How to use a miter box for ceiling and floor skirting boards?

A miter box is a carpentry tool designed for sawing material at a certain angle.
The use of this device greatly facilitates the work of cutting skirting boards. The tool is fixed on a workbench or table, pressed with a clamp, and is completely safe and easy to use. In this article we will look at how to use a miter box, how to make a tool with your own hands and its types.

What is a miter box for baseboards

The unusual name of the carpentry tool “miter box” comes from the German word “Stoßlade”, which, literally translated, means tsulaga (press) for miter cutting. In common parlance, a miter box is a tray resembling an inverted letter “P” in shape with paired oblique slits in the side slats located at a certain angle to the central axis.

The size of the cut slots should allow the cutting tool, saw or hacksaw to move freely, but without lateral play.

The classic number of slots is six, three on each side: two for cutting at an angle of 45 degrees (left and right parts) and one for a right angle (some tool models have slots at an angle of 15, 30.60, and 135o or in 15o increments). With the help of such a device, a 45o angle is cut out of the baseboard for precise and beautiful connection of the baguette in the corners.

It is possible to accurately cut down the skirting board without various devices. There are time-tested technologies for this. However, this is difficult and only professionals with extensive experience can do it. For self-taught people, it is better to use a miter box for ceiling plinths, which allows you to get a perfectly accurate connecting angle easily and simply.

Required materials and tools

You only need a little experience to make a miter box with your own hands. Drawings can be found on the Internet, and it is advisable to follow them, as well as the recommendations of specialists, as this allows you to avoid mistakes in the future.

First you need to thoroughly sand all materials

For such a tool, it is very important to choose high-quality and dry wood. It should not have defects, chips or dents

Experts do not recommend using plastic as a starting material, as it can easily be damaged during operation. The boards from which the miter box will be made should have a thickness of 2 centimeters.

To make a miter box for baguettes and other needs, you need to prepare the following tools:

• fine sandpaper;
• pencil;
• ruler;
• drill and a set of drills for it;
• vice;
• hacksaw with small teeth;
• comfirmats.

Such tools should be sufficient to produce the product, unless a special apparatus is made. Additionally, you can prepare a hexagon. With its help you can easily tighten the comfirmat. It is also necessary to first prepare individual elements for the tool in advance.

Choosing a saw for a miter box

Before starting all work, you should choose the right hacksaw for the device. Thus, it is the miter box that will be selected for the hacksaw in the subsequent order, and not in the reverse order. A truly high-quality hacksaw should:

• have thin blades;
• small teeth;
• be tough and stable.

If the teeth are small, the sawing will be soft and without dents or deformation of the wood. The thinness of the saw allows you to cut the material exactly along the line. If the hacksaw blade is not rigid, this will have a worse effect on the performance of the miter box. This problem can be eliminated with a butt – a special additional stiffening rib. Such a hacksaw is also needed at the beginning of work on the manufacture of the device.

In order to be able to cut skirting boards and polyurethane stucco, craftsmen recommend choosing a hacksaw for metal. The metal saw has very good rigidity, a thin and even blade due to the tension of the blade.

Preparing the Side Walls

• The width of the plywood walls should be approximately 1 centimeter for plywood and 2 centimeters for boards.
• The height is determined in the range from 3 to 5 centimeters, depending on the intended purpose of the instrument.
• The length should be on average 25 centimeters, but it is not recommended to make a miter box that is too long, since it will not be very convenient to work with it.

As an exception, a longer miter box length can be used for large items. If the height of the miter box is 3 centimeters, then it is more used for ceiling plinths, and when it is 5 centimeters, then for wooden floor skirting boards.

After determining the dimensions of the future tool, you need to measure and cut two identical elements from plywood or boards. This is an important stage of manufacturing work, since the further evenness of cutting materials will depend on it. For cut-off elements, you also first need to make marks for the confirmation materials.

