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

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)

"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
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)

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/...20ffc2bc9b016c

Please ignore the links/addresses with "primenet" in them. Let me know
if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Ed Bennett


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

Dan White wrote:

"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
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 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

Great info. Thanks!

dwhite

wrote in message
oups.com...
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/...20ffc2bc9b016c

Please ignore the links/addresses with "primenet" in them. Let me know
if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Ed Bennett


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" wrote in message
...
Dan White wrote:

"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
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...=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" wrote in message
...
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