notch out deck board
#1
notch out deck board
Hoping for some tips/advice on a method to accomplish the measuring for cutting/notching out this almost last (Trex) deck board nicely around this 4x4 rail post located by the corner of the angled edge of the deck here. I put a squared end of a piece of the deck board up next to the post where the board would be positioned, and the back edge of the board lined up with the back left corner of the post (if that confusing bit of information can help at all).
#2
Not real hard... find the closest point and go from there.
Measure from where the square end will be (on the right) to the corner of the post closest to the last board. Subtract the gap between boards. Mark that one single point on your board. Then, using a speed square, place it against your last board so that the square sticks out past the left rear corner of the 4x4 and accurately measure the location of the left rear corner. (Measure out from the last board, subtract the gap.... and also mark where the square sits on the last board... measure from the square end on the right end of that last board back to that mark) Now transfer both those measurements into one single point onto the board. You now have 2 points that you can draw a line between. That will be the left side of your 4x4. Since a 4x4 is a square, the rest should be easy.
Alternately, if you have a sliding t-bevel, you would use it to find the angle on the left side of the 4x4, and mark that angle from that first closest corner to create that line on the left side. Easy peasy.
Be sure you cut it to fit 1/16" loose on each side of the 4x4.
That's quite the gap between planks.
Measure from where the square end will be (on the right) to the corner of the post closest to the last board. Subtract the gap between boards. Mark that one single point on your board. Then, using a speed square, place it against your last board so that the square sticks out past the left rear corner of the 4x4 and accurately measure the location of the left rear corner. (Measure out from the last board, subtract the gap.... and also mark where the square sits on the last board... measure from the square end on the right end of that last board back to that mark) Now transfer both those measurements into one single point onto the board. You now have 2 points that you can draw a line between. That will be the left side of your 4x4. Since a 4x4 is a square, the rest should be easy.
Alternately, if you have a sliding t-bevel, you would use it to find the angle on the left side of the 4x4, and mark that angle from that first closest corner to create that line on the left side. Easy peasy.
Be sure you cut it to fit 1/16" loose on each side of the 4x4.
That's quite the gap between planks.
#3
Member
You could also practice with a piece of scrap deck board or even cardboard, then use it as a template.
How much of a gap are you leaving between boards? Looks a little excessive. No more than 1/8" (use a 16 penny nail) is needed. Maybe it's just the picture.
How much of a gap are you leaving between boards? Looks a little excessive. No more than 1/8" (use a 16 penny nail) is needed. Maybe it's just the picture.
#4
You could practice with a piece of scrap deck board or even cardboard, then use it as a template. How much of a gap are you leaving between boards? Looks a little excessive. Maybe it's just the picture.
Last edited by sgull; 01-10-19 at 02:35 PM.
#5
Best I could do. Managed with the help of a sliding t-bevel, after some trial and error; Wasn't necessary easy peasy (for me) but got it done okay. Thanks.