Miter device and method

A miter apparatus for making precision cuts, comprising:

• a protractor including a head having a curved rearward surface subtending an arc, a planar forward surface, a plurality of precision angle step-holes spaced apart at equal angle increments along at least a portion of said curved rearward surface, a pivot point hole located at the center of the arc of said rearward surface, and respective locking means including pivot point and angle hole lock shoulder bolts adapted to be received in said pivot point hole and at least one of said angle step-holes to fix the position of said protractor, wherein said plurality of precision angle step-holes are spaced apart at 15.degree., said curved rearward surface subtends an arc of at least 180.degree., and said head includes at least 13 angle step-holes,
• a sine bar attached to said planar forward surface of said protractor for adjusting the angle of cut between the angles of said step-holes and serving as a working surface, wherein said sine bar includes two vertical plates attached at one end by a vertical hinge pin and having at the other end an angle adjustment means including a graduated thumb screw graduated at 1/60.degree. (1 minute) increments with one full revolution of the thumb screw changing the angle of the sine bar by 1/4.degree. (15 minutes) and a locking screw to lock the sine bar once it has been set, and
• an elongate guide bar adapted to be attached to said protractor by said locking means, wherein said guide bar includes at least a pivot point opening, a 0.degree. offset opening and at least one of 7 1/2.degree. and 3 3/4.degree. offset openings, wherein said pivot point lock shoulder bolt serves as the pivot point for the protractor head, when said angle hole lock shoulder bolt is placed in the 0.degree. offset opening, the protractor head is set at an increment of 15.degree., and when said angle hole lock shoulder bolt is placed in the 7 1/2.degree. or 3 3/4.degree. offset opening, the protractor head is set at a 7 1/2.degree. or 3 3/4.degree. offset from a 15.degree. angle.