It may sound simple, but I’m pretty sure there’s more to it than it looks like.
I am making a open-top box, bin, basket, what-have-you to toss throw pillows in at the foot of the bed. The four sides will be slightly angled or flared-out instead of straight up and down.
If you cut each side as a trapezoid, the miters are not still 45 deg. are they? Isn’t there some calculation to figure out the angle?
I have always wondered this. Thanks!

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9 comments so far
mrtrim
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1698 posts in 777 days
posted 297 days ago
since you need a compound mitre . yes the corners will still at 45 but you will now need to calculate how much flair you want it to have to get the other angle .since your top and bottom are flat they will need another calculation , again depending on how much flair you want
FlWoodRat
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584 posts in 806 days
posted 297 days ago
Blake,
Here is a link that will do the calculation for you. http://www.scarletta.net/WoodJoy/compound_miter.html
Here is a link to a project I did using it. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/8409 It helps a lot if the material you are using is flat. LOL, mine wasn’t and the edges did not fit exactly.
keep in mind, you will have to bevel the top and bottom edges at the same angle as the slope of the sides.
The boxes I built were 18” square at the top and somewhere around 12” square at the bases.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
FlWoodRat
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584 posts in 806 days
posted 297 days ago
Good luck. By the way, you may want to make something similar to a cross cut sled with the back brace angled at the slope of your sides to hold your work as you slide it over you Table saw.
I have additional links saved on my home computer that I will send you this evening after I get home from work.
Have a safe and productive day.
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
Peter O
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1024 posts in 771 days
posted 297 days ago
I had to do this with my lampshades …

The calculator linked above will work great, and there are other similar calculators out there, too.
-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Blake
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2760 posts in 771 days
posted 297 days ago
Thanks!
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Beginningwoodworker
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4204 posts in 570 days
posted 297 days ago
You bevel 45’s on all four sides.
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FlWoodRat
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584 posts in 806 days
posted 297 days ago
Blake, here are a couple more links for you. Good luck.
http://www.woodworkersguildofga.org/ShopHelpers/MiterCalculator.htm
http://www.woodcraftplans.com/compound_miter.htm
-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
Blake
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2760 posts in 771 days
posted 296 days ago
Thanks those are some great links!
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Mark Shymanski
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1555 posts in 609 days
posted 266 days ago
Interesting links!
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