harry strasil
05-26-2008, 10:31 AM
There are many height gauges on the market, but none of them are easy to use although they are accurate if used properly. In my search for an easy to use one I designed and made my own out of oak for use with the router and table saw.
It consists of a small narrow piece in a larger piece and uses a sliding dovetail to allow movement, the main body is screwed and glued to a larger oak base.
This picture shows it in the zero or down position.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage001.jpg
This picture shows it being used to set the height of the table saw blade. Just position over the blade and raise it to the desired height.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage002.jpg
This picture shows a scrap section of a stick on ruler on the back for measurement, I tried actual measureing with a ruler, but it was a little awkward and the scrap was available for use.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage003.jpg
To keep the sliding dovetail from sliding out and to provide a friction fit to compensate for the necessary loosenes of the sliding dovetail, I drilled a 3/16 inch oversized hole in the sliding part and cut the spring from a ball point pen to the right length and used a short section of 3/16 inch dowel to accomplish this feat. The friction device is toward the lower part of the sliding dovetail section so as to give 3.5 inches of travel without the friction device flying out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage004.jpg
It works exceptionally well.
Jr.
It consists of a small narrow piece in a larger piece and uses a sliding dovetail to allow movement, the main body is screwed and glued to a larger oak base.
This picture shows it in the zero or down position.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage001.jpg
This picture shows it being used to set the height of the table saw blade. Just position over the blade and raise it to the desired height.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage002.jpg
This picture shows a scrap section of a stick on ruler on the back for measurement, I tried actual measureing with a ruler, but it was a little awkward and the scrap was available for use.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage003.jpg
To keep the sliding dovetail from sliding out and to provide a friction fit to compensate for the necessary loosenes of the sliding dovetail, I drilled a 3/16 inch oversized hole in the sliding part and cut the spring from a ball point pen to the right length and used a short section of 3/16 inch dowel to accomplish this feat. The friction device is toward the lower part of the sliding dovetail section so as to give 3.5 inches of travel without the friction device flying out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/heightgage004.jpg
It works exceptionally well.
Jr.