Woodworkers and other craftspeople have long known the benefits of using a Miter Gauge. Miter gauging is a crucial step in woodworking. It allows the woodworker to perform precision cuts in just the exact measurement, as opposed to cutting across the grain of the wood and causing unnecessary waste. A Miter Gauge is a stand-alone piece of equipment that contains a diamond-tipped blade and a bench visor that allows the woodworker to measure angles precisely.

Utilizing nothing more than the essential tools that come standard with every workshop, a woodworker can do the following basic cuts using a Miter Gauge: With the miter gauge blade attached to the saw, you can cut 45 degrees across the grain of both pieces of wood by using a 45-degree blade. To make ninety degrees cuts with the same knife, place the blade at its shortest setting. This is the perfect cut when the wood is very smooth. You can do ninety-degree, half-way angle cuts all the way around the frame of the table saw, using either the flat or a v-aper blade.

Miter Gauges makes accurate and precise woodworking cuts no matter what the type of material you are working with. The miter saw blade is especially adept at cutting materials such as particleboard, which tend to have a wavy pattern when cut, and medium-grain plywood, which has a more regular, even, and jagged pattern. If using a standard power saw to complete this type of work, using the appropriate blade will insure accuracy and prevent damage to your woodwork. These types of materials should always be kept at a moisture-free and cool temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat. Never place a woodworking project in an enclosed area that is either too cold or too hot. Miter saws come in a variety of sizes and blades, so finding one to match your table saw is not difficult.

If you have a table saw that does not come with a miter gauge or digital height gauge, these are commonly available on some after-market models. There are also many distributors who offer them as part of a package, usually for a small additional cost. Using either or both of these tools will help you achieve professional-looking cuts that will make your projects look better than ever before. Many woodworkers prefer to use the digital height gauge because it provides them with the ability to accurately determine how much stock to order to get the best cut. Miter gauges are used primarily to cut long runs of stock while using precise angles. Billious Inc. A miter gauge allows you to cut pieces of stock from two sides at the same time, which is advantageous if you need to run the stock across multiple panels.


In order to use a miter gauge properly, it is important that you have the correct blade height, tension setting, and the proper fence settings. The blade height refers to the distance between the center of the blade and the edge of the wood. The tension setting controls how much slip the saw's blade makes when cutting. Fence settings refer to the distance and angle between the rip fence and the surface on which you are cutting.

While many manufacturers make miter gauge and blade combination tools, most consumers choose to purchase fence rails and extrusions from a reputable dealer. Some manufacturers make fences and extrusions from aluminum extrusion frames, which work well with table saws but require more manual adjustment than fences and extrusions from steel or wood. When purchasing fences and extrusions from a dealer, it is important to make sure that you are purchasing from a manufacturer recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Also, be sure to check the warranty to make sure that the fences and extrusions will work as described.

Many saw manufacturers make adjustable fence and miter gauge, including Diamond and Bosch. These companies include the popular Diamond Creek and Bosch BK4 models. To manually set the fence and miter gauge forward and back, step forward and back of the table saw with the fence and miter gauge facing you, as if you were making a cross-cut. If you are making a horizontal cross-cut, move your fence and miter gauge forward and back until you hear a "chink" or "thud." This is the first sign that the fence is not correctly set.

For cross-cut angled cuts, place a guide across the length of the fence and stand with a guide in front of the saw and adjust the fence and miter gauge to cut smoothly along the guide and stay on a straight path. A great trick for using aluminum extrusions to create a shim along fence rows is to drill pilot holes through the center of the shim and place a length of pipe or hose over the pilot holes. Then angle the saw blade and place the shim over the pipe or hose, and use the fence and jig as normal.