How to Cut a Board to Length w/ Angles - A Beginner Tutorial

New to woodworking? This video is for you. A quick explanation of how I reliably cut a board to exact length with any degree angle needed.
This video was inspired by a question submitted to me via email. Check out the blog post for the specific question:
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Music by:
"Easy Breezy" by Silent Partner

[@markspears1167]

As a professional cabinet builder and finish carpenter I like to watch these types of videos usually for a good laugh but this guy is actually offering up good sound advice. It is true “sneaking up on a cut” is a real term used. For the people who don’t use miter saws or much of any saw and trying to cut angles you have to realize and understand cutting rough materials like 2x4’s are a bit of a challenge for anyone because it’s rough lumber. Rough lumber is typically not straight or its cupped or worse it’s twisted. All of this affects cutting angles in the worst way. Even finished trim or cabinet material will not cut exact if it’s not straight and flat and square. If your doing a project buy an extra 2x4 or piece of trim so you can have a little extra in case you make a mistake or just need to make several cuts to get a little confidence or familiarity with the saw. I get that you want to save money and only buy what you need but if you don’t do this type of work daily or at least as a hobby your gonna make a mistake. As a professional who does this type of thing daily I make mistakes. It’s just the reality of it so just relax and give yourself a reasonable chance.

[@simplyeasydiy]

Good comment

[@mookeythepimpthompson6031]

Ty for the great advice my man.

[@casperwallace9685]

Thanks for that - I never get cuts right - drives me daft.

[@whifflingtit9240]

Most places you can buy lumber from will buy back your unused materials anyways, so as long as you're fine with making another trip back out to where you bought it from there's absolutely no reason not to just buy that little bit extra. If you needed the extra, then great! You already have it on hand. If you don't need to use it then whatever, just sell it back.

[@johnboy4067]

Well said young Mark I'm glad you have learnt something from the video

[@whifflingtit9240]

Thank you for the tip to "sneak up on" that second cut, that'll be something that helps me out in the future.

[@nickw7235]

All these little tips are so useful!

[@elirodriguez514]

Every KZbinr giving simple instructions using a 2 thousand dollar saw 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@jpah17]

Being a novice woodworker i had no idea how to make angle cuts that would fit. Today i got too frustrated and called it a day. Tomorrow is a better day thanks to this video!!! Thank you Stan!!!

[@simplyeasydiy]

Glad it helps. They were frustrating for me way back when as well. Peace.

[@shinchiwarrior]

Jaime Perez ha. That was me yesterday!

[@breeness56]

I still don't know if I would be cutting at a 30° or whatever°. I'm assuming my miter saw will just show me 30°? Or do I need to get out my geometry books to find all that out? ☺☺ I am trying to build a tree bench in remembrance of my dad and I just don't understand how they came up with these angle measurments. 😢

[@Sebastopolmark]

The thing you hear most woodworkers say is "I sneak up on the line". GREAT tip Stan and thanks.

[@simplyeasydiy]

+Sebastopolmark Straight.

[@kategerber2893]

damn for whatever reason this made it make sense in my brain. thank you!! made my very first miter cuts today and they came out PERFECTLY, it's probably the most satisfying feeling I've ever experienced lol

[@simplyeasydiy]

That's what I'm talkin bout. Great job.

[@SmallestWorkshopGH]

As always nice simple and to the point dialogue, so helpful for newbies. 👍

[@collincourtois8587]

I'm an absolute newbie at this so thank you for this very informative lesson.

[@jwgjrich300]

Very helpful!! I've always struggled with this, thank you for showing a simple solution that I can easily remember how to use!!!

[@christianackley7147]

Thanks man! Its like this video was made specifically for me. Currently following a cut list from a KZbin video and now I know how to get my miters to an exact length. Thanks again!

[@danielvenkat6267]

Made my cuts today, thank you. I’m a newbie and I put my project on hold for 3+ weeks because I couldn’t figure out how to make them until i came across this video. Again, Thanks.

[@simplyeasydiy]

Glad I could help!

