Making an Octagon on the Table Saw
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- In this quick tip, I show how to cut a perfect octagon on the table saw, with no measuring at all. It can be difficult to get the right dimensions for an octagon, and this technique takes all the guess work out of it.
Tools used in this project: (Amazon affiliate links)
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SawStop Jobsite Saw: amzn.to/2PW5RrG
SawStop brake for 10" blades: amzn.to/2WS9PDp
Diablo 10" combination saw blade: amzn.to/2NnxuIs
Website: www.bobswoodstu...
Instagram: / bobswoodstuff
My DIY and Woodworking plans:
www.bobswoodstuff.com/premium-woodworking-plans/
My Amazon shop with links to tools I like:
www.amazon.com/shop/bobswoodstuff
Website:
www.bobswoodstuff.com/
This video was great! Straight to the point no extra BS
Exactly the quick and easy explanation I was looking for! Thank you
You're welcome!
Reminder to all: ALWAYS have a piece of scrap stock available to make test cuts. The first time you try this, the cuts will be off slightly, and some amount of "nudging" will be necessary. In my case, I found I needed to back off my tablesaw fence about 1/16" away from the workpiece edge, and then my cuts were evenly octagonal, at least to the eye.
Great video, though!
Great, thanks for quick and to the point tutorial. Cheers from Sweden.
You're welcome! Cheers.
This really looks simple. Thanks for showing. I'm going to try this. Probably also with other angles.
You're welcome!
I was just about to do this to make old fashion tent poles. Saved me measuring and marking. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Quick and Easy, Great and Thx 😀
I love his name “ bob’s Wood stuff” Sounds like it could be a store it’s awesome
Ótimo vídeo. Segui como você ensinou e deu certo
Fiz lindas peças. Obrigado. Andrade (Brasil)
Thanks, that was right on time, friend. I'm going to make a perpetual calendar using two tall hexagon posts and a small table top for knick knacks or bowl ensemble. Traditionally they're made rather small desk top types. I wanted tall and functional. I locked the design in my brain somewhere, just need to find the key... :)
- EXCELLENT video ! ! ! Thanx 4 the tutorial. Nice to reinforce techniques.
Great tip! Thanks!
Excellent - thank you.
Thanks! this was a great tip to make it easy!
Great tip, Bob. Can you help me out with some info on cutting an HEXAGONAL shaped pole? I would certainly appreciate the help. Thx very much.
Smart!
Would you please make a video on cutting a hexagon (6 sided) on the table saw. Thank you. Great video, just subscribed
genius!
Hey Bob! I was wondering how it is that your fence has no creep? My sawstop jobsite saw fence swings about an 1/8" to 1/4" after I go to set it! Great vid, I've been looking for this method for about a year and glad I stumbled across your channel!
Hi Shane. With this fence, and most fences, the key is to do all your adjustments from the end of the fence closest to yourself (with the measuring tape). Moving the fence from farther out will cause it to shift a lot when you lock it down.
To test for this, you can partially lock the fence, like halfway, and it will give you an idea of how much the fence is going to shift.
This is perfect. Any tips on stopping partway down a board? I am going to have a 5' bird feeder post from a 4x4. I want the top 2' to be an octogon to have many feeder options and the bottom 3' to be the 4x4
If you are stopping part way down the board, I would draw a line all the way around the 4x4 where you want to stop the cut, and also make a line on the table saw fence, so you can stop at the same point with all sides.
Push the board until the two lines match up, then turn off the saw and continue holding the board in place until the blade stops spinning, and at that point you can back out the wood and rotate it.
Once you cut like this on all 8 sides, use a hand saw to cut off the scrap pieces to get your 2' octagon.
Hey bob thanks for this. I’m sort of an intermediate woodworker and I’ve used your trick to make octagonal blanks for pepper mills without a lathe. I’ve done it three times. Problem is none of them have come out evenly - that is the 8 sides aren’t all equal. So the top and body of the pepper mills don’t align. I mean your video is pretty darn simple. Should be a no brainer. Any idea what I’m doing wrong? Thanks. Joe
Hmm.. Make sure the piece you are cutting is totally square first.
Make sure when you lock the fence it doesn't shift a lot. Some fences will move quite a bit when they get locked, so after locking it check and see if the piece still fits the same when you rest it on the blade. You may need to nudge the fence a bit (usually to the right).
Thanks bob I’ll give it a shot. I appreciate you taking the time to reply
Is it possible (and safe?) to use this technique to make hexagonal dowels? I'm specifically looking to make some about 12-16" long and 1-1/2" from flat edge to flat edge.
Yes, at that size it should be safe (following normal table saw safety). This technique works for octagonal dowels, but I don't know if the geometry works for hexagons.
You would need to start with a rectangle. I think about 86.5% of the length to the height, of the cross-section, then 60° cuts.
What about pentagonal dowels?
Thank you for your post. I need to make a sign post for my daughter's Alice In Wonderland birthday party. This will work perfectly and make both my daughter and wife happy.
How about 6vsided
I haven't tried a 6-sided piece, but I think it would be a similar process but at 30° instead of 45°.
bump