Hi all
After struggling for years with inaccurate 45 deg cuts off both SCMC and table saw w/ either sled (admittedly lousy build) or miter gauge (hot rodded original), I finally built myself a miter shooting board.
I obsessed over its build - I'm comfortable with its design and construction, but it just don't work worth a tinker's dam.
I have tried shaving with both dry and dampened (water) end grain. I have both pushed and pulled.
I can't seem to hold the work piece effectively to the fence. None of the designs I studied before building mention applying a non skid surface to the fence, so I haven't (yet). Is this a good idea, or will accuracy be compromised?
Where I think most of my problem lies is in the plane(s) being used. I have a LV low angle block. 25 deg bevel iron that shaves end grain fine in a vise is essentially useless on the board. Too little mass?
A well tuned Miller's Falls (#9? - equivalent to a Stanley #4) smoother doesn't work any better. Wrong bevel angle? On a bevel down plane such as this, will grinding the bevel to 25 deg help? I have extra irons to play with.
My #5 Stanley's sides are off square to the sole, so that's out. My #6 Stanley seems like overkill, and it's set up for coarser work anyways, and not a Bailey or Bedrock design.
I've got a transitional Stanley jack that mostly gathers dust - worth tuning and trying?
I really don't want to shell out for a bevel up jack at this point - what did folks use before the advent of same? Something worked for them!
Thanks in advance.