I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started using it I
primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really care. Now that I am
getting more involved in woodworking, it's an obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is
off and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I
checked it at 45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg.
However when I actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off.
The throat plate slot also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started
using it I primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really
care. Now that I am getting more involved in woodworking, it's an
obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

Yep! start looking for a decent one.
The Blade is crap on the chinese efforts so a good replacement is in order.
You crtainly like the chinese stuff. ;-)


--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote in message
. uk...
Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is
off and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I
checked it at 45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg.
However when I actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off.
The throat plate slot also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started
using it I primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really
care. Now that I am getting more involved in woodworking, it's an
obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

Yep! start looking for a decent one.
The Blade is crap on the chinese efforts so a good replacement is in
order.
You crtainly like the chinese stuff. ;-)


--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite


This a Craftsman, pretty sure it isn't chinese. I think I paid around $300
for it... I have went through several blades, thats does not seem to be the
problem.

"Locutus" wrote in message
...


This a Craftsman, pretty sure it isn't chinese. I think I paid around $300
for it... I have went through several blades, thats does not seem to be
the problem.

Actually I think it was $199, I would think it should work ok for that
price.

"Locutus" wrote in message
...

"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote in message
. uk...
Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is
off and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I
checked it at 45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg.
However when I actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off.
The throat plate slot also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started
using it I primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really
care. Now that I am getting more involved in woodworking, it's an
obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

Yep! start looking for a decent one.
The Blade is crap on the chinese efforts so a good replacement is in
order.
You crtainly like the chinese stuff. ;-)


--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite


This a Craftsman, pretty sure it isn't chinese. I think I paid around $300
for it... I have went through several blades, thats does not seem to be
the problem.

I've got one out in the garage I had a problem with. I could get it to cut
dead on 90 degrees and it'd be off on the 45. Get it set for 45 and it'd be
off on the 90. Get it good on one side 45 and the other would be off. I
fiddled with that stupid thing for a month, never did get it right. It's
locked in at 90 and sitting on a bench in the garage. It's a good saw other
than that. The main reason I don't buy Craftsman any more is the service
people in this town suck. They had it for a week and couldn't get it right.

"Locutus" wrote in message
...
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it
at 45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started using it
I primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really care. Now that I
am getting more involved in woodworking, it's an obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?




Sounds like the same saw I have, not bad but not great.

I first started with a decent blade by Freud. That solved my not getting a
decent cut problem. Then I tackled the actual tuning for square and angular
cuts. Ended up taking the whole setup apart and putting it back together
checking and rechecking anything that might effect the squareness of the
cuts. Spent almost two days on it but it does a pretty decent job. I also
built a station for the saw as well so it does not get moved around and is
somewhat protected from getting knocked about. My cuts are 100% better as a
result. My next saw though will likely be a Dewalt 12" SCMS equivalent or
better.

Dave

Locutus wrote:
"Locutus" wrote in message
...


This a Craftsman, pretty sure it isn't chinese. I think I paid
around $300 for it... I have went through several blades, thats does
not seem to be the problem.

Actually I think it was $199, I would think it should work ok for that
price.

Lets look at it again,you check for accuracy of 45degrees when the blade is
staionary,right so therefore when you cut the 45degrees its out by a few
degrees

Does this not tell you something?

It tells me that theres excessive play in the motor shaft.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started using it I
primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really care. Now that I am
getting more involved in woodworking, it's an obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?



Check the end play of the motor shaft. I have a
circular saw that I could never get a straight
cut, using a good straight edge. The saw would
want to move away from the straight edge. Adding
a 0.010" washer eliminated most of the problem.
Will need to make and add a 0.003 to 0.005" to get
to less than .001 end play.

"Locutus" spake thusly and wrote:

I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

I'm afraid that your problem may be the 4th word above
"Craftsman". That word used to mean something quite
significant a long time ago, but that was then and this
is now.
It is really quite sad actually. I have seen that name on
pure junk. Quite sad.... really....

