How to use a mitre saw protractor?

2nd March 2020


	How to use a mitre saw protractor


	Shop for Mitre Saw Protractors


			Mitre saw protractors can perform applications such as measuring external and internal angles then transferring these angles to a mitre saw. Read on to find out how to carry out these tasks.

			Measuring external angles
			An example of an external angle would be an external corner found on buildings.

			Step 1 – Open mitre saw protractor Hold the top arm of the mitre saw protractor and pull the bottom arm away a 1/4 of a turn.

			Step 2 – Place mitre saw protractor Place the inside of the protractor around the corner, making sure each arm is flush against the sides of the corner.


			Measuring internal angles
			An example of this type of set up would require an internal corner like the internal corners on a building.

			Step 1 – Open mitre saw protractor Hold the top arm of the protractor while pulling the bottom arm producing a 3/4 turn.

			Step 2 – Place mitre saw protractor Place the protractor into the internal corner, spread the arms until each arm is flush with the sides of the corner. Even though the arrow points in a different direction, it still measures the same as it would if the angle was the same while measuring an external angle.

			Measuring angles in high places
			Mitre saw protractors are able to measure angles in high places, for example the internal or external corners near the ceiling of a room. The protractor can be placed with the scale facing upwards, so when you remove the protractor away from the corner, the arms will stay in position because of the tension in the pivot point. Another option is to place the protractor so the scale is facing towards the floor. The measurement can either be read while it is in place or removed from the corner then read.

			The scale on the protractor functions in a way so that if it is placed upside down or backwards, either way the reading will be correct.

			Measuring angles close to the ceiling is done when installing crown moulding (coving). For the final steps of using a mitre saw protractor, see: How to read a mitre saw protractor

			Using a mitre saw protractor to make sure your mitre saw fence is square
			A mitre saw protractor can also be used to check if the mitre saw fence is square. The fence of a mitre saw is the guide against which your workpiece is placed when it is being cut.

			Step 1 – Open protractor arms Open the arms of the mitre saw protractor 180 degrees (90 degrees on single cut scale), until each arm is across the length of the fence. Step 2 – Position protractor Push the protractor firmly up against the fence.

			The fence should be 180 degrees which would be shown as 90 degrees (nearest fence) on the single cut scale. The angle 180 degrees is a straight angle meaning the fence will be perfectly straight.

			If the mitre saw protractor is perfectly placed against the fence of the mitre saw with no gaps and the single cut arrow points to 90 degrees, then the fence is square. The 90 degree angle nearest the fence would originally be 180 degrees on a angle measurer.

			If you are using a combination protractor, you can use the protractor located on the back, which gives you the actual angle. The protractor would then read 180 degrees.

			If the single cut scale reads 90 degrees, or the combination protractor reads 180 degrees and there is a gap between the protractor and the fence, then your fence is not square. The mitre saw fence will need to be adjusted until it is perfectly square, otherwise this can cause cuts to be made inaccurately because the workpiece is not correctly aligned.