp knife. Put the cut skirting boards one on top of the other in the corner of the room. If there are no gaps between them, then you can stick them. If the gap is still visible, then correct it with a knife.

If the angle in the apartment is exactly 90 degrees, then it is best to use the second method. It is necessary to take cardboard and draw two parallel lines at a distance greater than the width of the plinth. Next, mark the center between them and attach a protractor. Mark a 45 degree angle. Attach the cardboard to the corner to check the correct layout. Transfer the markup to the plinth, attaching its bottom edge to one of the lines, cut the corner on the fillet with a sharp knife. Do the same with the other plinth.

The next option for cutting the inner corner of the plinth without a miter box is also simple and interesting, and does not require much labor. Measure the end of the skirting board and measure this distance from its edge. Draw a diagonal line between the bottom edge mark and the top corner of the skirting board. An angle of 45 degrees will be accurate. Cut the inner corner along the line. Cut the second plinth in a mirror image.

Results

Today about what a miter box is, what this carpentry tool is like. We explained to you what parts and how to cut different types of miter boxes, we offered high-quality models of well-known brands. Instructions on how to make a miter box with your own hands can help you save money and not buy it for your home workshop, but make it yourself.

Sometimes the skirting boards can be cut without a miter box. We have explained in detail in what ways you can cut the exact corner of the ceiling plinths without using a miter box. After reading the article, you will consider all the pros and cons of this or that way of cutting the corners of the plinth and choose for yourself the most suitable one for you and your conditions.

We hope that our tips will help you carefully cut the corners of the ceiling plinths, giving your repair completeness and an attractive look to the apartment.

A miter box is a device that carpentry craftsmen have been using for centuries to saw off platbands, skirting boards, baguette strips and other details where a mustache connection is required. What are the features of various types of such tools, let's figure it out together.

Miter box manual - an amateur tool?

This word comes from the German language - Stösse(joint), Stosslade- miter box. This device is a rectangular tray with slots on the sides, usually at an angle of 45º. Usually it is made of wood, less often of plastic and aluminum alloy. A tool like a “box with cuts” can be factory-made, or you can make a miter box with your own hands. This simple design is used for sawing parts made of wood and metals. It is used in piece production.

Mittens of simple design are in demand. Many well-known companies, along with all sorts of complex tools, also produce such “boxes with cuts”. When buying a miter box, it is advisable to choose a product of brands that have already proven themselves. For example, model Fit 41255 made of hard plastic designed for cutting wood, metal and plastics. Parts can be cut at 22.5º, 45º, 90º and 135º angles. The kit includes two eccentrics for fixing the part. Weighs 700 g, length - 310 mm, maximum width of the workpiece - 120 mm. Can be equipped with a saw.

Recognized in wide circles of masters is Stanley 1-20-112, which is made of impact-resistant plastics by injection molding, is equipped with two eccentrics, it is possible to cut blanks at angles of 22.5º, 45º, 90º along the vertical plane and at 45º - horizontally, overall dimensions - 310x130 mm. Can be rigidly fixed to a workbench. Convenient to use also ZUBR 15375-75, such a miter box is made of high-impact ABS plastic, grooves are sawn out at the base that allow you to saw the workpiece to the end without damaging the fixture. miter box STAYER 15402 (PROFI) differs from other models in that it is possible to cut parts at any angle in the range from 0 to 180º, the graduation step is -15º. A fixing screw is provided for reliable fixation of the angle.

Miter box as a professional tool

In workshop conditions, when higher productivity is required, simple miter boxes no longer meet the requirements, and it is more rational to purchase professional mechanical devices with a metal case and a rotary carriage. In such tools, instead of side walls with cuts, there is a special rotary design, with a securely fixed saw blade. Almost all rotary models are completed with back saws. This is a hand saw with a blade thickened and reinforced with a special overlay. Such a fairly rigid design allows you to accurately perform all sawing operations at any angle.

All professional miter boxes are graduated from 0 to 180º, in addition, almost all of them can cut in two planes. Most wanted brands: fit, Champion, stayer And bison.