Steve
--
www.sellcom.com for firewood splitters, ergonomic chairs,
office phone systems, "non-mov" surge protection, Exabyte,
CA, Minuteman, Brave Products, Fisch, TMC, Panasonic and more
Check out http://www.guardian.name

Sounds like the index plate/detents are of. If it is the type that are cut
into the base of the casting, the only cure would be remachining.

"Tim Taylor" wrote in message
m...
I've got one out in the garage I had a problem with. I could get it to cut
dead on 90 degrees and it'd be off on the 45. Get it set for 45 and it'd
be
off on the 90. Get it good on one side 45 and the other would be off. I
fiddled with that stupid thing for a month, never did get it right. It's
locked in at 90 and sitting on a bench in the garage. It's a good saw
other
than that. The main reason I don't buy Craftsman any more is the service
people in this town suck. They had it for a week and couldn't get it
right.

Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

Well, the V shape slot in the throat plate suggests your blade isn't
parallel to the rip fence (i.e. miter gage slots). Some loosening of
the table/undercarriage
bolts and tapping with a mallet can fix that. The circular saw cuts an
oval, not
a straight slot, if it's at an angle. Depending on where on the oval
the wood
rides, you can get a range of cut angles.

Once that alignment is done, there are still issues you might have to
look for.
The motor -Vbelt tension and a little vibration can shift the set point
a little ways,
so it might be prudent to adjust/make a test cut/readjust.

There are some good treatments of the general table saw setup, like
Power Saws and Planers http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070127.asp

wrote in message
oups.com...

Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it
at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate
slot
also now looks like a V.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

Well, the V shape slot in the throat plate suggests your blade isn't
parallel to the rip fence (i.e. miter gage slots). Some loosening of
the table/undercarriage
bolts and tapping with a mallet can fix that. The circular saw cuts an
oval, not
a straight slot, if it's at an angle. Depending on where on the oval
the wood
rides, you can get a range of cut angles.

Once that alignment is done, there are still issues you might have to
look for.
The motor -Vbelt tension and a little vibration can shift the set point
a little ways,
so it might be prudent to adjust/make a test cut/readjust.

There are some good treatments of the general table saw setup, like
Power Saws and Planers http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070127.asp

Not meaning to sound stupid, but why would there be a v-belt on a miter saw?

wrote:

Well, the V shape slot in the throat plate suggests your blade isn't
parallel to the rip fence (i.e. miter gage slots).

Oops! I zoned out on the Compound Miter Saw specification... thinking
it was a table saw issue. And don't bother with the book, it covers
radial
and table saws, even bandsaws, but not compound miters.

The basic geometry still holds, though; you need both the alignment of
the blade (the
angle that was checked) AND the alignment of the plane through which it
sweeps when the saw makes a cut (which is harder to check) as well as
the
various wood-holding pieces.

Another suggestion (worn bearings) seems less likely; the mechanisms
I've seen have
a large lubricated journal bearing, it'd take a LONG time to wear down.
Cracks in the
bearing housing could lead to the same effect, though (inspect with a
magnifier).

Not meaning to sound stupid, but why would there be a v-belt on a miter
saw?

Mine has a ?toothed? or ?ridged? belt between the motor shaft pulley and the
arbor pulley. I think the idea is to save the motor or operator during a
sever binding situation. Maybe it is just for speed control. belt cost a
$14 when I had to replace it.

"sweetsawdust" wrote in message
...


Not meaning to sound stupid, but why would there be a v-belt on a miter
saw?

Mine has a ?toothed? or ?ridged? belt between the motor shaft pulley and
the
arbor pulley. I think the idea is to save the motor or operator during a
sever binding situation. Maybe it is just for speed control. belt cost a
$14 when I had to replace it.


Really? I've never seen a belt on a miter saw. My PC is gear driven. Ok, as
I said, it did sound stupid. Now I know! Thanks for the heads up! :-)

Mine is an old model from Milwaukee probably 30+ years old. Still cuts
within a half degree of accuracy on all settings and dead on if you gauge
it. Only problem with it is that it uses a 9 1/2" blade, sort of limited
selection of those around here. The belt I got for it was for a Delta saw,
so maybe there are others like it out there somewhere.
"Tim Taylor" wrote in message
m...

"sweetsawdust" wrote in message
...


Not meaning to sound stupid, but why would there be a v-belt on a miter
saw?

