by Jim DeLaney
I have been using the following chart for years to figure blade angles for compound miters. The chart was originally written for use on a table saw. When I got my Hitachi SCM, I computed the miter saw angles. (actually, quite simple. I just subtracted the Table Saw miter setting from 90 degrees to get the miter saw bed angle setting.) I’ve made everything from flower planter boxes to decorative boxes in exotic hardwoods using these settings. They work very well.
| Four-Side Miter: Incline of work (degrees) | Vertical Blade Angle | Table Saw Miter Gauge | Compound Miter Saw Bed Angle |
| 5 | 44.75 | 85 | 5 |
| 10 | 44.25 | 80.25 | 9.75 |
| 15 | 43.25 | 75.5 | 14.5 |
| 20 | 41.75 | 71.25 | 18.75 |
| 25 | 40 | 67 | 23 |
| 30 | 37.75 | 63.50 | 26.50 |
| 35 | 35.25 | 60.25 | 29.75 |
| 40 | 32.50 | 57.25 | 32.75 |
| 45 | 30 | 54.75 | 35.25 |
| 50 | 27 | 52.50 | 37.50 |
| 55 | 24 | 50.75 | 39.25 |
| 60 | 21 | 49 | 41 |
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Good morning Jim,
I am an amature/novice woodworker and have been looking into making a wooden flower box. However, every article I have read talks about cutting a miter into the beveled edge of the boards/slats that make up the sides of the planter. Unfortunately, no explanation is provided as to how this is done. If it is not too lengthy can you provide an explanation, or suggest some reading material where this explanation may be provided. Thank you.
Are you using a table saw or a sliding compound miter saw (SCMS)?
For a 5° taper on a four-sided box:
Table Saw – Set the blade at 44.75° and the miter gauge at 85°.
SCMS – Set the blade angle at 44.75° and the bed (table) angle to 5°.
This will give you a box that tapers at 5° from bottom to top.