How to mark up correctly

The most important stage in making a miter box is nothing more than marking it. Many people do not know how to do it correctly and evenly. In order to avoid mistakes, you should use drawings and diagrams, as well as recommendations from specialists.

The process of making markings occurs in several stages:

The final stage of production

At the final stage of manufacturing the device, it is necessary to carefully connect all the parts together. The strength of the miter box and the duration of its operation will also depend on this.

Here, too, you need to follow several steps:

And if the tool will be used in different conditions, then rubber can be mounted in the lower part. This will allow the tool to rest securely on the surface. When making a miter box, you should carefully consider the width of the base. In this case, you need to be guided by the width of the materials being processed in the future.

In what cases is it used?

It is a mistake to think that the device was invented solely for cutting corners on a baguette. The must, on the contrary, came from other areas of carpentry in the decoration of walls and ceilings. This construction tool is actively used for:

• production of door frames;
• installation of door and window frames;
• production of glazing beads for fastening window glass;
• preparing strips for frames for photographs and paintings;
• cutting cable ducts;
• cutting corners at floor and ceiling plinths.

Using a miter box as a device for working with fillets allows you to file down the ends so that they touch at the corners without gaps.

Instructions for making a miter box with your own hands

Make miter boxes from durable wood

Assembling the tool for precision cutting of lumber is carried out in the following order:

1. We drill holes for screwing in self-tapping screws. To make this procedure easier, first take a core and make small indentations at the marked points.
2. We make grooves in the side walls. Securely secure the material in place using a vice or clamps. The cut along the center line is made perpendicularly, and along the extreme lines - at an angle of 45 degrees. Make cuts strictly according to the applied markings, to the junction of the sides with the base of the miter box. The saw handle should be held tilted towards the center line.
3. The sides are ready - and now we move on to assembling the device. We attach the walls so that their middle grooves are in the same plane with the center line of the base. Then we fasten the parts with self-tapping screws. We use a screwdriver for this.
4. The miter box is almost ready. All that remains is to treat its surface with sandpaper and clean the slots from chips.

Types of miter box

Miter boxes are classified by type according to three criteria:

• size;
• the material from which the instrument is made;
• designs.

Size

Based on the first feature, there are two standard sizes:

• standard. Designed for working with narrow parts: ceiling plinths, glazing beads, frame strips (for photos and paintings), etc.;
• big. The design of such devices does not differ from standard ones. The only difference is the length and width of the tool, as well as the height of the bars. The corners of the floor plinth, platbands, door frames, etc. are cut into it.

Material

On sale you can find miter boxes made of different materials:

• wood;
• plastic;
• metal, mainly aluminum.

Tree. Wooden models of the tool have good performance characteristics: ease of use and cutting accuracy, which, together with an affordable price, have made this type of device for cutting materials at a given angle the most widespread. Adding advantages to a tool made from boards is the ability to make a miter box for the baseboard with your own hands.

Structurally, wooden tools are made of 3 boards, one of which is the base, the other two are side planks with slots at different angles. They can be dismountable - fastened with self-tapping screws and non-dismountable - the connection of the planks to the base is adhesive with the addition of self-tapping screws for rigidity.

The disadvantages include a short service life - when working with a hacksaw or a saw, the teeth of the cutting tool file down the sides of the slot, as a result of which the groove increases in size. A lateral displacement of 1-2o appears, which immediately affects the quality of the baguette joint in the corners. Therefore, for professional carpenters, tool models made from other materials are preferable. But for doing housework, this is an ideal option.

Plastic. Tools made of plastic, mainly PVC, have a budget price (polyurethane ones are more expensive), a variety of standard sizes and low weight. They are a one-piece construction with slots on the sides. It is used exclusively at home, since the service life is even shorter than that of its wooden counterpart: the slots increase in size much faster, exceeding the permissible standard.

Metal. Miter boxes made of steel or aluminum are tools for professionals. These are durable and easy-to-use products with high cutting precision. The price matches the quality: it is very high.

