Table saw fence

[Gary Keedwell]

http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos2350/1/45/34/7/57/1/157073445107_0_BG.jpg?Just curious...does anybody use an indicator or other device to move your table saw fence??
Gary K.

[Steve Clardy]

Links shows I'm forbidden to view it.

I just use the ol manual indicator that came with my fence.

[Andrew Ault]

I use the one from Lee Valley with magnetic holder.

I make a test cut on a scrap, measure it with digital calipers and then tap the fence into place while watchind the dial.

I do this when making a pattern out of multiple pieces of MDF that get glued up. Without the dial indicator fuss, the small errors add up and the pattern is wrong.

- Andy

[CPeter James]

Barry Wixey makes a device like you are talking about.

http://wixey.com/fence/index.html

Here is mine.

http://home.metrocast.net/~cpjvkj/indicator.jpg

CPeter

[glenn bradley]

For setup or for everyday use? I definitly use a gauge when adjusting the fence (usually only after a machine maintenance or move). Once adjusted I pretty much trust the fence although I do double check the piece I've cut with a tape now and again just because I'm that way.

I haven't adjusted my Align-a-Rip in over a year but I checked it with a gauge when summer came (its aluminum and I was curious). It was +/- .002 which is about as good as it ever was.

[Gary Keedwell]

Glenn, I was referring to moving fence to make exact cut-offs and dado slots. Indtead of wasting valuable time using shims with dado blades...I now run my stock thru blades twice. It is accurate and less pressure on my nerves. LOL

Gary K.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Here is mine.

http://home.metrocast.net/%7Ecpjvkj/indicator.jpg

CPeter

Set an angle like that you are going to get cosine error.
Do you do know the angle and do the Trig' each time of are you guestimating?

[Eddie Darby]

Glenn, I was referring to moving fence to make exact cut-offs and dado slots. Indtead of wasting valuable time using shims with dado blades...I now run my stock thru blades twice. It is accurate and less pressure on my nerves. LOL

Gary K.

If I wanted to do what you are doing here, I would take my electronic calipers and just temporarily mount it on a block of wood that has rare earth magnets, or a magnetic base used with dial indicators with the on/off switch, will do. The following link shows how to use calipers, and at the bottom of the page is an explanation of the use of the "bottom side" of the caliper figure 6. Just place caliper up against the back of the saw's fence with the "bottom side" of the caliper touching the fence. You can have an opening of say 1" in the jaws of the caliper and then "zero out " your gauge and then you can precisely adjust your fence in either direction.

For figure 6:
http://www.leevalley.com/shopping/Instructions.aspx?p=46306

This page has a nice diagram:
http://www.leevalley.com/shopping/Instructions.aspx?p=49763

Here is a nice picture of the caliper using the "bottom side" :
http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/Woodworking/MarkMeasure/88n6257d2.jpg
The hashed part would be your saw's fence's backside.

[CPeter James]

Cliff, you are right, but I only use it to align the fence and blade true to the miter slots, so I am shooting for zero movement in the needle. I realize that the reading would be different if the indicator were parallel to the table, but I get better readings for my purpose at the lower position.

CPeter

[Dwayne Hunt]

Hi Gary

I use a indicator for adjusting my tablesaw fence! I cannot help it I am a Toolmaker by trade and I cannot take the Toolmaker out of my wood working. If I want to move the fence 1/64 (.0156") I do just that. If it was too much or I like where it was before better I can get right back there. I have posted a picture to show how I use it.

47636

Hope this helps

Dwayne Hunt

[Gary Keedwell]

Dwayne,
I guess my picture won't post but my indicator is like yours only I replaced the back with a magnetic one. They sell it in the catologs. I just put it on the table and move the fence. NO jig to hold it. I grew up in a machine shop!!! LOL

[Dwayne Hunt]

My tablesaw has a aluminum top so I had to make a fixture to hold the indicator. I move it to the end of the rail when I do not want to use it. It works great for me.

Dwayne Hunt

[Gary Keedwell]

It looks great Dwayne. How does it stay there? Magnet?

Gary K.http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos2412/1/45/46/61/38/2/238614645107_0_BG.jpg?

[Sam Chambers]

http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos2412/1/45/46/61/38/2/238614645107_0_BG.jpg?a=0
Gary, if you remove the "?a=0" from the end of your URLs, they work just fine. Like this:

http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos2412/1/45/46/61/38/2/238614645107_0_BG.jpg

[Gary Keedwell]

Thanks Sam.....Try it now. " Play it again, Sam" lol

Gary K.

[Greg Peterson]

Fixed it for you.

http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos2350/1/45/34/7/57/1/157073445107_0_BG.jpg

[Bart Leetch]

So I just gotta ask doesn't the wood change enough that measurements that fine wouldn't be necessary.:confused: :)

[Dwayne Hunt]

Gary

Fixture is held on rail with a wooden tee nut (with threaded incert) that fits inside the track.

Dwayne Hunt

[Eddie Darby]

So I just gotta ask doesn't the wood change enough that measurements that fine wouldn't be necessary.:confused: :)

This adjustment, to the saws fence is being done so that the stacked dado blade shims are not needed, so you need to be able to adjust the fence the same thickness as would have been the shims, and you have to be willing to run your wood twice through the saw.

[Kent Fitzgerald]

So I just gotta ask doesn't the wood change enough that measurements that fine wouldn't be necessary.:confused: :)

Most of the time, it's not necessary, but there are those cases where repeatability is important and small errors can add up.

I think I used a dial indicator on my TS fence once. I can't rememebr now what I was doing, but it seemed important at the time, I already had the indicator, and it was easier than squinting at the fence scale and trying to "read between the lines."