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I'm trying to build a swing frame for SWMBO/LOML using landscaping timbers (I seem to have an endless supply of pallets and landscaping timbers).

My plan (mental, no paper version) called for a 22.5 degree angle at the top of each 8' long leg so the legs together would be at a 45 degree angle. I fought with how to cut this all morning.

To make the cut in any traditional manner, I would have actually needed to set my angle at 67.5 degrees - which just isn't possible. I thought about the bandsaw, but didn't feel that was practical either.

I came inside to think about it some more and was about to post here for advice when I came up with an idea. With some pallet runner scraps, I made a secondary fence for the miter saw at 90 degrees to the main fence.



I set the miter saw to 22.5 degrees and made the cuts.



This pic shows a pair of legs, laying down on the ground, with a scrap piece in place where the top cross bar will be. I'll drill a hole all the way through and bolt the assembly together.



The secondary fence worked great. But I wonder what kind of advice I would have gotten had I asked. Was this the best way to do it? What other ways are there to do it? How would you have done it?

heathicus wrote:I'm trying to build a swing frame for SWMBO/LOML using landscaping timbers (I seem to have an endless supply of pallets and landscaping timbers).

My plan (mental, no paper version) called for a 22.5 degree angle at the top of each 8' long leg so the legs together would be at a 45 degree angle. I fought with how to cut this all morning.

To make the cut in any traditional manner, I would have actually needed to set my angle at 67.5 degrees - which just isn't possible. I thought about the bandsaw, but didn't feel that was practical either.

I came inside to think about it some more and was about to post here for advice when I came up with an idea. With some pallet runner scraps, I made a secondary fence for the miter saw at 90 degrees to the main fence.



I set the miter saw to 22.5 degrees and made the cuts.



This pic shows a pair of legs, laying down on the ground, with a scrap piece in place where the top cross bar will be. I'll drill a hole all the way through and bolt the assembly together.



The secondary fence worked great. But I wonder what kind of advice I would have gotten had I asked. Was this the best way to do it? What other ways are there to do it? How would you have done it?

I would probably have done this much the same way as you did with just one exception. I would have created my fence by simple cutting a 90° in a 2x6 and using that for the secondary fence. Your method is better because it gives you a taller fence where mine would have been only 2" tall.

Very clever solution and the cuts look perfect.

Reminds me of an a-frame pole building I built once, many moons ago, using pine poles. There were 5 sets of upright "legs" and a ridge pole running the full length of the shed. The ridge pole was sandwiched and bolted to the legs just as in your photos. To make the angled cuts we laid a pair of legs on the ground, overlapped the top ends of the poles and clamped a temporary spreader to hold the pair at the correct angle. Then, using a chain saw, cut through both pieces at once. I think the same solution would work for the landscaping timbers if you had a chop saw with enough depth capacity to cut two at once.

All in all, I think you figured out a great way to make the cuts.

That is exactly how every carpenter I have worked with has done it since the invention of the sliding compound miter saw (and I've worked with a lot of them since the 60's). Even works for roof rafters (with the right support). Before that invention, it was done by a hand held circular saw or, believe it or not, an old fashioned hand saw!

In the past, I've done so many things the hard way and the wrong way and the dangerous way and ways that just didn't work. So it's a nice confidence booster when, on my own, I come up with a method that those much more experienced than me frequently use and is accepted to be the best way to do it! Makes me feel like maybe I'm learning something after all.