Design

According to the design features, miter boxes are divided into:

• to simple ones or, as they are also called, ordinary ones. They are templates with predetermined cutting angles. The classic version has three pairs of grooves: for the right and left baguette at 45o and for a cross cut. In some models you can find up to 11 pairs of slots. When working with such a tool, it must be fixed on the workbench using a clamp. The second clamp secures the workpiece, from which you need to cut off a corner according to a given template. Often you have to work without clamps. In this case, the plinth and miter box are held with one hand, and the corner of the fillet is filed with the other. If you work in such conditions carefully and do not rush, you can saw off a corner with the same quality as when using fixing tools;

• rotary _ Such tools are better known as precision miter boxes. It consists of a rotating platform and a disk segment on which degrees are marked, which allows you to cut any angle. A number of models can also be tilted, which makes it possible to cut the part at the end in two planes at once (called universal). It is convenient to work with such a device for a small number of operations - manual sawing is still exhausting.

A miter box for working in two planes at once.

• electric . These are the same rotary tools, but with a circular saw. They are used mainly by professional builders for mass filing of corners, although such a mechanism is also found among household tools.

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 sawing 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. The slots are made on the side strips, which are placed on a board 150 mm wide. The side strips have 3 or more slots. Use this carpentry tool to cut wood, plastic and polyurethane.

Device and characteristics

The word itself has German roots and is literally translated as “joint”. Many craftsmen are interested in the question of what a miter box is and what it looks like. In appearance, the device is a template and has a simple design. Sides with cuts are attached to the tray, onto which the saw is placed at a specific angle. The angle can be specified constructively or changed at the request of the user. Models equipped with a hacksaw are considered the most convenient for work. Professional tools are capable of making cuts with an accuracy of 1 mm. Often craftsmen call this instrument by other terms: tin or miter box - which is correct? It is clear that it is a miter box, and certainly not a “wort”.

What are miter boxes 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 fastening glass);
4. cutting cable channels;
5. for making frames for photographs and paintings;
6. cutting corners of skirting boards.

Classification of miter boxes

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

According to their 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 the angle specified in the slots. Basically, such miter boxes have 3 slots, but there are miter boxes that have a larger number of 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 size of the material that needs to be cut. Therefore, it is necessary to select a clamp with which the workpiece is attached to the miter box and then sawed off. The clamp helps to secure 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 into which pin stops are built in. When choosing a hacksaw for sawing off a workpiece using a miter box, it is important to consider the size of the blade. The width of the blade should correspond to the width of the slot. If the fabric is too thick, the slot will increase in size.

The miter box will be damaged, as will 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 completely fits the slot of the miter box. Sometimes there is a pad on top of the hacksaw that 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 be damaged when sawing parts. In addition, the pad 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 rotary miter box helps to accurately adjust the cut to a fraction of a degree, ensuring the correct positioning of the cutting tool.

The design of a rotary miter box depends on the purpose, functionality and processing purposes of the product. A classic rotary miter box has a base made of metal or durable plastic, on which a rotating 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 secured.

There are other more accurate rotary miter boxes. This:

• 1. rotary miter box, which can adjust the depth of cut. Thanks to this function, the teeth of the hacksaw are not damaged on the bottom of the miter box and do not come into contact with it;
• 2.a tool that has a movable carriage. This miter box allows you to adjust the cutting angle without moving the workpiece. There are models with an inclined carriage, which makes it possible to give the workpiece a complex shape (pentagon, hexagon, etc.)

An electric miter box helps cut material with filigree precision. This is a tool that is an electric saw mounted on a rotating base. The disadvantage of an 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 be affected. This is a precision tilt-and-turn 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. This miter box comes in metal and plastic.

According to the material of manufacture they are:

• wooden;
• made of plastic;
• metal.

Wooden miter boxes are rare these days. It is difficult to purchase it on the market. Until recently, wooden miter boxes were common, but with the advent of plastic and metal ones they began to be used less frequently. When using them, be careful; careless handling of the hacksaw can damage the miter box. To avoid damaging it, you need to take a special saw that only cuts the baseboard.

