Mtakata Power Tools

A miter box is an aid for making miters. Miters are a ninety-degree joint. Miters must be cut perfectly or they will show a gap in the joint. You can buy pre-made miter boxes or make your own. Miter boxes may be made of wood or other materials. A miter box has two sides and a bottom. The sides will have three slots in them. One, which will allow a ninety degree cut on your stock and two which will allow 45 degree cuts on your stock.

To make a perfect miter using a miter box, you must ensure that the stock being cut does not move and that all pieces are cut at a perfect forty-five degree angle. If even one piece is off you will have a gap showing in the joint. An aid in this effort is to clamp the stock in place so it will not move during the cut. If you mark the proper angle on the stock, you should be able to see whether your cut follows the marking as you cut it. Using a miter box, unless it is very tightly made and the slots are just big enough for the cutting blade to move smoothly with no wobble as the cut is made, is difficult to achieve a perfect miter cut with.

With a miter saw that is made for the miter box you use and clamps to prevent your stock from moving while cutting will give you the best option for achieving a perfect miter. If you are cutting a miter and a straight end on your stock, cut your miter first and measure the angle to insure a perfect forty-five degrees. If the first try does not achieve the perfect forty-five degrees, then change the angle of the cut as needed to achieve the perfect cut before cutting the piece to length. If you need miters on both ends and you achieve perfection on your first cut, make your length just a bit long on your second cut to give yourself room to make an adjustment if needed. Always cut on the side of the box closest to the saw handle for all your miter cuts. Always cut the stock so the thinnest part of the stock is closest to the saw handle when you cut your miters. Never cut more than one piece of stock at a time.

Using two clamps to hold your stock in the miter box will assist you in making adjustments. If your angle is less than forty-five advance the stock slightly and retighten the clamps. At this point, loosen the clamp nearest the saw and move the board slightly away from the edge of the miter box. This will change your angle more towards the forty-five you seek. It the angle is more than forty five, do the same steps as above, but loosen the clamp farthest from the saw to make your adjustment. This is the best way to achieve a perfect miter cut with a mite box.