How To Cut A Tapered Leg On a Table Saw? An Easy Guide!

Many types of furniture, including desks, tables, dressers, and chairs, use a tapered legs design method. To learn how to cut a tapered leg on a table saw, you will need to set up a tapering jig or micro-dial taper jig on the saw. This article will outline the above-mentioned steps that need to follow to cut tapered legs on a table saw.

Of course, we understand the importance of seeing a practical demonstration as well, so, in connection, we recommend following the methods outlined via this YouTube video demonstration for an easier understanding of cutting tapered legs on a table saw, especially if you watch it in connection with the steps listed below.

Step 1. Set up

Place the plywood on the table saw with the waste side up. Then, using a taper line guide, create a mark two inches from the edge of each end of the plywood and in the center of the plywood.

Step 2. Initial Cut

Using your taper jig or micro-dial taper jig, make your initial cut.

Step 3. Cut The Wood

Secure the plywood on the fence with clamps, then turn on the router table and move it against the plywood to produce the taper cut.

You can also use a T-Square to position the router table so that it moves accurately over the complete length of your workpiece before cutting the other side to ensure that both sides are the same size.

On the other hand, you’ll also need to make sure the blade is working as you need it to. For that, learn how to align a table saw blade.

Step 4. Make the Tapered Leg

Keep the same spacing between the router table and the plywood on both sides (2″) and repeat the cuts using the same size plywood on both sides while maintaining the same distance.

To use your table saw as a full-scale mock-up, you’ll need to cut roughly 10 pieces of wood to build 10 tapered legs.

Step 5. Safety

After cutting each piece of wood along the leg stock, round any edges that you’re concerned about with a router table so that the blade doesn’t leave any sharp corners when you insert the legs into your table saw.

Step 6. Final Touches

Once you’ve achieved a beautiful tapering look on the legs, clamp them together or simply hold them together with your hands, and use your table saw to cut off rounded corners to join them together.

Use a clamp or your hands to keep the legs together while cutting out rounded corners with your table saw.

Step 7. Dimensions

Use a T-Square and mark on the waste side of each end of the leg as a visual reference to ensure that each leg is the same length and angle and that they are fully aligned.

You can also utilize it to keep the desired dimensions for the table saw’s height while performing corner cuts with the table saw blade to ensure that each leg is the right length and angle for a good fit.

Make sure your table saw is perfectly adjusted before you begin to achieve the best cuts – we recommend learning how to adjust your table saw.

Step 8. Sanding

Sand the table saw components by hand after cutting them out to eliminate any splinters or sharp edges from the blade before putting them together.

Step 9. Assembling A Tapered Leg

Use clamps or screws to assemble the tapered legs, and use a T-Square to ensure that they are all the same length before joining them together.

And voila! You’re done.

FAQ

Can the table saw cut tapered legs at an angle?

Table saws are generally used for ripping and crosscutting, which are straight, large cuts. However, with miter gauges and other techniques, you can cut are various angles depending on your needs and your project.

If you’re interested in learning more about cutting at an angle, learn more about how to cut a 60-degree angle on a table saw!

Conclusion

As long as you are cautious, it is easy to learn how to cut a tapered leg on a table saw. Of course, tapers are not the only thing table saws can cut. If you’re more interested in learning to cut straight edges instead, we offer a detailed guide for that, too.

Regardless, we hope that the information you’ve learned here will benefit you with future woodworking projects! And if you’d like more detail, if a bit specific, you can also try learning about a tapering jig detail, too.

Learn more table saw knowledge with “How To Adjust DeWalt Table Saw Fence?”