Notes

Miter Gauge - Cutting Errors Are Your Worst Nightmare
"How do you square a Miter Gauge?" is a frequently asked question of woodworkers. Here is a quick trick learned way back at school shop class. Squaring up your miter gauge by loosening the small head on the flat end, turning the gauge upside down with the square end of the tool in the slot and pushing the square head against the rip fence. It might not be exact after that, but it will be close enough to get a decent answer to the question.

In this photo 5 of the right-side view of the Miter Gauge, notice the square line on the lower right-hand corner of the square. Hold the square firmly against the fence, making sure it is straight and all 4 corners are square with each other. If not, simply slide the square across the fence until it lines up with the square on the other side. Hold the other end of the fence near your blade and use your hands to gently guide the blade across the square. You will notice that the fence now lines up with the square at about a 90 degree angle.

Now try this on the left side of the Miter Gauge in the photo 6 of the same page. https://billious.com/best-miter-gauges/ To do this, stand directly above the square with your right hand. Use your left hand to steady the saw. Slide the saw blade across the saw table as described above. Note that you now need to make two parallel cuts across the blade and adjust the height on the fence to line up with the cut on the opposite end of the blade.

Another commonly asked question is "What happens if I make a mistake when using my miter gauges." While accuracy is impossible, mistakes can still occur, even with the most practiced touch. To prepare for mistakes, always take the time to properly prepare your table saw before making any cuts.

When preparing your table saw for use, first make sure that the miter slots are installed in a level and straight position. To do this, place a measuring tape on the end of the blade as described above. Next, stand directly over the saw's front face and measure from the center of the slot to the tip of the blade. This number will be your miter slots' center line. Then measure from that point on the tape to the miter slot's left edge, also referred to as a right-angle. The measurement for the right-angle is also called a ninety degree angle.

Now measure from the left-angles' ninety degree right angle to the miter slot to determine the length of the right-angle. Your miter gauge's ninety degree right angle is your miter slot depth. Remember that you can adjust the angle of the bar in your table saws to any angle in between these two numbers. You can also set your miter slots to cut at different angles; however, the result will be much jagged and inconsistent cuts.

A final step in preparing your saw for use is to check the cutting tooth of the blade. If you have access to the blade yourself, this is an easy step to perform. Simply slide a fingernail across the blade's teeth to loosen them. Once loosened, remove the tooth by pulling on the nail. An excellent choice for most woodworkers is a universal or factory fitted precision gauge because they are so accurate and are built into the blade. They are inexpensive and available at most good hardware stores.

If you want accurate cuts with every attempt, you must always use accurate fences. Fence manufacturers like Fulton Precision Tool Company make high quality precision fence gauges that will help cut your mistakes. Fencing is an integral part of your projects and you cannot compromise on accuracy. With a top-quality fence, woodworkers can eliminate many common mistakes and increase their overall Miter Gauge accuracy.


Website: https://billious.com/best-miter-gauges/