Attaching edges smoothly?

[Homietheclown]

Hey you wonderful comunity you.

I am starting to build my arcade finally and have run into yet another speed bump .

[Take a look at the picture please]

How are these guys connecting their corner pieces so well. They are flush perfectly. I will be using laminate too if that matters. I understand that there is a router bit that does 45 degrees, but what about the pieces like the picture. The picture on the left (underneath the control panel) doesn't look like a 45 degree angle.

Help 

[jennifer]

    That's done with a jointer.

[Vigo]

You can do cuts are various angles using a table saw or circular saw and tilting the blade. It is called a bevel cut

[wp34]

    That's done with a jointer.

 

[Homietheclown]

    That's done with a jointer.

I have to buy another expensive tool to do this?



I do have a circular saw but I don't know if it has a bevel cut function.

[JDFan]

    That's done with a jointer.

I have to buy another expensive tool to do this?



I do have a circular saw but I don't know if it has a bevel cut function.

Most of them do at least a 45 degree bevel you just loosen the base plate and tilt the saw to the proper angle and retighten.

[jennifer]

     They are not another expensive tool, Most people don't use the ones they have so you can get them cheap, (they run around 600. new entry level) They are heavy though (usually around 200lbs) And are probably one the most dangerous tools in the shop. An excellent investment as far as cab building goes.... A good table saw can do that cut too, but the skill saw thing I would rethink that plan as less than precision.

[Vigo]

    That's done with a jointer.

I have to buy another expensive tool to do this?



I do have a circular saw but I don't know if it has a bevel cut function.

Most of them do at least a 45 degree bevel you just loosen the base plate and tilt the saw to the proper angle and retighten.

Yep. This picture illustrates how it works on most circular saws.



They usually stop at 45 degrees, but you can set them at lesser angles to get those smaller angle cuts.

I have had no problems making those cuts with a circular saw, but you can always fix with putty or wood fill if there is a mistake.

[Homietheclown]

Double post for some reason.

[Homietheclown]

Thanks guys.

I do have the bevel cut function on my circ saw. Who knew!

I understand Jenn that it isn't so precise but I don't feel like investing more money on a tool at this time.

I still wonder if one could use a 45 degree chamfer bit in a way that could make cuts that are less than 45 degrees. Probably not but I thought I would experiment.

Oh in an unreleated subject, can you guys tell me if you used piano hinges for your control panel. I've seen some underneath the CP and I am not a fan. I did read about european hinge but I wanted to see what you guys recommend.

[Vigo]

Awesome, good luck with the bevel cuts.

There are a lot of ways to do control panels. Personally, I don't hinge mine. I leave openings on the bottom of my control panel box, then shut the top with control panel latches. To open up the control panel, I reach in through the coin door and pop the latches. You can use CP latches to mount the box itself as well. It is easy to install and leaves no there is no exposed hardware. The downside is that you can't leave your control panel open like a car hood.

I have heard good things about industrial velcro, too. I would never use it, but it is a cheap option that might be worth at least trying.

[gildahl]

Oh in an unreleated subject, can you guys tell me if you used piano hinges for your control panel. I've seen some underneath the CP and I am not a fan. I did read about european hinge but I wanted to see what you guys recommend.

I used chest hinges from Rockler on mine.  Cheap, easy to install, and invisible as long as the lid has some overhang.  See pictures near the bottom of this page, http://dahlstrom.sytes.net/techblog/?p=611

[Homietheclown]

For any new people that are learning how to build their own 'cades, I ended using a chamfer router bit set. It has a 22.5, 30, and 45 degree bit. With it I was able to do pretty much all of my angles.