How to taper a decking board

[Fishermen’s friend]

Hiya,

I'm just wondering how best to cut a decking board which tapers (ie wider at one end, tapering to a width about 1.5cm narrower at the other end)?

Would the timber merchant be able to cut this for me if I gave them the measurements (they don't open till Tuesday)? If so, is there a way I could mark the decking board to get the exact cut line?

Thanks.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You could do it with a circular saw, fix a batten to the underside and use that as a guide for the saw.

 

[Fishermen’s friend]

Thanks but I'm a very clueless diy novice and only have a normal hand saw and a cheap jigsaw.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You could do it with a handsaw if you're patient and it's a half decent saw (ie not blunt), I would still fix a guide to it but I'd want to fix it to the top if using a handsaw so maybe use some clamps if you have any?

 

[Fishermen’s friend]

I can get a new hand saw and I'm pretty patient but I don't have any clamps. It's just one board that needs this cut.

Is it likely the timber merchant would be able to cut this for me (I'd be buying the board from there)?

How would be best to mark it up - take measurements throughout the length (every inch or so) and then join the dots so to speak?

Thanks.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Some timber merchants will offer cutting some won't. Draw a pencil line on the board.

 

[big-all]

you would normally plan it out in the laying as in 5-7mm expansion gap between boards so assuming 20 boards wide you would loose about 1mm per board but whatever you are planning assuming 143mm wide allow at least 3mm expansion

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

So a diminishing gap between the boards at one end? I think that would look weird.

 

[big-all]

it all depends on exactly whats being made a gap varying between a 143mm decking board over say 3m by 1mm from 6 to 5mm wont really show where as a taper off 15mm on one board will take a whole or most off the ridge at the edge off
more trying to point out other options or choices are available in a possibly clumsy way

 

[Tigercubrider]

You might find hiring a circular saw a better bet. Or even buying a Lidl/aldi one.

However, if you have no option but to use a hand saw, use a new one. They are so cheap

If you have a spare decking board long enough, use it as a guide. If not, buy a sacrificial board from the shop. Not a strip, but close to a plank. Screw it from underneath into the decking board that you’re cutting. Cut from the top, ie the face of the decking. Try to slightly taper the cut towards the remaining plank unless you are sure of the fit.
Start at the wide cut.