I am doing some framing in my basement. My dilemma? I don't know how to frame angles!?

Question

I need to know how to determine at what angle to cut boards when Im framing angled walls. For example, lets say I have to perpendicular walls. I want to make an angled wall that connects those two walls. Let's say the studs on each wall do not form a perfect 45 degree angle. What measurements do I need to take? How do I determine the angle?

Answer 1

This answer is easy...
You don't need any math at all, your over thinking it. just use a level, or a straight board to get the angle you want.
However... if you are framing, you don't need to join the lower and upper plates with fancy angles. If you anchor the lower plate to the floor, and the upper to the ceiling joist, that is all you need.

Answer 2

Paul D offered a clue. YOU don't need books.

HD/Lowes/Ace etc, sell a tool. It resembles a Switch blade knife. It has a pin/bolt at one end, usually with a wing nut on the threaded side. The blade has an opening allowing it to slide in and out of the hollow handle.

The idea of the tool, (A bargain by the way) is that rather than guessing, or using paper templates, or the tool often used for molding that looks like a CURRY COMB, you can place the handle against a wall, loosen the wing nut, open the blade, push it flush with the adjacent wall, tighten the wing nut, and have the angle you need to transfer to material you have to cut.

Obviously for framing you can assume that OFF by fractions won't be extremely critical, as it might be for molding, or fine furniture.

In your case, use the same tool. Determine by a "guesstimate" where you want this false wall to be, by measuring an assumed or determined width. IE: I have a 90 degree wall. I want an angular wall to be approximately 2 ft. wide, hiding the 90 degree corner (For whatever reason). I use a tape measure to determine the distance out from the corner that will accomodate the width of the false wall, then mark it at the meeting points on each wall, then use the tool, with a straight edge reaching from one mark to the opposing mark, to determine the angles, so that each is the same.

Answer 3

With out being there and with the info you gave what you are asking is kind of hard to answer.
But what I do when I run into those times when there is an angle that isn't common I get my bevel square out. It is a tool that can help you out. It's like a square but the straight edge of the tool can be set at what ever angle you need to make work and then in your case you can transfer that angle on to your top and bottom plates of your wall you are wanting to build.
If you just do stuff around the house you can buy these thing fairly cheap or if you think it's something that you may need more than just a couple times they make better one too.

Answer 4

There are many tools you can use to figure the angle. A T-Bevel or an angle gauge, both sold @ the Home Depot or Lowes ( only a few dollars ) and will make the job so much easier. If you have any more questions please contact me @ my email address. I have been doing carpentry for over 35 years and will gladly answer any questions if you care to call me.

Answer 5

if the two walls are already framed and parallel to each other then take a board and intersect the two boards and mark the angles that you need

Answer 6

go to hardware store and find a book on framing. there should be techniques on how to do this. i would explain how i did it, but it was done in the Appalaichean American Arcitecture!!