Plastic tools are inexpensive, come in 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 exceeding the permissible norm. As a result of this, the hacksaw takes an unstable position, the cuts are uneven and inaccurate.

Metal miter boxes are a durable material. They are made of steel or aluminum. The long service life and reliability of the tool are reflected in its price: it is high. The cuts on this tool are very accurate. They are used mainly by professionals.

Principle and rules of working with the device

For many owners of an apartment or house who carry out renovations on their own, it is news that there are special devices for cutting the corners of a baguette. Therefore, they are poorly versed in how to use a miter box for baseboards.

The very principle of using the device is extremely simple. Take a baguette and fasten it in a miter box opposite the 45o slot in the same position as it will be glued to the wall. At the same time, it should protrude 1-2 cm beyond the boundaries of the zone in which the corner will be cut, which will make it possible to obtain a smooth, chip-free end. The workpiece is fixed with clamps, and in their absence, it is pressed to the base of the device by hand. There is a little trick here: it is more convenient to cut if the saw is located on the side of the working hand (the grooves in the tool allow this to be done) .

Knowledge of the operating principle does not guarantee accurate and beautiful connection of the baguette in the corners. You also need to know the basic rules of how to cut a ceiling plinth using a miter box.

• The cutting tool must match the material of the fillet. It is best to cut polystyrene foam with a knife with a replaceable blade. Plastic - with a knife, a hacksaw or a grinder with a diamond-coated cutting wheel. Wooden fillet - using a fine-tooth wood saw.
• Baguettes with relief or ornament must be combined according to the pattern.
• To avoid mistakes when determining the direction of the cut, you need to mark in advance with a pencil the line along which the saw will go. There is no need for special precision here: the main thing is to correctly indicate the chosen direction.
• You need to start cutting after checking the quality of fixation of the plinth in the tool: whether it is installed correctly; How securely is it fixed?

Tools and materials

In order to make a miter box with your own hands, you need to have the following tools and materials:

• cutting boards of any hardwood with a thickness of 20 mm, you can use scraps of substandard plywood with a thickness of 10 mm, other sizes of boards are arbitrary, based on specific needs - 2 pcs.,
• board, the thickness corresponding to the sides, as the base of the miter box - 1 pc.;
• carpenter's hacksaw with fine teeth and a blade, for cutting wooden boards (plinths);
• hacksaw for metal – 1 pc.;
• confirmations – 4 pcs.;
• hex key for confirmations – 1 pc.;
• drill 1 pc.;
• set of wood drills and step drills for confirmations – 1 set;
• clamps or vice – 1 pc.;
• protractor, ruler for determining angles before cuts - 1 pc.;
• pencil for marking – 1 pc.
• Narrow file or sanding paper.

Return to content

Which miter box to choose in the store

When choosing a device, you need to focus on its functionality (at what angle and on what planes to cut the workpiece) and the volume of work performed. Simple, U-shaped tools are purchased if you need to install floor or ceiling plinths on your own; rotary tools are intended for craftsmen. If you need a complex cut in 2 planes, then a non-professional will have to buy a rotary miter box.

When purchasing, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• the material from which the device is made;
• base width;
• wall thickness;
• the presence of a cutting tool in the kit;
• number of slots (the more, the better);
• the presence of clamps (fasteners);
• How free is the saw?

You can buy a simple device without a hacksaw for 87-820 rubles. The cost of a rotary miter box starts from 1300 rubles. It is difficult to say how much an electric tool costs, even approximately. The price difference is huge. You can buy a miter saw for either 6 thousand rubles or 25 thousand rubles.

Among the brands stand out:

"Fit 41255". The model is made of durable plastic. There are slots at angles of 22.5, 45, 90 and 135o for vertical cutting and 45o for bevel sawing. The price of the tool starts from 335 rubles.