Mine has a ?toothed? or ?ridged? belt between the motor shaft pulley and
the
arbor pulley. I think the idea is to save the motor or operator during
a
sever binding situation. Maybe it is just for speed control. belt cost
a
$14 when I had to replace it.


Really? I've never seen a belt on a miter saw. My PC is gear driven. Ok,
as
I said, it did sound stupid. Now I know! Thanks for the heads up! :-)

Locutus wrote:
I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started using it I
primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really care. Now that I am
getting more involved in woodworking, it's an obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?

After you check for excessive play as already suggested and ruled it
out forget about the speed square.

Set the tilt of the blade to zero and cut the end off of two pieces of
wood (2x4 is good size) and then butt the cut ends together on a flat
surface like a table saw top. If there is no gap then your saw is
truly at zero. Make adjustments until you get this correct. Then tilt
the blade to 45 degrees and go through the same procedure to set the
45degree stop.

Then tilt back to zero and turn the table to zero and get a firm seat
on the detent and lock it down. Again, cut two pieces of wood and do
the butt test to see if you are at zero and adjust the fence as
necessary to get this right. Make sure you cut the ends off of both
pieces using the same side of the fence. Once this is done you may or
may not be able to adjust the 45degree detent, probably not, but
everything else should be right.

I also use a similar technique to adjust my TS and it is far more
accurate than trying to use a square on a saw blade and either miss the
teeth or align only using the teeth.

"mac davis" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:38:42 -0400, "Locutus"
wrote:

I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it
at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate
slot
also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started using it
I
primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really care. Now that I am
getting more involved in woodworking, it's an obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?


I have the same saw, if it's got the laser crap and the extension for the
fence/table...

Mine started doing what you describe at about a year old... turned out to
be a
pretty simple fix, the nut and lock nut on the saw pivot had loosened,
allowing
play, which made the blade-to-insert variable...

I tightened it too much on the first try and locked the pivot... trail and
errors on adjustment was worth the time as it's been cutting very
accurately for
a couple of years now.. and yes, it's made in China... check the label..
*g*

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely check that!

On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:38:42 -0400, "Locutus" wrote:

I have a Craftsman 10" CMS, and it doesn't cut accurately. When it is off
and I lower the blade, it appears to be square to the fence. I checked it at
45 deg with a speed square and the blade was at 45 deg. However when I
actually cut something, the cut is a few degrees off. The throat plate slot
also now looks like a V.

It has done this ever since I owned it, but when I first started using it I
primarily used it for rough cutting so I didn't really care. Now that I am
getting more involved in woodworking, it's an obvious issue.

Any advice on where to start looking for the problem?


I have the same saw, if it's got the laser crap and the extension for the
fence/table...

Mine started doing what you describe at about a year old... turned out to be a
pretty simple fix, the nut and lock nut on the saw pivot had loosened, allowing
play, which made the blade-to-insert variable...

I tightened it too much on the first try and locked the pivot... trail and
errors on adjustment was worth the time as it's been cutting very accurately for
a couple of years now.. and yes, it's made in China... check the label.. *g*

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

On 30 Aug 2006 06:36:54 -0700, "RayV" wrote:

snip
Set the tilt of the blade to zero and cut the end off of two pieces of
wood (2x4 is good size) and then butt the cut ends together on a flat
surface like a table saw top. If there is no gap then your saw is
truly at zero. Make adjustments until you get this correct. Then tilt
the blade to 45 degrees and go through the same procedure to set the
45degree stop.

Then tilt back to zero and turn the table to zero and get a firm seat
on the detent and lock it down. Again, cut two pieces of wood and do
the butt test to see if you are at zero and adjust the fence as
necessary to get this right. Make sure you cut the ends off of both
pieces using the same side of the fence. Once this is done you may or
may not be able to adjust the 45degree detent, probably not, but
everything else should be right.

I also use a similar technique to adjust my TS and it is far more
accurate than trying to use a square on a saw blade and either miss the
teeth or align only using the teeth.

Good plan... what we forget sometimes is that it's the project that has to fit
together, not what the simple or high-tech tools say that the alignment is...
YMWV

Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm