What is the differance between a taper and a miter?

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:54 pm

I was going to build a box with a sloped sides only (front/back/ lid all straight). I saw where I could make a taper jig. Why not just use the miter gage or tilt table? The box is going to be about 6-8 inches tall x 10 inches deep x 12 inches wide. The angle would not be a full 45 degrees. Still deciding on that. Depending on if I need a taper jig or miter. I can adjust the angle based on the answeres to this thread.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:04 pm

Taper is usually used to describe something long/slender that does NOT have parallel sides. A taper can be measured as so much "in" per so much "run" similar to a slope. A miter is usually a larger angle.

Do Not know just how 'accurate' this is, But that is the way I understand it!:)

bills2008 · Post by **bills2008** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:03 pm

You taper a table leg, you miter a picture frame.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:50 pm

And then there is a bevel.

I think, from your description, that you want to put a slight bevel on the edge the top so that the top surface of the lid is slightly smaller than the base of the box.

If this is correct, you can certainly do that by tilting the table. You could also do that on the jointer, if you have you.

[ATTACH]4860[/ATTACH]

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:00 pm

I was looking at doing the lap desk from SS. The side is at a 86 degree. I don't hsvr the cutting or assembly inst. Just the plans (top view, front view, etc). I was confused on how to get the 86 degrees. So in closing I should miter it?

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:13 pm

I was looking at doing the lap desk from SS. The side is at an 86 degree. So I would miter it? It stops 3 inches from the top. All I have to go by is the "blue prints". I have to assembly inst.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:13 pm

navycop wrote:I was looking at doing the lap desk from SS. The side is at a 86 degree. I don't hsvr the cutting or assembly inst. Just the plans (top view, front view, etc). I was confused on how to get the 86 degrees. So in closing I should miter it?

What you are doing is a compound miter of the box corners. To do this there is a chart in Power Tool Wood Working for Everyone. There was also a thread about this not too long along.

If I read this right - you want to tilt the table to 44.86 degrees and set the miter gauge for 86.01 degreess.

http://cowboyplus.net/cmiter/

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:56 am

navycop wrote:I was looking at doing the lap desk from SS. The side is at a 86 degree.

can you share the pointer for the SS lap desk?
I cannot seem to find it.

Ivan

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:15 pm

Check out Sawdust Session #18. Making breadboard joints.

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:06 am

navycop wrote:Check out Sawdust Session #18. Making breadboard joints.

thank you! I knew that I had seen something on SS about a laptop desk but it didn't occur to me to check the sawdust sessions.