Deck Post caps, How to make the angled cuts?

[Acrobat]

Hi, I am rebuilding my deck and putting up new posts for the handrails and I would like to make a cap for each post. (about 20 or so).
Caps to be approx 150mm x 150mm x45mm thick.  (5"x5"x1.5" I think that is in imperial) I wish to have the top of each cap with a small flat area then with each side cut at an angle down (so it wouold appear a topped 4 sided pyramid) with about 25mm thick sides left on base. I don't have a table saw and am struggling to figure a way to do it on my circular saw or drop saw. The angle is about 22degrees.
I tried placing my circular saw on the edge of cap but not enough thickness to support it safely. I tried same thing on the drop saw, tilting the head at the angle but how do you support the wood on each edge securely? Frustrating, or is there a simple way I have overlooked?
Any helpful tip appreciated.

thanks ???

 

[Guy Ashley]

My suggestion would be make a ply oblong box 150mm x 150mm by 300mm long and screw a piece of ply 150mm x 150mm to the top of it.

Drill a central hole and through that you can screw a 30mm screw into the base of your cap.

Then lay this assembly onto your mitre saw bed against the fence, cut your 22.5 degree cut, turn and cut, turn and cut, until you have done all the faces.

Unscrew the cap and replace with the next one, and so on. Not teaching you to such eggs but just be totally sure the length of the screw is shy of the top of the cut.

 

[tjbnwi]

You could stick the piece to be cut with 2 sided tape to the bed of the saw, make the cut, pry the piece off, repeat as necessary.

You may also be able to clamp the piece to the fence vertically, and make the cut. Depends on your miter saws capacity.

Tom

 

[Kevin D.]

This video from Gary Katz in this thread may help you....

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/another-great-gary-katz-video/

 

[Acrobat]

My suggestion would be make a ply oblong box 150mm x 150mm by 300mm long and screw a piece of ply 150mm x 150mm to the top of it.

Drill a central hole and through that you can screw a 30mm screw into the base of your cap.

Then lay this assembly onto your mitre saw bed against the fence, cut your 22.5 degree cut, turn and cut, turn and cut, until you have done all the faces.

Unscrew the cap and replace with the next one, and so on. Not teaching you to such eggs but just be totally sure the length of the screw is shy of the top of the cut.

Awesome idea. I never thought about rotating on box with a centred screw like that. I'll think I'll give that a go, and a mate has suggested I try clamping  a block either side of the cap so when it's on its edge it has better support and away from my precious digits

Thanks guys.

 

[Acrobat]

Hi, after some work before the xmas summer break, I've managed to finish the deck posts and balustrades. Heres a pic of the front deck. I've continued them on around the side of the house also. Got the idea from  a site called PlansNow I think it was. Very helpful detailed info in their plans.

 

[PeterK]

Wow, that came out very nice! Great job.