A mitre refers to a cut across a workpiece at an angle other than 90° to the edge. A mitered joint connects one piece to another at an angle. The most common mitre angle is 45°, with two 45° mitres fitting together to create a 90° corner – such as in a picture frame.

Using the correct tools and techniques is key to ensuring that mitered joints fit together accurately and tightly, without visible gaps.

Cutting mitres with the use of a circular saw poses a number of challenges, such as aligning the saw blade with the cut line, holding the saw steady as the cut is started, and keeping the saw moving in a straight line. The Kreg portable crosscut tool is designed to solve all three of these challenges and is said to be far more accurate than a speed square tool, commonly used in framing and roofing.

The Kreg portable crosscut features two cutline indicators – one on the 90° side and one on the 45° side. Cutline indicators are spring loaded to align the portable crosscut correctly and reliably before safely retracting and can be adjusted to match any circular saw. The indicators can be set to illustrate where the cut will be made and to ensure accurate placement of the tool to guide a cut.  

The portable crosscut is designed to be correctly positioned every time, without having to measure for the blade offset. In addition, a saw support ledge provides a stable place to rest the saw as the cut is started, ensuring that the blade is held perpendicular to the face of the wood. The ledge keeps the saw from tipping, which ensures that the edge of the mitre is straight, flat and cut at the 45° angle required. A Kreg GripMaxx surface grabs onto the wood to prevent slipping and ensures further accuracy and precision.

A tool such as the Crosscut Station can be used to help a circular saw operate more like a mitre saw, by holding work in place against a fence, setting the cutting angle, and guiding the saw blade precisely along a single line. The Crosscut Station features a pair of guide rails that can be adjusted to fit the saw’s base to ensure that it travels smoothly and precisely along the same cutting path every time.

A combination square or the Kreg Multi-Mark tool can be used to check that the correct angle is cut and a framing square can be used when two mitered pieces are assembled to create a 90° joint.

The Kreg range of tools and equipment is distributed by Vermont Sales.