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Forum topic by Don46 posted 42 days ago 340 views 0 times favorited 14 replies Add to Favorites Watch
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Don46

40 posts in 502 days


42 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: angles miters sled lap joint

I’m building a wine cellar with a wall of four built in units, the top one being a 7 foot wide x 10 inch high (external dimensions) horizontal cabinet. I want to insert diagonal “shelves” using 1×4 half inch oak boards to create a visually pleasing row of individual bottles above the main units.

I want to make the diagonal Xs come out evenly, so I have subdivided the cabinet into three sections, and have room for 3 Xs on each side and 4 in the middle. Each X on the side is 8.5 inches high by 7.5 inches wide on the sides, and 8.5 high by 7 inches wide for the middle.

I want to miter cut the ends and use a half lap joint at the center of the Xs.

How does one figure out the angles to set the miter saw to cut the ends?

For the half lap joints I am using my table saw. I know how to do this for 90 degree Xs: I use my cross cut sled on the table saw and cut out slots half way through the 1×4 oak.
What angle should I cut these lap joints?
What is the best way to do this for an angle cut that is not a 90 degree cut?

-- --Don, Columbia, SC

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bentlyj

797 posts in 370 days


42 days ago

When I have to do something like this I will actually draw it to size, or at least a section of it, and then use my protractor to find the angles.

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DaveR

1530 posts in 620 days


42 days ago

X

Is this what you’re thinking of? If so, measuring the angle indicates you’d set the miter gauge to about 7.153°. Drawing things out this way is nice because it gives you a way to visualize what’s going on.

Bently’s suggestion of drawing it out full size is a good one. You could also print a 2D drawing at full size but either way, working from a full size drawing is best because you can pick the angle off the drawing with a bevel gauge and set the miter gauge with it without even knowing what the angle is in degrees.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

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mics_54

433 posts in 371 days


42 days ago

Looks like a job for.. SKETCHUPMAN! Look! Up in the sky…it’s a bird with feathered texture! It’s a plane with animated landing gear! NO! it’s SKETCHUPMAN! Faster than a Intel Pentium 4 with 100 gigabytes of ram ..More powerful than a 3D locomotive with an exploded view! Able to draw photorealistic tall buildings in a single file!

Yes, it’s Sketchupman! ... strange visitor from another planet (Minni Sotie), who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal Lumberjocks! Sketchupman … who can change the course of threaded helix, bend steel in his bare bender.rb, and who, disguised as DaveR, mild-mannered contributing writer for a great metropolitan woodworking magazine that shall go un-named, fights a never-ending battle for truth in documentation, just ice in his evening toddie, and the PanAmerican way! Mileage may vary. Offer void in some states.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

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Don46

40 posts in 502 days


42 days ago

You guys are great! I’ve got a protractor and graph paper and have done a quick draw up.
In order to accommodate a wine bottle (about 3 inches in diameter) I need to flatten the X within the 7.5×8.5 rectangle, if you follow. One miter cut on each end with the long side in the corner. I’m no good with sketchup or I’d draw what I’m thinking.

I’m still not clear on how to execute the lap joint cuts.

thanks,

-- --Don, Columbia, SC

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DaveR

1530 posts in 620 days


42 days ago

Dan, you owe me a keyboard! I blew my morning coffee everywhere!

Don, perhaps I can help you with the SketchUp thing but for the moment, is this closer?

X

For the angle at the lap joint in this one you’d set the miter gauge to a hair more than 1.8°. The ends measure at 45.918°. Again, I think picking up the angle from a full size drawing is a good idea and as long as your drawing is accurate, you should do fine. You can pick up the length, too. The mating pieces will be identical so you can just turn one around to make the joint go together. Does that help?

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

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roman

1127 posts in 793 days


42 days ago

Why complicate it. The wine wont care, neither will the consumer of said wine.

Why not make all lap joints 90 degrees and all ends at 45 degrees

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

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DaveR

1530 posts in 620 days


42 days ago

Roman has a point. You could divide the space into 8-1/2” wide bays. Put one bay in the center and work toward the sides. With 8-1/2 in. wide Xs, you have a 6 in. wide space to deal with. You could use that space to display a special bottle or two or do something else that looks nice.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

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roman

1127 posts in 793 days


42 days ago

When I built my wine cellar I “changed it up”. One wall has vertical dividers, with horizontal “slots” using magic wires, another has square boxes put on 45 degree angles biscuited together, and another has section made into slots buch like your doing but for individual bottles. The little spaces that are left at the edges recieved a face frame to hide them. I put in a few shelves with faux stone back grounds.

then I drank all the wine and in the end…................I knew I couldnt afford to keep it full but it looks nice !!!

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

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Don46

40 posts in 502 days


42 days ago

I believe I can use Four 8.5 inch “square” Xs with 90 degree lap joints in the center bay, which has 35 inches inside dimension. The two side bays allow only 22 3/8 inches ID, and that is where I am having the problem.
The three bays are defined by two side cabinets below them, so that the stiles will be continuous from top to bottom. But as I’m writing this I’m already rethinking the need for three bays up top.

In a perfect world all of this designing would have been worked out exactly on paper (sketchup certainly) and all it would take is executing the design, but it seems like a lot of my design and construction decisions are being made on the ground as the process unfolds.

thanks Don

-- --Don, Columbia, SC

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bentlyj

797 posts in 370 days


42 days ago

My thoughts are that you learn how to do it at whatever angles they need to be to get what you want.
Next time you have to do something similar you will know how to work it out.

Anybody can do a 45 or a 90…JMO

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Don46

40 posts in 502 days


42 days ago

Roman, I looked at your project gallery hoping to see your wine bins, but, alas, you had several other impressive projects, but not the wine cellar.

I will have small diagonals on top for individual bottles, and large diagonals on the side. In the middle I’m using shelves with wine cases made of pine and with decorative vineyard labels on the ends. There is a counter/bar on top of the middle case where I’ll have a few upright bottles.

I’ll post pictures when I’m finished.

thanks
Don

-- --Don, Columbia, SC

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roman

1127 posts in 793 days


41 days ago

sadly 3 out of 4 projects never get photographed but I shall remain steadfast in my belief to keep it

KISS

keep it simple…..............

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

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bentlyj

797 posts in 370 days


39 days ago

Don, this was my first time building wine racks. I had to figure the angles and lap joints for everything and used my radial arm saw to make the cuts with a wobbly dado blade.
It was a lot of work but in the end I learned a lot about the angles involved.
I’m all for KISS, but I’m glad I took on the challenge.

PS Can you tell it was in the 70’s LOL
Photobucket

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Don46

40 posts in 502 days


39 days ago

Looks good. I can’t link to the post at photo bucket for some reason. It asks me to sign in but then I don’t know how to locate your link.

I have diagonals on the sides but decided to go with individual slots across the top. I’ll post pictures rather than try to describe it.
Grand opening tomorrow evening. I bought 2 cases today but it barely fills two bins.

thanks everyone for your help.
Don

-- --Don, Columbia, SC

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