Hello, and welcome to Joe Shows How! A power miter saw is an ideal tool for crosscutting boards to length. But every now and then, when trying to cut a board to fit precisely into place, it’s easy to cut it a bit too long. And when that happens, you must be very careful not to trim off too much or the board will then be too short. (You definitely want to avoid having to say, “I cut it twice and it’s still too short!”)
So, in this week’s video, I share a quick tip for removing just a teeny, tiny bit of wood to ensure a perfect fit. Start by lowering the saw blade all the way down, then slide the board tightly against the body of the blade; be sure you’re not against the teeth of the blade.
Next, while firmly holding the board in place, raise the blade, squeeze the trigger and make the cut. What you’ll find is that the blade removes a nearly microscopic amount of wood, and here’s why: The tungsten-carbide teeth protrude just slightly beyond the body of the blade. By butting the end of the board against the blade body—not the teeth—you’re cutting away just a tiny bit of wood. Now, depending on how much you need to trim off, you may need to repeat this tip two or three times, but at least you’ll reduce the chance of lopping off too much wood.
I hope you find this technique handy the next time you need to trim a board for an exact fit. Thanks, as always, for your support.