A bevel cut refers to a cut with sharp edges that are not perpendicular to the top of the wood or material.

Although bevel cut can be made with almost all types of saws such as jigsaw, circular saw and miter saw, etc, the preferred and possibly easiest method is by using a table saw.

A properly calibrated table saw fitted with a sharp blade can guarantee a precise clean cut at any given angle. Let me show you how.

The method for bevel cutting on the table saw differs based on whether the bevel angle is greater or lesser than 45°.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to make the bevel cut in both cases:

• Bevel Cut on Table Saw with Angle more than 45 degrees
• Bevel Cut on Table Saw with Angle less than 45 degrees

Bevel Cut on Table Saw with Angle more than 45 degree

As an example, I’ll show you how to make a 50-degree bevel cut on wood.

First, place the wood to be cut on the work table.

Because the angle you wish to cut is greater than 45 degrees, and the maximum angle for to which a table saw blade can be tilted is 45 degrees, you’ll need a different approach.

To begin, subtract the required angle from 90.

It will be 40 degrees in this example. (90 minus 50)

Set the angle of the table saw blade to 40 degrees.

The table saw’s bevel indicator isn’t to be trusted.

Although the bevel indicator was designed for precision, years of handling sawdust, grit, and debris eventually clog the interior, resulting in incorrect cuts.

Using a digital angle box or an adjustable bevel gauge and a protractor to set up your bevel angle is a preferable option.

If neither of these options is available, miter cut a 50-degree scrap piece and use it as reference to set the bevel angle.

If your bevel angle indicator is accurate, you can skip the section below and move straight to the bevel cut part.

Making a Angled Wood Piece for Adjusting the Table Saw’s Angle

Set the miter gauge to a 50-degree angle and cut a miter on a scrap piece of wood.

You can now use this piece of wood to set the blade’s angle.

The blade will be positioned at 40 degrees from the vertical since the angle on the scrap piece of wood is 50 degrees.

Making the Bevel Cut on Table Saw

It’s time to do the bevel cut after you’ve set the angle of the saw blade correctly.

To create the 50-degree bevel cut, we’ll hold the wood vertically.

Because cutting a single piece of wood vertically is tough, you’ll need to attach it to another scrap piece of wood to give it more heft.

Take a scrap piece of wood for this. It doesn’t matter how thick it is as long as it is tall.

The scrap wood will function as a push block, assisting in the cutting of the bevel and support the timber to be cut.

Adjust the rip fence such that the distance between the fence and the blade is equal to the thickness of the scrap wood.

This ensures that the blade will begin cutting at the edge of the wood to be bevel cut, without touching the scrap wood.

Attach the wood to bevel cut onto the face of the scrap wood using screws or brad nails.

If you don’t want to use screws, you can use masking tape and wrap around both pieces.

But it’s safer to use screws.

Start cutting by turning on the saw and pushing the combination into the blade.

Make sure the scrap wood is pressed firmly against the fence.

The scrap wood will come out at the other end unscathed and the wood will be cut with a 50-degree bevel.

With that, you have successfully completed a 50-degree bevel cut on a table saw.

Bevel Cut on Table Saw with Angle Less than 45 degree

As an example, I’ll show you how to make a 40-degree bevel cut on wood.

Start by placing the wood to be cut onto the work surface.

To make a bevel cut, the blade angle must be tilted to 40 degrees from the vertical.

Instead of trusting the bevel angle indicator, you can miter cut a wood piece with a 50-degree angle (90-40) to set the bevel angle of the table saw.

If your bevel angle indicator is accurate, you can skip the section below and move straight to the bevel cut part.

Making an Angled Wood Piece for Adjusting the Table Saw’s Angle

To make this piece, set the angle on the miter gauge to 50 degrees and lock the angle in place.

Cut the scrap wood at a 50-degree miter using the miter gauge.

Now this 50-degree piece can be used to set the bevel angle on the table saw blade.

Making the Bevel Cut on Table Saw

Once the angle is set, you’re ready to make the cut on the actual piece of wood you intend to use.

Set the miter gauge on the saw and make sure the angle is set back to 90 degrees.

One the wood piece, mark the point at which you intend to make the bevel cut.

Align the table saw blade with the point which you just marked and do not move it afterward.

Turn on the saw and let it reach full speed, then slowly begin feeding the wood into the saw blade.

Make sure to grasp the miter gauge and the wood firmly together.

Make sure to keep the rip fence far away to prevent kickback from the offcut.

Once the cut is finished, make sure the edges are clean and free of splinters.

If there are any rough edges, sand them out and make it smooth.

With that, your 40-degree angle bevel cut is successfully made using a table saw.

Tips for Safety

• When using a table saw, You should not use gloves. In addition, remove any rings, bracelets, or other clothing that might become entangled in the table saw or material.
• Never stay right behind or too close to the running blade to avoid injury in case of kickback. Kickback is extremely dangerous and must be prevented at all costs.
• Never lift the saw blade above the material being cut by more than 1/4th inches.
• Make sure the saw teeth are facing in the right direction of rotation. (Clockwise direction in case of table saw).

Tips for Accuracy

• If the length of the edge that is against the fence is shorter than the distance between the fence and the blade, Then dont cut it with the help of rip fence.
• Miter gauge of the table saw can help create perfectly square cuts as its parallel to the blade as well as perpendicular. This is a much better alternative than using hands to push the wood.