Notching deck boards - novice advice

[matthew.larkin]

I've just completed stage one of my deck (getting the frame in place). Possibly not up to the standard of many on here, but it is solid, level, straight and rigid; I'm pleased.

I'm installing posts for a handrail on the inside of the frame, which means I'll be cutting large notches in the deckboards to accommodate the posts. I'm concerned that this will be the most likely place where I'll make a really visible cockup, so I thought I'd ask for some advice on how to do this neatly.

The tools I have at my disposal are:-

- jigsaw (advice on type of blade recommended)

- tenon saw

- hacksaw

- Makita 12v drill / driver (and assorted bits)

- padsaw

- brute force (!)

The bit i struggle with is achieving the horizontal cut between the two vertical cuts to make the gap wide enough for the post.

Any joiners tips for a neat finish gratefully received.

Matt

[Alang]

Not with the kit you have but... I have an old B&D drill with the circular saw attachment. Bought 1974. Set the depth of cut to the depth of the notch and slice as many cuts as needed about 3mm apart to the width of the noggin. Chisel out the waste. Nice neat job. You could try it with a hand saw but it takes a steadier hand than mine.

[The Medway Handyman]

Not a joiner, just a general wood butcher & deck builder :-)

Mark the two lines for the vertical cuts. Start cutting the right hand vertical one with a jigsaw but halfway along the vertical line veer off to the left until you meet the horizontal line. Cut along the horizontal line until you reach the left vertical line.

Now cut straight up the left vertical until you meet the horizontal & a bit will fall out - like half a capital 'D'.

Cut along the horizontal until you meet the right horizontal line. Continue the original cut along the right hand vertical.

Hope that makes sense, easier to show you than describe it.

[matthew.larkin]

Many thanks. That was the way I was thinking of heading, though in the past I've tried things like drilling a 10mm hole in the corner so that I could start the jigsaw in there. I've never got a good result though. Presumably if I was doing this *a lot* then something like the Fein would come into play.

Thanks (as ever) for your help. When finished I shall put up some photos just so you can all share your opinions (positive or otherwise) of what my handiwork.

Matt

[The Medway Handyman]

I have the Bosch version of the Fein but prefer the jigsaw because its much faster - also the blades for the Bosch are very expensive (£6+ each) and don't last that long.

Look forward to seeing them.

[Dave Liquorice]

That is what I would do but ensure that the edges of the hole were a few mm away from the final cut positions. Cut down the board and past the hole to the crossing line. Back the saw past the hole and cut into it, repeat the other side. Then join the two holes. Finally start on the cross cut near one of the holes and trim the cross cut as required to the meet the other down the board cut and then reverse for the other corner.

[matthew.larkin]

Given that the jigsaw seems to be the tool of choice here, I dug it out last night to see if I needed new blades. If I use either Dave or TMH's solution, I'll need to cut some curves, so I guess a narrow blade is required (letting the blade do the work without forcing it to avoid the blade bending).

Unfortunately, it seems I have some really odd blades. Instead of being "T" or "U" shaped, they look something like this:- (apologies for the amateur ascii art) =A6=A6 =A6=A6 =A6_-- =A6 >

=A60 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6 >

=A6__>

Its from a black and decker bought about 4 or 5 years ago, but I can't find reference to the type of blade on their website. They only have Ts and Us.

Any ideas for a possible supplier?

Matt

[The Medway Handyman]

Do they look like this?

these the type of blade, its just the end.

[matthew.larkin]

No, that's the thing - they don't look like either of those. I've just got home and checked the number of the jigsaw that I've got. Its a Black and Decker KS990E, sometimes referred to on t'interweb as a "buzzsaw". I guess it was a cheap buy when I got it, and now I know why!!!

Here's a link to the product:-

if I need to buy a new saw, so-be-it. THough as I don't use it much, I might be able to make do with the blades that I already have.

Matt

[The Medway Handyman]

Ah. Not really a jigsaw. Prolly uses blades made just for that machine - unless;

use reciprocating saw blades.

[Dave Liquorice]

similar to the second link that Dave posted. ie, with a U shaped notch on the end, they appear to have hole as well. I have some B&D branded blades with hole some without... Why don't you take a blade down to a shed and see what matches the fixing end?