"Stanley1-20-112." Material: one-piece impact-resistant plastic. Cuts can be made at an angle of 22.5, 45 and 90o vertically and 45o horizontally. Allows you to make very precise cuts. The cost starts from 770 rubles.

"Zubr15375-75". Made from impact-resistant technical thermoplastic resin (ABC plastic), which allows you to maintain the size of the slot for a long time. You can buy it for 220-340 rubles.

"Fit Pro 41321". Professional rotary miter box. The frame can be steel, aluminum or plastic. A saw is included in the kit. Costs from 3500 rubles. up to 6700 rub.

What to look for when choosing?

Have you ever sawed anything using a miter box with a rotating mechanism? Constantly Not yet

When purchasing, we recommend that you carefully inspect the base: plastic devices are cheap, but they are short-lived, so it is recommended to purchase them for one-time work. For example, if you are going to prepare 2-3 dozen blanks for finishing a room and do not plan to store unnecessary tools after that. But most often, budget devices do not come with a hacksaw, so you will have to purchase it separately.

When choosing a professional tool, check that all moving elements move freely and that the clamps and thumbs rotate. If the threads on them are damaged, then it will be impossible to secure the workpiece and keep the hacksaw from moving arbitrarily.

It is important to inspect the hacksaw that comes with the kit. It is best if it has a backing - this element gives rigidity to the structure. A bow saw is also suitable for cutting various types of materials - from wood to metal.

The quality of the blade determines the cleanliness of the cut and the accuracy of the cut. It is recommended to purchase products from well-known manufacturers: Bahco, Bosh, Stanley.

Is it possible and how to do it yourself?

You can postpone a trip to a retail outlet to buy a device if you have the following on hand:

• 3 boards 30-50 cm long. One of them is 15-20 cm wide (base), two for making sides 30-50 mm each (a high side makes it difficult to work with a saw);
• furniture screws with hexagon heads;
• glue;
• cutting tools for woodworking (saw, hacksaw);
• clamps - these can be a vice or clamps;
• a set of hexagonal furniture keys (confirmations);
• electric drill or screwdriver with a set of drills;
• ruler;
• protractor;
• corner;
• construction pencil (marker);
• sandpaper P120.

From the given set of materials and tools, it is not difficult to make a simple device for adjusting the ends of the baguette when connecting them in the corners.

The step-by-step action plan is as follows:

1. the bottom of the base and sides are sanded with sandpaper;
2. the base is attached in a vice or clamp to the workbench;
3. a side board is applied to the side of the base (covers the side edge);
4. using measuring instruments, the angle formed by two boards is checked - it should be 90o;
5. in 3-4 places the side strip and the base are drilled with a screwdriver (the drill should be 1-2 mm thinner than the self-tapping screws);
6. PVA glue is applied to the edge of the base (any type of glue for wooden products can be used);
7. the side is screwed to the base with furniture screws;
8. a similar operation is carried out on the other side of the miter box;
9. Using a ruler, protractor and pencil, marks are made for the slots. There should be 3 of them on each side. One pair for cutting parts at a right angle, the other two pairs at an angle of 45o, for the left and right baguette. The location of the grooves can be arbitrary, but it is more convenient to work if there is a groove in the middle of the device for an angle of 90o, and on the sides at an equal distance for angles of 45o;
10. You need to make cuts with a saw all the way to the base.

Using a homemade device will save the family budget with good quality corner cutting.

Top best models

The rating of the best models includes rotary miter boxes that have high-quality assembly, are time-tested and produced by well-known manufacturers.

Gross 22759

Price: 4,500 rub.

For convenience, this model of the tool is equipped with a removable two-plane saw blade made of high-strength Japanese steel 60 centimeters long. The saw blade is equipped with a comfortable handle. The tray is made of impact-resistant plastic and has a scale that allows you to make the most accurate horizontal or vertical cuts. On the working surface there are six limit stops for semi-automatic installation of frequently used horizontal angles. For vertical cuts, they are installed manually.