[@joshuabreeding4991]

Just on this one video I am Subscribed! I know there is probably a hundred tutorials on this, I know I should of looked it up years ago... But here I am, I've finally looked I got your video, it was easy and you showed the stock block part which I always forget. I'm set to cut some miters!

[@simplyeasydiy]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@vice8349]

I’ve been holding off trying these for exactly the reasons you mentioned! This video made so much sense! Thank you!

[@simplyeasydiy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@arbuckle2012]

Thanks Stan. I'll be using what I've learnt from this video and the angle cut video next week. Someone hired me to organize and tidy their basement. Part of the process is building some shelving.

[@IPASAustralia]

Very few things in life take pure talent or strength or speed. It's usually all about knowing the techniques. The technique you just showed is extremely helpful and will help me in my current project. I look forward to seeing more of your videos where I hope to find more useful techniques. Thanks for posting it!

[@simplyeasydiy]

Well said!

[@bw4265]

Thank you, I've been looking for this exact video, gone thorugh more than 20 before finding it..

[@harindergill7221]

short, crisp and clear - Excellent. Thanks

[@dyland5095]

Watched couple of other videos before this but yours helped me to understand how to make perfect miter cuts. Thank you so much!!!

[@clm5717]

Liked and subd! I'm very new to wood working and this video was a great help to me. Especially with my next project that requires several angled cuts. Thank you sir!

[@mannyfilmsinc]

This video showed me a fast way to do this , without complicated jigs. Great tip ! Thanks!

[@lyndsaystarnes7077]

This helped me to better understand my "angle block," thank you! Also I chuckled at the random gardening snipping cut in you added. I thought the angles of the tomato cages were some how going to play a part LOL! Subscribing!

[@zaram4067]

Very informative in a way even beginners like me can understand!… that nighttime’s nature bit though bought you the subscription

[@simplyeasydiy]

Thanks for the sub!

[@themotorhino1331]

Your sound edits are great. Thank you for this. I am re-framing the inside of a travel trailer using 2x2's and going to use this in the corners and put it all together with pocket hole screws.

[@PapaJoeWalsh]

Thank you for posting this! I made a mess of cutting mitres today with 1"x6" board for the top of a planter. Bit of a war-zone! I should have watched this video first lol!

[@GenerationX66]

"Sneak up on it", I like that idea, I will try that method. Thanks for sharing.

[@mathewshoyt1763]

my grandfather was old school.. he drew angle lines on the wood and cut perfect with a hand saw. he never had power tools.. all manual tools

[@tonyaddy7825]

Hey Stan! this video was helpful for me!! I am using a metal cold cut saw with only one direction on the miter. You cleared my thinking!!! Thank you!!

[@davidbotta6444]

Good tips. I don't tend to sneak up on the cut though. I usually just line up by bring the blade down while it's off using the teeth to line up the cut.

[@tripas421]

Dudeeee 😭 Why was I having such a hard time figuring out how to do the second cut lol It was as easy as rotating the board lol 😭 Thank you lol And thank you for the stop block tip!!

[@triciarubin6153]

Thanks for this to the point video - very well made and easy to understand!! Just got my miter saw and trying to figure it all out

[@simplyeasydiy]

Hope it goes well for you. Stay safe.

[@monkey23gorilla]

As a beginner I say thank you. I'm glad I came across this video because I just made the same mistake by just cutting all of my boards at a 90 degree first 😬😱. Btw, the project I'm doing is from a video with instructions. Lol I do have extra would (yay). I will go and practice on that before I fix my problem. 😱😄

[@elizabethfarber7643]

I wish I had looked you up before I wasted one board - at least it was only one. Thank you so much - your teaching was great but perhaps including same angles going same direction for a roof on a shed slope (building a firewood shed and I goofed on the rim rafter angle and now I know what I have to do.

[@BigBilly1958]

Name of my new band "Sneak Up On The Cut'. Good advice. Funny. Simple is always easier than I make it out to be.

[@Deevine_]

Best/easiest advice so far

[@simplyeasydiy]

Thanks for watching.

[@normanweiss5808]

I've been hobby woodworking for years deck boxes, window planters and simple stuff. Each new project i swear I'll take my time measure three times, I got it this time. Yeah sometimes I hit it, some not. And I do use the sneaking up i learned that from a house finish trim carpenter years ago. Thank you very much for this helpful tip, I have bird feeder pole to build with 4x4 s I already have enough scraps . Just the tip that I came here for.

