how to figure angles.....

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Ok, im pretty new at messing with wood working here.
I am trying to create a CP based on JEFFS ULTIMATE MAME panel and when it comes to trying to figure out what angles i need to cut and waht degrees i need to cut the base frame joints at , im lost.  Has anyone out there made this panel?    Where im kind of stuck at is on the one corner the drawing calls out  a total of 109.59 degres and im not sure what i need to cut each pieces angle at to make the joint come together properly.  I thought i had it figured out,but once i started cutting, i found out differently.  So, now im looking for some input from you wood workers out there lol

Here is the link from the JEFFS ULTIMATE MAME site......
Go to the plans section and there will be the drawing im refering to.

http://www.webpak.net/~jmcclain/mame/index.html

thanks for any help you pros out there can offer

GROOVY!~

[2slk]

What kind of equipment/tools are you using? A mitre saw would probably help you out a great deal. You can get a day rental or 15-20$ at a tool rental place.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

My dad is helping me by using a table saw.  That and a jig saw, but the table saw is what we were using for the angles.     Also, its not the euiptment or knowing how to actually cut the angle in as much as figureing out exactly what the angle for each piece of the base frame  needs to be.
     

[Jakobud]

sounds like you need to do a google search for geometry equations (and maybe some trig).

[Mike]

Now if your talking about the top control panel piece. You will have to do a little math. To cut the angle you will need to know the a and b measurements of a triangle. Well say the a side is the amount the the control panel comes out and the b measurement is the distance in before the control panel is straight again. The b measurement you should be able to pick any number on. depending how big you want the flat section at the front of the control panel. Say you want this 10 inches.  Now you know all the angles. If the corner is at an angle of 109.59. The triangle angle we need is 19.59 degrees. Now you plug the formula tan(19.59)= x/10 . So to get the same angle on the square control panel you started with you'd make a mark 3.5589 inches down on the panel and 10 inches in on the panel. Connect the dots, make the cut and everything be perfect. Now for the front peices these angles are for your tablesaw. The side peices will need a cut of 35.025 degrees. The angled pieces will need a cut on one side of 9.795 degrees and on the other side it will need to be 35.025 degrees. and the very front pieces will need to be 9.795 degrees on each side. I kind of cranked that out but I think my math is right. You might want to double check it before using it.

[skirge66]

any reason why you don't just draw it out full size using a protractor to measure the angles...use a t-square to verify everything is square to begin with?

[crsdawg]

i use an angle  finder. it's been a really handy tool and they are cheap to boot.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1028

4 bucks i think.

-chris-