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Wood workers - how to make a wedge?

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paulney

Diamond Member
Hi guys!

My kid got a solar system model as a gift. It attaches to a ceiling and rotates the planets around the Sun - the piece that holds everything in place. The problem is that the whole thing should be attached to a flat ceiling, and all ceilings in our house are vaulted.

I took the measurements, and the ceiling angle is 9.5 degrees. The base for the attachment is 4.5" in diameter, which means I need a riser of 3/4" for it. Which is perfect - just take a piece of plywood or 3/4" wood, cut out a 4.5" square, sand it down at an angle from nothing to full height - and bam, you are done. Then I'll attach the wedge to the ceiling, and the solar system - to the wedge.

The only problem is - how do I maintain proper angle while sanding down the block? I have an assortment of clamps and a vice. I have a belt sander and an electric plane. The only question is - how to fix the wood in place so that I could grind it safely. Don't want it flying out from under the belt in random direction.

Thanks!
 
Counter sink some screws through the thick end into another chunk of wood. Or use double sided tape. Or nail it to another piece snd set the nails. Or leave the piece long, shape the wedge and then cut it to length. Or shape one side at a time. Or clamp it in a vice on edge and cut the wedge with a hand saw. Etc.
 
Ghetto way of doing it.

Clamp it to another piece of wood so you have something more hefty to clamp down. Measure and draw line with Protractor. Sand down to line.
 
paulney said:
Got it! Thanks for the advice. I don't have a miter saw, but I know where to get one. Should be just two cuts then.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty sketchy cut to make with an electric miter saw unless you do a little preliminary work to make a jig of some sort.

It may be best just to wing it with the belt sander.
 
I cut wedges like that with a table saw. I either use the miter gauge, http://www.toolmarts.com/del_34-928.html
or use another piece of wood to attach my desired block onto, and use the rip fence.
Attach the block onto the other piece of wood at the desired angle in such a manner that you won't be sawing through the fasteners.
 
Humpy said:
That's a pretty sketchy cut to make with an electric miter saw unless you do a little preliminary work to make a jig of some sort.

It may be best just to wing it with the belt sander.
Click to expand...

Easiest/safest way would be cut the angle first on a longer piece of wood, then cut off the angled piece, so you have plenty of material to hold the entire time.
 
Cut out your square, screw/glue a 3/4 strip of plywood on one end so it looks like a stunted "L". Sand the strip to the height to get the angle that you want. Won't look great but painted, it should be fine.

Always try and get the right tools for the job. Buy a table saw or miter saw. Could cut 2 wedges at the 9.5 degrees off of a longer piece, like Motf said. Cut them off at 90 degrees. Then attach to the square.

Edit: Or a planer.
 
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