Cutting an Octagon
An octagon is a polygon with eight sides and eight angles. When cutting an octagon, it is important to know the angle of each cut in order to achieve the desired shape. The angle of each cut for an octagon is 135 degrees.
Calculating the Angle
The angle of each cut for an octagon can be calculated by dividing 360 degrees (the total number of degrees in a circle) by 8, which is the number of sides on an octagon. This calculation results in 45 degrees, which is the angle between each side of the octagon. To get the angle of each cut, you must double this number, resulting in 90 degrees.
However, when making a cut with a saw or other tool, you must account for the width of the blade or bit. This means that you must subtract half of the width from each cut in order to achieve a perfect octagon shape. For example, if your saw blade is 1/8 inch wide, you would subtract 1/16 inch from each cut. This results in an angle of 89.5 degrees for each cut.
Making the Cuts
Once you have calculated the angle for each cut, you can begin making them. It is important to make sure that all cuts are made at exactly the same angle in order to achieve a perfect octagon shape. If one cut is off by even a fraction of a degree, it can throw off the entire shape.
When making your cuts, it is also important to measure twice and cut once. This will help ensure that all pieces are cut accurately and that no material is wasted.