If you’ve ever lugged a chopsaw onto a scaffold 20 ft. off the ground to cut narrow 1x moldings, you’ll appreciate this tool. With some scrap pieces of 3/4-in. plywood or pine, you can build a simple miter box that will guide precise cuts. Attach the vertical fence to the base with glue and 1-5/8-in. drywall screws. Cut 45° and 90° kerfs in the fence to guide the handsaw blade, and you’re ready to go.
This rig isn’t limited to outdoor work, either. With a fine-toothed sawblade, you can make precise cuts in all kinds of moldings. Cutting mitered returns for window stools or head casings is tricky with a powered miter box because the short pieces want to fly all over the place. This miter box will handle that task with ease.
—Robert Goodfellow, Clinton, CT
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #172
View Comments
Any suggestions on how to cut accurate kerfs so that they are tight to your saw of choice?
Same question here. The kerf of a power saw is wider than a hand saw.
Cut a scrap 2x4 with your chop saw, then clamp both pieces in the miter box so they stick up above the walls, using the hand saw as a spacer, then kerf the miter box.
My grandson needs a miter box, so I'll let you know if it works as well in wood as on paper.