Santool 030203

Price: 2,700 rub.

The 550 mm miter box is used for cutting materials such as metal, plastic and hard wood. Angles are set in vertical and horizontal planes. The part to be cut and the saw blade are installed securely, resulting in an even and precise cut. The kit includes a sharp hacksaw with a closed metal handle. The tray is made of metal and the stand is made of wood. This model is often used in home workshops.

Gross 22757

Price: 3,500 rub.

The tool of this model has two clamps and a limiting stop, which allows for the most accurate cutting of wood, plastic and metal workpieces at different angles. The kit includes a hacksaw made of high quality Japanese steel. There is a quick installation of frequently used corners. The tray is made of impact-resistant plastic and is securely fixed on a special stand. The maximum cutting height is 10 centimeters, and the thickness is from 8.5 to 13.7 centimeters.

FIT Pro 41315

Price: 2,500 rub.

The cheapest model of the tool is sold complete with a hacksaw made of high-quality steel, which has adjusting screws for changing the tension of the blade. This means that for cutting the material you can select a certain tension of the blade. For a secure grip, the handle is made of plastic and has a comfortable shape. The tool is made in the form of a rotating design, which allows you to saw parts no more than 15 centimeters wide.

FIT Pro 41321

Price: 3,800 rub.

Unlike the previous model, the length of the blade of this miter box is 60 cm. It is used for cutting parts at angles from 45° to 135°. During cutting, the workpieces are securely fixed, which prevents defects. The maximum width of the workpiece is 12 centimeters. Due to the fact that the tool is made of durable and high-quality materials: plastic, aluminum and steel, it can last for several years.

NOBEX Champion 180

Price: 13,000 rub.

The expensive model of the miter box from the rating is a bow saw 63 cm long. The kit includes a hacksaw blade with a pitch of 1.5 mm. It has a high-precision scale that allows you to make the most accurate workpieces. The tray has two clamps that securely hold the part while cutting. Thanks to the presence of an extension, it is possible to saw long parts. The height of the sawn parts is 18 cm, width is from 12.6 cm to 20 cm. For convenient storage, the saw blade can be installed parallel to the miter box.

BISON 15442

Price: 3,100 rub.

The miter box of the domestic manufacturer is a professional device for sawing hard materials in the vertical and horizontal plane. Made from lightweight and durable aluminum. On the working surface there is a high-precision scale in inches and centimeters. The 56 cm long saw is made of high quality steel and heat treated. For a secure grip, the saw handle has a rubberized insert. If necessary, the blade can be replaced quickly. Thanks to the special design with small backlashes, high precision cutting of the workpiece is ensured. If you use a steel saw blade, you can cut metal workpieces.

How to cut a baseboard using a miter box

There is nothing complicated in the instructions on how to cut a ceiling plinth using a miter box.

1. The plinth is placed in the miter box with its face up, so that the plane in contact with the ceiling lies on the base, and the second is pressed against the side of the device. In this case, the bar should protrude 1-2 cm beyond the cutting line, which is clearly visible in the photo.

2. The fillet is pressed forcefully against the device, and a cutting tool (saw, hacksaw) is inserted into the slot. By the way, in the second photo the location of the plinth is more convenient for left-handed people. For those who are used to sawing with their right hand, you just need to switch to the other side or turn the miter box with the plinth 180o.

3. The end is cut.

4. The second plinth is cut in a mirror image.

5. The cut areas are sanded with fine paper using a cutting tool with a tooth. Naturally, after the knife the grinding operation is not carried out.

You can see in the photo how to properly cut the fillet ends for the internal and external corners.

How to saw off the inside corner of a floor plinth

To saw off an internal corner you need to follow the rules:

• we install the miter box for baseboards on the table parallel to the master;
• We press the product to the side opposite from the master;
• We place the right plinth on the right, install the left one on the left, and cut it off from the opposite side.

