Mitre saws?

[Valiant]

I need to do angled cuts in birch ply panels, usually 45 degree or 7.

What's the best way to do this safely?

[rae]

Edge angled, or do you mean angled shapes?

(i.e. are you making straight planks with angles edges, or are you making triangles?)

If the former, table saw, crank it over to 45 degrees, cut.  Some hand held circulars can do an angled cut, but it is hairy. 

If the latter, mark it up and free hand it on a table saw.  Make sure you have a splitter on the blade, otherwise you'll end up having your face reshaped by a sub sonic piece of ply coming back at you. 

Edit or do you want to take a plank and chop the end off at an angle?   If so, radial mitre saw is the answer - just make sure it has enough capacity.

[Zoidburg]

If its smaller panels then the best and safest way to do it like Rae said is with a Radial Arm Mitre Saw, big-ish ones will do up to 300mm

On a table saw the "splitter" is more commonly known as the "riving" knife or blade

Use a push bar as well, this will come with the saw or use a piece of timber as a pushing piece, don't let your fingers get near the cutting point.

[Valiant]

Rae, you've confused the hell outta me, I just wanna chop the ends off panels and batons at an angle, a table saw sounds perfect

Radial saws? I thought they were called compound saws?

[rae]

It's really hard to explain without pictures.

Sounds like you want to make something like skirting boards - take a plank and chop it at a 45 degree angle so that it fits together as a right angle. 

If yes, and the width of the plank is less than about 12", you need one of these compound mitre saws (or similar)

http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:8i0uRkjbVc7AfM:https://www.jaydons.co.uk/d-i-y-3/power-tools-11/110-240volt-mains-185/dewalt-crosscut-mitre-saw-5139-3566_medium.jpg

If you want more than 12", then you'll need a radial arm saw:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/medium/06/060610721.jpg

If you're chopping up massive sheets of ply then get one of these:

http://www.aiaplastics.com/uploads/Capability/1975/Delta%20Table%20Saw.JPG

Or you could just say "buggrit" and free hand it with a chain saw.

[Valiant]

The last two is what I'm after, I'm guessing the radial arm can do upto a metre?

[Valiant]

EDIT: Bevel cuts is what I was after.

[Domestique]

One of these is far better if you are short on space.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350113480573&cguid=f8773e7011e0a0aad274a4a4fe248db6

[inc]

Realistically, if it is just for a few cuts either get the supplier to cut them or use a decent circular saw with a guide. You can buy them, usually aluminium, Makita make one or make one  like this  http://wayneofthewoods.com/circular-saw-cutting-guide.html  You don't say whether the finish is important as ply can splinter along the cut, if it is then you can score along the cut line with a Stanley knife and or have the good face underneath when doing the cut. 

[rae]

One of these is far better if you are short on space. 

Panel saws are well cool  , the only downside is that they are very specialised - if you are cutting up big sheets they are certainly the safest and easiest way of doing it.    I just see a table saw as a lot more versatile.

use a decent circular saw with a guide

I've never managed to get any accuracy with this method - it's bloody fiddly to set up as well.  But yes, for a few cuts it would be fine.

[Valiant]

I'd love something like that but it wouldn't get used much. Finish doesn't matter too much as it'll be sanded and painted in the end.

[Wobbly John]

You've got a router, haven't you?

Clamp some laths to your work to guide the router, and use a bevel cutter to do the cut. 

We use these clamps to guide the router, along with the base to slide the router along the clamp.

[Valiant]

Dassa point but doesn't that mean I need a billion router bits in varying angles?

[Domestique]

Is this for box construction?
You say you need to go to a metre, why not use a rebate joint?

[Valiant]

I wanna build stuff like scoops and horns which require odd angles in weird places.

Sorry for being a numpty

[Domestique]

A 'compound mitre saw' will do the job up to 8" or so.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/27291/Power-Tools/Compound-Mitre-Saws/Rexon-SM2150AE-216mm-Sliding-Compound-Mitre-Saw