Duane Bledsoe
11-25-2010, 9:28 AM
Is it normal for a saw in the $100 - $150 price range to have a motor that allows movement of the blade in a slightly out of square way?? My miter saw's blade is squared at 90 degrees with the fence, but when kicked on it is visible to the eye that the blade moves out of square the least bit, say at 89 degrees. Then returns to original position when at rest again.
With the saw off and unplugged I grasped the blade loosely in my fingers and notice that it is capable of wobbling in and out of square. However when it's running it does not wobble at all, just moves out of square but runs straight. I also checked the arbor screw for tightness and just to make sure I backed it off so that the blade was free to move and then retightened it solidly to eliminate this as a possible reason for unnatural blade movement. When the saw is running though, there is no wobble at all, just smooth straight spinning of the blade (after the initial out of square move that is).
My saw is only capable of making a cut about 5" wide (it's a 10" saw) so I found in my shop a piece of MDF about that full width, verified one edge for straightness, tested it's cut and then using the inside corner of a brand new framing square to test with I see that it still seems to cut at 90 degree right angles. I'm not sure how it can though since I know I can see the blade move when powered up but it measures 90 degrees to the fence when at rest. Also I took the same piece of MDF and placed it on the saw platform roughly within 1/16 inch of the blade and then with the blade down but not able to contact the wood I kicked it on and the blade was able to move so that it did leave marks on the end of the piece.
I've never had a real problem using this saw. Occasionally a piece of trim mitered would not line up just the way I wanted but I have always just thought it was due to working in old houses that are also out of square and plumb around every window and door. Now I wonder if the cuts are inaccurate because of blade movement that shouldn't be there.
With the saw off and unplugged I grasped the blade loosely in my fingers and notice that it is capable of wobbling in and out of square. However when it's running it does not wobble at all, just moves out of square but runs straight. I also checked the arbor screw for tightness and just to make sure I backed it off so that the blade was free to move and then retightened it solidly to eliminate this as a possible reason for unnatural blade movement. When the saw is running though, there is no wobble at all, just smooth straight spinning of the blade (after the initial out of square move that is).
My saw is only capable of making a cut about 5" wide (it's a 10" saw) so I found in my shop a piece of MDF about that full width, verified one edge for straightness, tested it's cut and then using the inside corner of a brand new framing square to test with I see that it still seems to cut at 90 degree right angles. I'm not sure how it can though since I know I can see the blade move when powered up but it measures 90 degrees to the fence when at rest. Also I took the same piece of MDF and placed it on the saw platform roughly within 1/16 inch of the blade and then with the blade down but not able to contact the wood I kicked it on and the blade was able to move so that it did leave marks on the end of the piece.
I've never had a real problem using this saw. Occasionally a piece of trim mitered would not line up just the way I wanted but I have always just thought it was due to working in old houses that are also out of square and plumb around every window and door. Now I wonder if the cuts are inaccurate because of blade movement that shouldn't be there.