Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the table) that
isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had someone out to
try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a tiny bit off.
The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it is
made by Rockwell.
Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita) with the
laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on the
fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep sliding back to
the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny enough,
the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is it
more trial and error?
thanks,
dwhite
Hi Dan,
Yes, there are some tricks. There are a number of adjustments on a
radial arm saw that depend on the accuracy of previous adjustments. If
you don't follow the proper sequence, or a previous step is done
inaccurately, then you will not obtain the results you desire.
Normally, you want to avoid any alignment or adjustment procedures
which are order dependent but in this case it's unavoidable.
The manual for my RS-Aligner product might help you. You can find it
at:
http://www.ts-aligner.com/RS-Aligner%20Manual.pdf
You don't need to own an RS-Aligner to follow these same steps, it just
makes the process easier and more accurate.
I did a big long article here in the newsgroup a few years back. Here
is a link which should call it up for you:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.woodworking/msg/8120ffc2bc9b016c
Please ignore the links/addresses with "primenet" in them. Let me know
if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Ed Bennett
[email protected]
http://www.ts-aligner.com
Home of the TS-Aligner
Dan White wrote:
> Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
> square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the
table) that
> isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had someone
out to
> try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a tiny
bit off.
> The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it
is
> made by Rockwell.
>
> Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita)
with the
> laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on
the
> fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep sliding
back to
> the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny
enough,
> the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
>
> Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is
it
> more trial and error?
>
> thanks,
> dwhite
I have the book on paper, and it's far, far better than any other radial arm
saw book I've ever seen in stores or libraries.
Doug
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dan White wrote:
>
> > "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> Dan White wrote:
> >>
> >> > Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
> >> > square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the
table)
> >> > that isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had
> > someone
> >> > out to try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a
> > tiny
> >> > bit off.
> >>
> >> When you say "overhead table saw" do you mean something like this
> >> <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902>? If so, that's
> >> called a "Radial Arm Saw" and there is a very good ebook about
adjusting
> >> them at <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902> and
> >> another that covers adjustment of some models and a lot about using
them
> >> at <http://www.mrsawdust.com/>.
> >
> > Yes, I remembered "radial arm" just after posting (idiot)! Not to be
> > dense,
> > but can you tell me where the ebook is located on that website? I
looked
> > around in the FAQ and literature request and didn't see it.
>
> Oops. I cut and pasted and then didn't look at what I had done to make
sure
> that I pasted the right link. Instead of repeating the delta link I meant
> to put
>
<http://www.wired-2-shop.com/joneakes/ProductDetail.asp?ProdID=3&nPrdImageID
=&CatID=3>
>
>
> > thanks for your help!
> >
> > dwhite
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> > The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it
> >> > is made by Rockwell.
> >> >
> >> > Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita)
with
> >> > the
> >> > laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on
> >> > the fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep
> >> > sliding
> > back
> >> > to
> >> > the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny
> > enough,
> >> > the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
> >> >
> >> > Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is
> >> > it more trial and error?
> >> >
> >> > thanks,
> >> > dwhite
> >>
> >> --
> >> --John
> >> to email, dial "usenet" and validate
> >> (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
>
> --
> --John
> to email, dial "usenet" and validate
> (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dan White wrote:
>
> > Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
> > square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the table)
> > that isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had
someone
> > out to try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a
tiny
> > bit off.
>
> When you say "overhead table saw" do you mean something like this
> <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902>? If so, that's
> called a "Radial Arm Saw" and there is a very good ebook about adjusting
> them at <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902> and
another
> that covers adjustment of some models and a lot about using them at
> <http://www.mrsawdust.com/>.
Yes, I remembered "radial arm" just after posting (idiot)! Not to be dense,
but can you tell me where the ebook is located on that website? I looked
around in the FAQ and literature request and didn't see it.
thanks for your help!
dwhite
>
>
> > The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it is
> > made by Rockwell.
> >
> > Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita) with
> > the
> > laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on the
> > fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep sliding
back
> > to
> > the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny
enough,
> > the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
> >
> > Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is it
> > more trial and error?
> >
> > thanks,
> > dwhite
>
> --
> --John
> to email, dial "usenet" and validate
> (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Dan White wrote:
> Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
> square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the table)
> that isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had someone
> out to try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a tiny
> bit off.
When you say "overhead table saw" do you mean something like this
<http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902>? If so, that's
called a "Radial Arm Saw" and there is a very good ebook about adjusting
them at <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902> and another
that covers adjustment of some models and a lot about using them at
<http://www.mrsawdust.com/>.
> The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it is
> made by Rockwell.
>
> Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita) with
> the
> laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on the
> fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep sliding back
> to
> the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny enough,
> the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
>
> Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is it
> more trial and error?
