<p>Jigsaw is a poor choice of tool for this given the size of the finished product and that it is a roughing tool more designed for cutting sheet goods. </p>

<h1>Tools to consider</h1>

<p><strong>Bandsaw</strong></p>

<p>If the polyhedron was a little larger and your valued the tolerance of the finished product I would most certainly suggest the bandsaw as you can use a mitre slide and a custom sled with a proper angle to get all of the cuts accurately. However the tiny size hinders the success of that size you cannot clamp that small and that is too close for the fingers. </p>

<p><strong>Coping saw and/or sandpaper</strong></p>

<p>It might take a little practice but if you are up to using hand tools then I would suggest a coping saw and sandpaper. Use the saw to get the larger sides cut and then just sandpaper to get the triangle faces done. It is small enough to not take too much effort. </p>

<hr>

<h1>Notes on mass production</h1>

<p>As per the comments it looks like you are going to try and mass produce these. I still think sanding would be safer but I suppose you could use a disk sander to speed up the process. Just keep in mind that it is still a power tool that can hurt you so always be mindful of that. Don't sacrifice in an attempt to increase efficiency. </p>

<p>I would consider making a small ramp of jig that would give you a 60 degree angle. Looking at an edge view from the wiki that can help ensure the best angles when sanding. You can try and use a set of small squeeze clamps to help keep your fingers out of harms way. Those might become less useful as you form your cube since the sides will be made smaller and there will be less to grip. </p>

<hr>

<h1>Perhaps this product already exists if you are interested</h1>

<p>If you do need that many I would look to see if someone already has these machined and sells them. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/237121215/100pcs-natural-polyhedron-faceted-cube" rel="nofollow noreferrer">I found this seller on Etsy that makes what appears to be the correct polyhedral</a>. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/215501287/geometric-wooden-beads-natural-20mm-pack?ref=market" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This one as well</a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BG7xqm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BG7xqm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Something like a bead supplier could have these and they could likely be finished as well with varnish too. </p>

<hr>

<h1>Woodworking.SE</h1>

<p>If you do nail down a process/procedure based on tools available but still need more help consider coming over to <a href="https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/">woodworking.se</a> and asking there.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T11:22:40.700Z
Thank you for your advices. I don't have a bandsaw, but I could consider buying one. I agree that the jigsaw is rough but I guess that it should be fine to cut the cubes out of a long 2cm x 2cm stick of wood (at least as long as the stick is still long enough). The point is that I'd like to do about 50-60 of them so hand tools might be quite long. I was also thinking that a disc sander might be efficient to get rid of the triangles but, again, I don't have any for the moment.
Surb
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T12:05:05.820Z
I had though about mentioning router as well but I think this is too small and it could be dangerous.
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T10:35:37.130Z
2016-04-28T12:53:30.803Z
2017-04-13T12:49:02.167Z
Matt
<p>I would like to make some small wooden <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuboctahedron" rel="noreferrer">cuboctahedron</a>, that is something of this shape:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6BygCm.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6BygCm.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>
They should be about 2cm high. So, my idea is to take a long wooden piece (2cm x 2cm x 200cm) and cut some small cube of 2x2x2 cm. I have a jigsaw to cut the cubes. However, I'm not sure about a good way to "cut the triangles" (the jigsaw feels dangerous for my fingers):<br>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/3XoYWm.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3XoYWm.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>How can I do that?</p>

<woodworking><wood><wood-carving>
How can I safely cut pieces off a small wooden cube?
Surb
# How can I safely cut pieces off a small wooden cube?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-28)

I would like to make some small wooden [cuboctahedron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuboctahedron), that is something of this shape:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/6BygCm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/6BygCm.png)  
They should be about 2cm high. So, my idea is to take a long wooden piece (2cm x 2cm x 200cm) and cut some small cube of 2x2x2 cm. I have a jigsaw to cut the cubes. However, I'm not sure about a good way to "cut the triangles" (the jigsaw feels dangerous for my fingers):  
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/3XoYWm.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/3XoYWm.png)

How can I do that?

**Tags:** woodworking, wood, wood-carving


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-04-28. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Jigsaw is a poor choice of tool for this given the size of the finished product and that it is a roughing tool more designed for cutting sheet goods.

# Tools to consider

**Bandsaw**

If the polyhedron was a little larger and your valued the tolerance of the finished product I would most certainly suggest the bandsaw as you can use a mitre slide and a custom sled with a proper angle to get all of the cuts accurately. However the tiny size hinders the success of that size you cannot clamp that small and that is too close for the fingers.

**Coping saw and/or sandpaper**

It might take a little practice but if you are up to using hand tools then I would suggest a coping saw and sandpaper. Use the saw to get the larger sides cut and then just sandpaper to get the triangle faces done. It is small enough to not take too much effort.

---

# Notes on mass production

As per the comments it looks like you are going to try and mass produce these. I still think sanding would be safer but I suppose you could use a disk sander to speed up the process. Just keep in mind that it is still a power tool that can hurt you so always be mindful of that. Don't sacrifice in an attempt to increase efficiency.

I would consider making a small ramp of jig that would give you a 60 degree angle. Looking at an edge view from the wiki that can help ensure the best angles when sanding. You can try and use a set of small squeeze clamps to help keep your fingers out of harms way. Those might become less useful as you form your cube since the sides will be made smaller and there will be less to grip.

---

# Perhaps this product already exists if you are interested

If you do need that many I would look to see if someone already has these machined and sells them. [I found this seller on Etsy that makes what appears to be the correct polyhedral](https://www.etsy.com/listing/237121215/100pcs-natural-polyhedron-faceted-cube). [This one as well](https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/215501287/geometric-wooden-beads-natural-20mm-pack?ref=market)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/BG7xqm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/BG7xqm.jpg)

Something like a bead supplier could have these and they could likely be finished as well with varnish too.

---

# Woodworking.SE

If you do nail down a process/procedure based on tools available but still need more help consider coming over to [woodworking.se](https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/) and asking there.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your advices. I don't have a bandsaw, but I could consider buying one. I agree that the jigsaw is rough but I guess that it should be fine to cut the cubes out of a long 2cm x 2cm stick of wood (at least as long as the stick is still long enough). The point is that I'd like to do about 50-60 of them so hand tools might be quite long. I was also thinking that a disc sander might be efficient to get rid of the triangles but, again, I don't have any for the moment.  
> **username_1**: I had though about mentioning router as well but I think this is too small and it could be dangerous.  

---