We combine both parts of the plinth, we get an internal corner with the apex away from us.

Is there a difference in technology for floor and ceiling plinths?

At first glance, there is no difference in cutting corners for ceiling and floor plinths. Indeed, there are none if we are only talking about how to make a corner with a miter box - the sawing technology is the same.

Otherwise, there are and they concern methods for determining the length of scraps for joining in corners. So, at the top, when cutting the end, the upper part of the bar is shortened, at the bottom, on the contrary, the lower part. When joining the plinth at the outer corner, the ceiling plinth increases in size at the top, and the floor plinth at the base.

What you need to know about the miter box?

To perform a specific type of work, something like a miter box is often made, where only one seat is modeled for the task.

Such options include a tool, for example, for cutting soap.

Convenience of work increases with marking, and the cut can be not only straight, but also curly.

To work with specific types of miter boxes, a special hacksaw is required.

However, this does not mean that you cannot use any other sawing tool.

The difference is that in the second case the cut will not be as smooth and clean.

As for the special saw supplied with the miter box, it has a backing that prevents the blade from bending and at the same time acts as a depth limiter.

You can replace it with a hand hacksaw or a bow saw with a medium-sized tooth.

Tips for cutting corners using a miter box

Let's supplement the instructions on how to use a miter box with a few simple rules, the implementation of which allows you to correctly cut the corner of the baseboard.

• When starting work, you should not panic if after the first cuts the ends do not fit together perfectly. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to adjust the first strips of the plinth more than once.
• Beginners often get confused about the sizes of corner strips. To prevent this from happening, the measurement is done as follows: the length of the fillet for the internal corner starts directly from the adjacent wall, for the external corner - from the edge of the corner plus the width of the baseboard, since the upper corner will protrude into the room.
• Before placing fillets on glue, even if you are absolutely sure of the correct cut, you need to check how accurate the joint is. To do this, attach the touching ends to each other directly in the corner.
• Builders have not yet learned how to make an angle exactly 90o. Therefore, there will always be small gaps. They can be sealed with gypsum putty or sealant.
• If the walls are not blocked (they stand vertically), the moldings can be adjusted at the bottom, even if the angle is acute or obtuse.

Cutting an arbitrary angle

Often the walls are not connected to each other at right angles, and the sawing has to be adjusted.
You can do this in two ways:

• using a homemade template made of cardboard or thick paper. If the baseboard is hollow inside, it is difficult to keep it upright. In this case, you need to make a corner in which you can place the product, like in a wort. We lay the corner on a pre-made stencil so that it matches the template, cut the product according to the mark;
• We make marks on the material with a pencil. To do this, we cut both products at an angle of 90 degrees, apply them to the wall and mark the abutment line. We find the point of contact of the skirting boards and transfer the markings to the material and cut them off.

The quality of the junction of the skirting boards to each other depends on the correct marking of the product. It is recommended to cut the corner first and then adjust the product to length, this will make it possible to redo the discrepancy if the material was cut incorrectly.

Cutting methods

Cutting materials can be done either with or without a miter box. In the second case, it is quite problematic to achieve the ideal option.

Using a miter box

To cut, you need to firmly press the material with its entire surface to one of the side parts of the miter box. After work, minor errors such as nicks can be carefully removed using sandpaper.

Cutting without a miter box

There are times when miter boxes are not available. A ruler, pencil, sheet of paper, knife or jigsaw come to the rescue. If the surface of the material is large, then it is better to draw a cut line directly on it. Then draw a perpendicular to it using a square or sheet of paper. Equal segments are measured on each side of the angle. The distance between the corners is divided in half and the resulting point is connected to the vertex of the corner. Next, you can use a cutting tool.

