I'm trying to cut a triangle with a 53° angle from a 5" wide deck board to match the bow of my canoe. I've been using an angle gauge and have even attempted tracing it, but I keep running into issues. There's always a gap at the tip of the triangle on one side and it just doesn't seem to fit properly. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong?
3 Answers
Since the triangle is going under a rail and tracing isn't an option, using the angle gauge might be tricky. Just ensure it's secured well while you trace it, and if it still doesn't fit, you might try a template that you can fit to the boat first.
First off, make sure your canoe's tip is actually a true triangle shape! It might be helpful to create a cardboard template to get the angle just right. Once you have it, you can trace that onto your board for a more accurate cut. If it doesn't fit initially, you can always scribe it to the canoe and adjust as needed.
Another technique is to cut the triangle a bit larger than you need and then use a block plane to fine-tune the edges for a perfect fit. This way, you have a bit of room to adjust without ruining the whole piece.
Sounds like a plan! I have an orbital sander too, so I can refine it more easily after cutting, thanks for the tip!
Great point! If the cardboard template doesn't fit perfectly, you can fine-tune it to the boat's shape before tracing it onto the wood.