>
> thanks,
> dwhite
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Dan White wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Dan White wrote:
>>
>> > Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
>> > square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the table)
>> > that isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had
> someone
>> > out to try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a
> tiny
>> > bit off.
>>
>> When you say "overhead table saw" do you mean something like this
>> <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902>? If so, that's
>> called a "Radial Arm Saw" and there is a very good ebook about adjusting
>> them at <http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=902> and
>> another that covers adjustment of some models and a lot about using them
>> at <http://www.mrsawdust.com/>.
>
> Yes, I remembered "radial arm" just after posting (idiot)! Not to be
> dense,
> but can you tell me where the ebook is located on that website? I looked
> around in the FAQ and literature request and didn't see it.
Oops. I cut and pasted and then didn't look at what I had done to make sure
that I pasted the right link. Instead of repeating the delta link I meant
to put
<http://www.wired-2-shop.com/joneakes/ProductDetail.asp?ProdID=3&nPrdImageID=&CatID=3>
> thanks for your help!
>
> dwhite
>
>
>
>>
>>
>> > The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it
>> > is made by Rockwell.
>> >
>> > Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita) with
>> > the
>> > laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on
>> > the fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep
>> > sliding
> back
>> > to
>> > the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny
> enough,
>> > the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
>> >
>> > Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is
>> > it more trial and error?
>> >
>> > thanks,
>> > dwhite
>>
>> --
>> --John
>> to email, dial "usenet" and validate
>> (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
If both saws are out by the same little bit, the problem may be with your
measuring device. Not every that is sold as "square" is truly square. As a
matter of fact I recently purchase a try square that was considerably out
when I got it home and checked it. However, my cheapo speed square used for
framing tested dead on, go figure.
John C.
"Dan White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
> square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the table)
> that
> isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had someone out
> to
> try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a tiny bit
> off.
> The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it is
> made by Rockwell.
>
> Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita) with
> the
> laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on the
> fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep sliding back
> to
> the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny enough,
> the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
>
> Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is it
> more trial and error?
>
> thanks,
> dwhite
>
>
>
Great info. Thanks!
dwhite
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi Dan,
>
> Yes, there are some tricks. There are a number of adjustments on a
> radial arm saw that depend on the accuracy of previous adjustments. If
> you don't follow the proper sequence, or a previous step is done
> inaccurately, then you will not obtain the results you desire.
> Normally, you want to avoid any alignment or adjustment procedures
> which are order dependent but in this case it's unavoidable.
>
> The manual for my RS-Aligner product might help you. You can find it
> at:
>
> http://www.ts-aligner.com/RS-Aligner%20Manual.pdf
>
> You don't need to own an RS-Aligner to follow these same steps, it just
> makes the process easier and more accurate.
>
> I did a big long article here in the newsgroup a few years back. Here
> is a link which should call it up for you:
>
> http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.woodworking/msg/8120ffc2bc9b016c
>
> Please ignore the links/addresses with "primenet" in them. Let me know
> if you have any questions.
>
> Thanks,
> Ed Bennett
> [email protected]
>
> http://www.ts-aligner.com
> Home of the TS-Aligner
>
> Dan White wrote:
> > Hi. Are there any tricks to adjusting a table saw so it is perfectly
> > square? We have an overhead table saw (the blade is not in the
> table) that
> > isn't quite square, and my father said years ago he even had someone
> out to
> > try and make it cut true to 90 degrees, but it is still just a tiny
> bit off.
> > The saw was bought in the 70's but is still in top shape. I think it
> is
> > made by Rockwell.
> >
> > Also I bought a cheapo mitre saw at Lowes (I think it is a Makita)
> with the
> > laser sight. I have the same problem with it. I loosen the nuts on
> the
> > fence and try to adjust it, but the fence just seems to keep sliding
> back to
> > the same position, and I'm left with slightly crooked cuts. Funny
> enough,
> > the problem is about the same on the table saw and the mitre saw.
> >
> > Is there a "right" way to adjust these things so they are true, or is
> it
> > more trial and error?
> >
> > thanks,
> > dwhite
>
J. Clarke wrote:
snip...
>
> Oops. I cut and pasted and then didn't look at what I had done to make sure
> that I pasted the right link. Instead of repeating the delta link I meant
> to put
> <http://www.wired-2-shop.com/joneakes/ProductDetail.asp?ProdID=3&nPrdImageID=&CatID=3>
>
Yes! I was scrounging for this link when I saw the request for info.
This is an excellent book and and should be considered required reading
for anyone starting off with a RAS. Many useful calibration techniques
as well as limb saving recommendations.
Ed