Markings on the wall

You can trim the material using markings on the wall. Start the process from the inner corners. The frieze is applied to the corner of the wall and a straight line is drawn on the ceiling along the baguette. Next, draw a line over the adjacent adjacent plinth, cut at 90 degrees. A dot is placed at the intersection of the lines. It is alternately transferred to two friezes, from which they will make a corner. A straight line is drawn from this point to the nearest corner of the opposite side of the fillet. The excess part of the frieze is cut off with a knife. I do the same with the second baguette. The fillets are connected after trimming and adjustments are made as necessary.

How to use a miter box?

Brief instructions for using the tool:

• The tool is attached to the work table with clamps or self-tapping screws.

• The workpiece is marked, after which it is placed in the tray.

• Once in place, the workpiece is pressed against one of the sides in such a way as to align the mark with the required groove.

• The hacksaw blade is inserted into the grooves, after which you can begin cutting the workpiece.

NOTE:

To form high-precision cuts, you should use a special hacksaw equipped with a spine.

Safety precautions

When working with a hacksaw using a miter box, it is advisable to use thick gloves and safety glasses to prevent sawdust from getting into your eyes.

The tool must be fixed on the desktop.

If it is not equipped with any clamps, the workpiece is held in the required position by hand.

To do this, at a safe distance from the groove with the inserted saw, the thumb rests on the material being cut, presses it against the side of the miter box, and the remaining fingers clasp this same side.

When starting a cut, the saw should be inserted into the grooves at least to the height of the teeth.

Marking with a canvas is carried out with slow, even movements, which will protect the master from jumping out of the groove.

Subtleties of choice

When purchasing a miter box, there are several technical points to consider. First of all, you need to pay attention to the size of the angles that this device is capable of forming. Classic devices operate in a rather narrow range and are equipped with slots corresponding to angles of 45, 90 and, less commonly, 60 degrees. This device is well suited for cutting skirting boards, slats, platbands or bars, the installation of which will be carried out on a surface with traditional geometric shapes. If a miter box is purchased for professional activities or for finishing non-standard premises, then it is better to opt for a rotary or electric model, the range of angle formation in which reaches 135 degrees.

The second selection criterion is the material used to make the tool. Thus, the purchase of metal models is technically justified only for professional activities; in other cases, it is better not to overpay and purchase a simple plastic or wooden miter box. When purchasing rotary models, it is recommended to pay attention to the density of the hacksaw blade. It should not be too elastic and bend freely. The requirement for metal rigidity is due to the fact that when soft blades act on the material, the edges of the cuts become uneven and begin to crumble during the cutting process.

Another important point when buying a miter box is the choice of manufacturer. So, when purchasing a manual model, you can pay attention to brands such as Zubr, Topex and Fit, and when choosing an electric model, you can pay attention to Interskol and Einhell. These models have performed well and are most often recommended by professionals.

​​​To learn how to join skirting boards, see the following video.

There is nothing complicated in the process of installing ceiling plinths. Here it is only important to decide on the appropriate glue for the material. However, corners in the room can make our work much more difficult. They are both internal and external.

Of course, by resorting to the use of special accessories, you can save considerable time. This does not require special skills, only accuracy in performing the work. Another option for assembling the ill-fated corner would be to cut the edges of the plinth at an angle. Having the ideal geometry of the room, the question of how to correctly cut the plinth at an angle equal to half a straight line is more than solvable. Numerous videos on the Internet will also help you figure out how to cut a plinth .

Carpentry Tool Dimensions

For practical work, the size and weight of the miter box itself, as well as the characteristics of the holding groove, are important. Household structures have a low weight, reaching 0.2-1.0 kg.

Such devices are very easy to work with, but cutting a large board will not work. Professional rotary models typically weigh up to 4 kg. Such miter boxes are stationary structures that require sufficient space.

Miter box groove dimensions

1. For a board 3.5*3.5 cm. Small miter boxes have similar characteristics.
2. Mid-level carpentry tools have grooves measuring 6.5 * 4.0 cm.

The largest values ​​are for grooves of 9.0*5.5 cm, which can be found on large miter boxes. The length of the working part, as a rule, does not exceed 31 cm.