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Neophyte = one who is clueless but wishes to change that

2K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  Xoda 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
At 60 i decided i needed an activity to keep my mind and hands active. I remember a time long ago….

i want to make an item with six sides and if i remember correctly i need a 60 degree angle? my table saw does not cut 60 degrees. My thought is to make a jig that would hold my work piece at 30 degrees to the table and set the saw at 30.
How do i determine the width each segment for a given outside diameter? 17" for example hint hint. The formula would be better than just the answer. My last class in algebra was more than 30 yrs ago. Calculating doses in my head i can do, this no so good.
Been reading Lumberjock posts often enough i thought i would like to join the family.

Xoda
 
#4 ·
Assuming you are mitering the sides, a hexagon has six sides but 12 cuts- so each cut is 360/12 = 30 deg. No special jig needed.
 
#5 ·
Make an auxiliary fence high enough to support your board then set your saw to 30° and run vertically this will give you a 60° cut.

If you're making a segmented ring or flat circular item you divide 180° by the number of segments, not 360.

If you're making a tapered item like a flower pot, there are formulas to calculate the compound angle.
 
#6 ·
These are all good responses. I read your post, saw the 30º part but didn't realize you were talking about making a 60º cut. You are correct that the angles are 360/6 = 60º, but just as a 90º corner requires 45º miter cuts, your 60º angles will require 30º cuts.

I'd recommend spending $30 or so on a digital angle gauge. You can attach it to the side of the blade using its magnetic base after zeroing it on the tabletop, and set your 30º angle.
 
#7 ·
Calculating angles and setting up miters can be confusing because most miter gauges are 90 degrees off from reality.

Your gauge probably reads "0" when you make a 90 degree cut.

Likewise, it will read "30" when you make a 60 degree cut.

Your table saw can make a 60 degree cut by setting the gauge to 30. Try it.
 
#8 ·
Welcome to Lumberjocks!

Here is a handy calculator for figuring out the various dimensions to get a hexagon of the size you want.
https://rechneronline.de/pi/hexagon.php
You enter the dimension you know and it gives you the others.

Note that a small error in cutting the miter, adds up with the more sides you have. Even a little bit of slop in your miter gauge will show up in the final assembly. I recommend using some scraps to make a small version to check and dial-in on the the angle before you cut the actual pieces.
 
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