Miter Fence Hold Down

[Burt Alcantara]

I messed up my shop made miter fence on my table saw. On the new fence I'd like to have a fairly strong hold down, mostly for those times when I have to take a few hairs off a miter. Thing is, I can't figure out how to do this.

My new fence is just 2 pieces of 3/4 mdf 24" long. I glued sandpaper to the old fence but my glue job was lumpy so some cuts were kind of dicey.

What would you do?

Thanks,
Burt

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi, the hold down will have to be attached to the metal mitre head, or metal mitre bar so that the work is clamped to something that can accept the required force.

I would drill and tap the mitre gauge.

The other option (better than most cheap mitre gauges) is a mitre sled with a toggle type hold down on it.

Regards, Rod.

[Burt Alcantara]

I plan on building a sled but I need something immediately and something that can hold down a piece so my fingers don't end up for dinner.

Burt

[Tom Veatch]

I plan on building a sled but I need something immediately and something that can hold down a piece so my fingers don't end up for dinner.

Burt

Assuming the face of the miter gauge is square to the table (big assumption) and the size of the workpiece allows it, clamping the work to the head of the miter gauge may work (clamping force horizontal and square to the face of the miter gauge.

An alternate is to drill and tap a vertical hole in the top of the miter fence/head directly above the miter bar and bolt a hold-down to the gauge. The clamping force would be vertical and reacted by the miter bar. My old craftsman miter gauge had an accessory holddown for that specific purpose. I believe Ridgid also makes such an accessory for some of their miter gauges - AC1022 (http://www.ridgidparts.com/accessories/woodacc.phtml)

[Chuck Tringo]

Take a look at the Rockler Miter Sled, its priced alot better than any other sled that Ive seen, and it works great. The hold down that comes with it can turn towards the blade to hold a very small piece, alot smaller than anything you can hold with any miter gauge and hold down. Ive had one for about 6 months and no complaints whatsoever.

[Burt Alcantara]

The Rockler sled looks good. Was just about to order it when I realized that I have an angle clamp that looks just like it. Alls I have to do is attach a runner then I'm in beeswax. (Easier said then done)

I'll post if positive.

Thanks,
Burt

[Greg Cole]

Or buy a low angle block plane for fitting miters etc....;)

Greg

[Dave Hale]

I use this:

http://www.woodpeck.com/auxfence.html
You should get some ideas off of the pictures if you don't have an Incra miter.

After buying the first one, and seeing the height for the hold-down, I just make my own now.

[Burt Alcantara]

I've got a low angle jack. Just need to make a shooting board. Another jig to make. The list is endless.

Burt

[Burt Alcantara]

Dave,
The link doesn't work. Went to Woodpeckers but couldn't find what you are referring to.

[Tom Veatch]

Dave,
The link doesn't work. Went to Woodpeckers but couldn't find what you are referring to.

Try this:

http://www.woodpeck.com/auxfence.html

the original link had a number of extraneous characters attached to it.

[Burt Alcantara]

Try this:
http://www.woodpeck.com/auxfence.html


Yes, I like this clamp. This is what I was thinking about. With my new fat fence, that will fit just fine.

BTW, the Incra auxiliary fence has a non slip coating on it. Anyone know a reasonable fact similie that I could use?

Thanks,
Burt

[J. Greg Jones]

I use this:

http://www.woodpeck.com/auxfence.htmlhttp://www.woodpeck.com/auxfence.html

You should get some ideas off of the pictures if you don't have an Incra miter.

After buying the first one, and seeing the height for the hold-down, I just make my own now.

Does this hold down work well for you? I have the auxiliary fence face in the link and I like the fence part, but I've never been able to use the clamp. When I apply enough force with the clamp to hold the workpiece, the entire fence begins to rock back under the force. It's OK for 90 degree cuts, but for mitered cuts the workpiece is ruined.

[Dave Hale]

First, fixed the link. Don't know what I pasted in there. It was like I pasted 3-4 times..... :) J. Greg, I know what you mean. I gave up relying solely on the clamp to hold the workpiece. Too much force and the Incra will lift up partially out of the miter slot, screwing up the horizon of the cut. I use the clamp for close to the blade (with less force than it takes to 'lift' the miter) and still use my free hand to hold the piece to the miter fence like I used to without the clamp, just much further away from the blade. Haven't had any problems using it that way. Kept thinking about a 2nd clamp, but that would compound (double) the 'rising' problem. If I was doing miters a lot, a sled's the only way to go, I was suggesting something quick & easy.

[Joe Scharle]

If you're going to build a jig, look this one over. I think it came from WOOD. I use an adjustable right triangle to set the angles. This sled pretty much stays on the table. Less than $20 and about half a day.

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/data/194/thumbs/Universal_Tablesaw_Jig.jpg