An angle board is used as a guide for cutting other materials at definite angles. It may be used during the actual cutting process or as a marker for drawing cut lines on material before it’s actually cut. It can be made either by a manufacturer or by a craftsman. No matter the maker, an angle board is a useful asset in any woodworking setting where material needs to be cut repetitively at the same angle.
Usually an angle board is roughly 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) long and 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) wide, with each end being cut at a different but commonly used angle. Typically the boards are cut at angles of 45 degrees on one end and 33 degrees on the other. The board should also have different angles cut into it throughout its length, making it usable for proper angle marking no matter the angle or material.
Most angle guides are made by craftsmen in their own shops so they are designed for the angles the maker uses frequently. If the craftsman works on creating things like picture frames, he may have to make the same cut a number of times on different pieces of material. In these cases, he would use an angle board to make the end cuts, making all of them at the same time to increase efficiency.
When an angle board is used during the cutting process, it’s usually held on top of the material being cut so the angle the material must travel through the saw is maintained during the cut. The angled end of the board is held against the fence, or the guide of the saw, that is set in place to ensure a consistent and even cut. This allows the user to make the consistent cut without having to hold the material on a drawn line the entire time it is traveling through the saw. Through the use of the angle board, the user can create angled cuts in his material so they may be married together as flush as possible, without any gaps or inconsistencies.
In carpentry, an angle board may be used during the finishing process. It can help the user ensure that the trim going around doorways and windows, as well as base board moldings, is accurate and consistent so that the trim itself matches up to its counterparts as neatly and cleanly as possible. This is an essential part of the finishing process, and an angle board is often used as the guide for most of the trim cuts.