[@vikingdriver5460]

Great video! I find it difficult when you have to cut mitre joints to a specific inside dimension. Measuring and marking the inside angles is more difficult however once they are marked the sneak up to you line method is the same.

[@rxonmymind8362]

Wow. Now I can make a stand for my adjustable dumbbells (doesn't REALLY require and angle but makes it easier the wrist) and the angle was keeping me from making one. I'm WAY late into being a carpenter but weekend warrior projects as a hobby I'm a fan of. Something easy...like a step stool! Thank you for the vid. I

[@simplyeasydiy]

I have a step stool video as well if you haven't seen it yet you should be able to find it by searching my channel. Angles can be difficult at first but if you slow down and visualize which way they need to be cut they are not so bad. Thanks for stopping by.

[@leonlouiswalker]

Great video Stan Sullivan, and very informative! I recommend that viewers WATCH this BEFORE YOU CUT! Liked & Subscribed as standard.

[@richardortiz197]

Hi Stan, great tip on cutting angles. I've always struggled with angles. Your method will help me.thanks again.

[@photojames160]

Appreciate the information, thank you for making the video. The only thing I would suggest is to show the finished product. It would be nice to see that all your angles came out the way you wanted them to.

[@mners27nolan]

Thank you...way easier than I thought.

[@condor5635]

Great tips Stan! Especially the sneak up on it

[@Evenflows1]

Simple video with great information. Thanks

[@simplyeasydiy]

Thanks

[@TheBetterGame]

I'm building these shelves today! Thank you for the video!

[@RoadNoise29100]

Good video, Stan! Very helpful!

[@brodrickrobertson3459]

Great stuff man glad I found ur channel

[@nmdelninno]

Great video for beginners. If you're not into math, this video's for you. This process coupled with a simple angle finder makes it totally understandable for cutting and measuring miter angle cuts. Nice Job.

[@lancegoodthrust7819]

If I cut my boards too short I just use a board stretcher.

[@larryking2772]

Boss asked me to find one at Lowe's, but they told me to try looking at Home Depot.

[@23crazyuser]

I remember doing this to new workers took them a while to realize

[@TheLeeattwood]

I glue a piece on all the time I’m always messing it up 😂

[@billprezioso3677]

Yeah I bought one of those at harbor freight but it will only stretch the board 1 inch at either end

[@sureshotmcgee1085]

What a coincidence I do the same thing when I cut wires too short with my wire stretcher😂

[@jcberb]

Wish I watched this video sooner; in the middle of a project, cut all my wood to length then cut angles after. And of course now my pieces are short. Lesson learned!

[@christophervela5447]

Great explanation

[@khookieman]

what a fantastic method...thanks!

[@skarz505]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you so much.

[@justinthomas4442]

Great video and info! Thanks!

[@seanpatrick4293]

Narrating whilst pruning beautiful tomato plants. Boss.

[@diannenavarro2185]

Awesome - first time user, thank you!

[@simplyeasydiy]

Go get'em!

[@Feldspar__]

That sneak-up-cut is the jam

[@kevincanalenutrition]

Thank you for the video, I appreciate it!

[@simplyeasydiy]

My pleasure!

[@Westsidewood]

Thanks man. This is going to help me immensely.

[@Robe999]

That was Awesome Stan , thankyou so much for Sharing that . I was doing a 45 cut one way and the changed the saw to 45 the other way I was getting hell confused , this was so easily explained , again thanks

[@DEG1985]

Buen trabajo amigo! Very well explained thank you very much for sharing your great knowledge and humility with all of us.

[@chrisparker5895]

I've been trying to figure that out for quite some time now... Thanks

[@Mogannawin]

This is a lot of good advice! Thanks for the video!

[@simplyeasydiy]

Glad it helps.

[@aacc2622]

Great video! Thanx

[@casperwallace9685]

Thanks Stan, I need as much help as possible, I always screw up angles which is why I try hard never to have any. I have made two planters and I have to trim the top like the facing on a door - but I have put off - because I know I have to cut them at an angle. Drives me daft.

