Pro tip: Painters tape trick fixed my wobbly miter joints

I was making a little storage bench for our back porch and the miter cuts on the lid were all off. They kept coming out uneven, so the corners had gaps you could see light through. I got frustrated and almost scraped the whole thing. Then I thought about using painters tape to mark the angle from the first good cut. I stuck the tape right on the wood, drew my line, and moved it to the saw. The next piece slid into place with no wiggle. It took a few test cuts on scrap, but finally it worked. My oldest kid said it looked professional, which felt awesome. Such a simple fix for a problem that was driving me nuts.

3 comments

3 Comments

lisa_roberts751mo ago

Ever try clamping the tape so it doesn't shift?

tessa_gibson1mo ago

That blue tape has a slightly rubbery texture that grips pretty well on its own. @lisa_roberts75, clamping it down could actually tear it or make it stretch. I found it works best to just burnish it smooth with your finger really well before you draw the cut line. That keeps it from shifting when you move the piece to the saw.

keithwalker1mo ago

Actually, clamping doesn't always tear the tape if you're careful about it. I've had good results using light pressure with soft jaw clamps to keep it secure. Just make sure not to overdo it and the tape should be fine.