  • FIT Profi 41321– rotary miter box, supplied with the saw, the length of the working part is 600 mm. It is made of steel, aluminum alloy and durable plastic. The built-in clamp securely fixes the workpiece. The saw blade is made of high quality steels.
  • Champion 180- rotary miter box, length - 0.5 m, equipped with a bow saw, blade with a step of 1.4 mm. There is a fixation at 45º and 90º, as well as angles for sawing blanks for polygonal (4, 5, 6, 8 and 12 angles) products. It is possible to adjust the depth of cut, the maximum height is up to 200 mm. The maximum workpiece width is up to 200 mm.
  • Miter box saw bison- professional, rotary model for sawing workpieces in vertical and horizontal planes. The saw is fixed on the body of the device on a rotary axis and can be set to the desired angle. You can install blades for working with workpieces made of non-ferrous metals, alloys and steel. The saw is made on precision equipment from a material that provides structural rigidity and strength. On the working surface of the scale in centimeters and inches to determine the size of the workpiece, there is also a scale in degrees.
  • Miter box saw stayer it is used for precise sawing of workpieces, here the accuracy of setting the angles is quite high, the base of the miter box is marked - it allows you to work without additional measuring tools. Cutting depth up to 600 mm, workpiece width up to 160 mm. The base of the device is metal, the tension of the saw blade is adjustable.
  • But the miter box of the company Kupper– even more functional product. The device differs from other types of this class in that not only the saw rotates to the desired angle, but the entire carriage moves along the guide on the miter box body. This allows you to fix the carriage at any point of the workpiece, without moving it. To set a given angle, you need to combine the necessary values ​​​​on the scales of the carriage and body. Sawing can be carried out in horizontal and vertical planes. To work in a vertical plane there is a special hinge with a scale. You can work in both planes at the same time. Workpieces are fixed with removable clamps. There is a function that allows you to set the desired depth of cut, this is important in the manufacture of parts with "thorns". The maximum section of the workpiece is 150x150. The length of the canvas is 0.7 m.

How to make a miter box and how to use it?

Whatever tool you come across for corner cutting, the principle of working with it is the same, so we will outline in a few words how to use the miter box correctly. Let's say we, then first of all we measure the angle at which the walls converge, divide it by 2, and mark the cut line on the product. Parts of the plinth should already have the length of the wall and on each side where the corner will be cut, have a margin of 5 cm. The front side of it is placed in the miter box, the markings must match the slot on the tool, i.e. become its continuation. We firmly press the plinth to the box and cut it with a hacksaw, cut off the adjacent part as well, just lay the slots on the other side. We clean everything with sandpaper, try it on the wall, if everything matches without gaps, you can fix the baseboard to the wall.

If there is no desire to buy a factory copy of the instrument, then you can develop your own plan for how to make a miter box, although you will have to work on its accuracy, it is here that it is important to measure seven times and cut only once. Find a board made of durable wood with a thickness of up to 1.5 cm, if there is no very strong (deciduous) one, then coniferous will do, but the thickness should reach up to 2 cm. We grind and make blanks for the bed and sides, a width of 15 cm is enough. connect them in a box at a right angle.

You can only use self-tapping screws, but our advice is to additionally coat the ends with glue and use it. Fix the entire structure with a clamp and leave to dry, removing excess glue that has come out.

Now it's time for marking and creating slots, here you need to measure the corners, in the simplest case, a square will help you. First, we put a mark of 90 ° on both ends (two lines opposite each other), then retreat 15 cm and draw oblique lines for angles of 45 ° and others that you are supposed to need in further work, between each of the following marks, retreat a distance equal to the width of the box This will ensure maximum product life. It remains to cut the slots with a thin and well-sharpened hacksaw and grind them. So we made our miter box, we already know how to use it, so we can start repairing the house.


Industrial machines as a miter box

The manual miter box is quite suitable for the production of small batches, but cannot satisfy the demand for cutting in mass production. In industry, miter saws or electric miter boxes are used. The working body of the trimming machine is a head with a fixed saw blade. The head can be rotated relative to the table in a horizontal plane at an angle of 45º in both directions. In modern productions, machines with a rotation of 15, 22.5, 30 and 55º can be used. The machine can be used as a regular circular, the disc can be changed in a few minutes.

First of all, when choosing miter saws, you need to pay attention to power - for a home workshop, optimally no more than 1.6 kW and 5-6 thousand revolutions. Trimming machines are produced by most companies specializing in the production of power tools. The leader, of course, Bosch, GCM 10 J- an excellent model of a leading German company, assembled in China. Power is 1 kW, the number of revolutions is 4.5 thousand per minute. The design of the electric motor provides reliable dust protection. The table rotation angle is 45º in both directions, the maximum cutting depth is up to 90 mm, the width of the workpiece is up to 130 mm. The weight of the installation is about 15 kg.

Keeping up with the leader Hitachi C8FSHE- This Japanese model is popular with both home craftsmen and professionals. Power 1.05 kW, revolutions - 5500 rpm, cutting angle 45º. You can process wood, aluminum, laminate, polymers. The cutting depth is 75 mm, the workpiece width is up to 312 mm, and the weight is also about 15 kg. The kit includes LED backlight, dust collector, laser pointer. And here is the local representative ENCOR Corvette it has all the same advantages as its imported counterparts, but it costs about half as much, and weighs 18 kg. In addition, the dust bag must be purchased separately!