[@edwardsmith4353]

Very useful info... makes sense to always cut them too long at first.Also you bear a striking resemblance to Simon Pegg...

[@KevinJohnson-er9xt]

All these diy videos look so simple, when it’s time for action, that’s when the pain begins…I just spent 3 hours cutting a mitre, couldn’t get it right

[@oscarcabarcas5434]

I tried to miter a cut but it has never come out right and I struggle with angles but these are the cuts that I want to use for my garage project. Ty

[@suzanx]

Wow! I'm struggling with putting "X" bars on the sides of my console table that I'm building and I think this just resolved my issue. Will have to try it when I get back to it.

[@Madmick82]

Cheers buddy. this actually helped me a lot.

[@simplyeasydiy]

Glad it helps

[@janetdrums8647]

So helpful, thanks👍

[@joncinc6485]

Thank you for making this video

[@hakf1966]

Thanks so much I will try it tomorrow morning

[@Xax212]

This video just saved me so must frustration. Thank you.

[@JanineMKartist]

I need to have the miter cut through the narrow part because that's how I want my frame to be. the width of the board to be they height or depth of the cradle frame for my art panel. The saw I got casts a shadow with the led light so that will help make it easier to target the correct spot.

[@clarissafraser7229]

Thank you!!! I could NOT figure out how to do this.

[@traciehowe]

Yes! Thank you!! This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@TravisMeeks6]

thanks. that is actually something i was always nervous about

[@TylerHarney]

So glad I found this video!! Thank you

[@CookieZ3353]

Yes, these angular cutting projects ARE intimidating. Would have been nice to show us how you measured for your lengths.

[@tommyaleks100]

Hi sir, thank you for the great video, this was a great tip. My only frustration is when you have two different angle on the same board, I often get confused and when I think I`m Finnish I have cut the same angle in both ends. Do you have any tip for that?

[@wearywanderer]

Brilliant!

[@alishahpettaway2056]

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!! Thank YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!

[@spiderstone]

Nice job.....I'm putting on a car port on side of garage.......how can I figure what angel.....thanks Stan

[@paladrous]

Nothing will make you want to stab your eyes out with a Carpenter pencil like cutting the board to short. Nice video

[@oceano_drive241]

Thank you so much. Is this the same way you measure when the blade is tilt at 45 degree?

[@elainenilsson5472]

I learned something today!

[@jayc3110]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@engelhardt_c775]

Great tutorial, thanks!

[@edspigel3601]

Thank you so much. You just solved one of my nightmares.

[@gaz0615]

Any tips on doing angle cuts with a circular saw? Thanks

[@ddbronco1873]

Great tip! Subscribed

[@cwc8979]

I need to cut 6 pieces of bracing for our porch area to go against a 8x8 cedar post. I measured and it's 24 inches so I need 2 for each post and we have 3 8x8 cedar posts. So, I need to make two 45 degree cuts on each 4x4 posts that's 24 inches long. How do I do this accurately? I did a test run on a 2x4 and the cuts weren't accurate when I put it up against the 8x8 cedar posts.....I was off a bit. I need some help. Thanks

[@kennyc388]

Thanks for the video Stan. Hopefully tomorrow I can avoid the temper tantrum! LOL I like your chop saw table extension too!

[@eugenejulson8742]

2ft x2ft ceiling tiles. I need stake points on both ends of my 2ft trim pieces. I’m using 1x4 for trim. So it would be 8 45 degree cuts per intersectional joint and 2ft from point to point on the individual pieces. Does this sound correct?

[@spiderstone]

I am trying to figure out ...say if I got two angles say 4 or five inches to fill a space like a brace...between boards .. How do I figure where to start cut........I hope I got it right what I'm trying to say.....real good video

[@artoriuscark7755]

Damn..... Thx.... Best way ever...

[@SteveM5046]

Spot on solving my problem cutting TOO short. "sneak up on it" dang

[@jsol2480]

how do you cut angles successfully using a circular saw?

[@Inhalin1514]

Great vid!

[@12henry1234]

Great idea. Thanks