Bevel
An angled cut along the edge or end of a board that is not perpendicular to the face, creating a sloped surface for decorative edges, water-shedding, or angled joints.
In-Depth Explanation
A bevel cut differs from a chamfer in that a bevel removes the full edge at an angle, while a chamfer only removes the corner portion. Bevel cuts are made by tilting the blade on a table saw, miter saw, or circular saw. In siding and exterior trim, beveled edges help shed water away from joints and reduce moisture infiltration. Bevel cuts are essential for creating tight-fitting miter joints on trim work, picture frames, and crown molding. Cedar bevel siding, also known as clapboard, is one of the most traditional exterior cladding profiles, featuring boards that taper from thick at the bottom to thin at the top.
Usage Example
I tilted the table saw blade to 45 degrees and cut a bevel along the top edge of the window sill so water would drain away.