Chamfering the tops of railing posts or the ends of beams is a nice finishing touch you can add when building a deck or a porch. A plain, square-topped post looks clunky, but in a few minutes’ time you can give the post a more distinguished appearance. All you need is a Speed square and a circular saw. For best results, use a sharp, fine-toothed blade on your saw. If you haven’t tried this technique before, practice on a spare length of 4×4. Also, you may find it easier to make chamfer cuts “on the flat," with the 4×4 set on some sawhorses. It takes a little more experience with a circular saw to chamfer a post that’s already installed vertically. Here’s how to chamfer a post in four simple steps:
LAY OUT THE CHAMFER LINES. As shown in the photo above, a pair of lines, spaced about 1 in. apart, should extend around all four sides of the post. The upper line represents the length of the finished post.
CUT THE POST TO LENGTH. Make a square end cut to sever the post along the upper layout line. Two cuts from opposite sides of the post should do it.
MAKE THE CHAMFER CUTS. Loosen the angle-adjustment knob or lever on your circular saw and adjust the cutting angle to 45 degrees. An exact 45-degree angle isn’t necessary, but be sure to tighten the adjustment securely. Now make an angled cut along
each side of the post, following the layout line. If you have trouble maintaining a straight cut, clamp a Speed square to the post to guide the base of your saw. Another trick for ensuring a smooth cut is to retract the blade guard with your forward hand before you start to cut. SAND THE POST SMOOTH.
Use some 120-grit sandpaper to smooth out any rough areas. You can also slightly soften sharp corners.
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