5 Set Up and Maintenance
All machines require set up to achieve accurate and repeatable results, and maintenance to keep them working properly. The following information will guide you through these tasks. Learning to properly set up and tune the machinery you use on a daily basis is important in keeping the entire shop efficient and productive.
Setting the blade to 90° to the table
One method to set and check the blade for square is to use a reliable engineer’s square. Raise the blade out of the table at least 50 mm or 2″. The greater the height of the blade out of the table, the more accurate the reading will be. With the throat plate in place, set the square on the table on the side of the blade that is closer to the table. This allows for the best support of the square on the table reference surface. Make sure the square is roughly centred and perpendicular to the blade. Gently slide the square up to the plate of the saw blade, ensuring it makes contact between and not on the carbide teeth. Standing directly behind the blade, look for light showing between the square and the blade. If there is light the blade is not square, use the tilt handwheel to bring the blade into alignment with the square. It is always advisable to make a test cut to confirm. A sliding T bevel can be used in the same manner to set accurate angles.
Setting the mitre gauge to 45° or 90° to the blade
While many mitre gauges have a positive stop for both 45° and 90°, it is necessary to confirm them for accuracy. Using a large 45° drafting set square, place the square against the fence of the mitre gauge and gently bring it into contact with the blade. The blade should be fully raised out of the table to begin, and rotated as needed to ensure the set square is contacting the plate of the blade only, not the carbide teeth. If the set square contacts the blade along its length, the gauge is set. Depending on the type of blade used, it can be difficult to rotate the blade to a position where just the plate makes contact, in this case the blade can be rotated so the set square makes contact with the saw teeth only. If adjustments are required, make them and then adjust the 45° and 90° positive stop on the miter gauge to recalibrate it for future use. This adjustment will be slightly different depending on the brand of mitre gauge, it is usually done by adjusting a small set or Allen screw on the stop.
The only reliable way of checking if the machine is accurately set to 90° or any other angle is by making test cuts. This is especially important when setting up to cut any mitres. Use a piece of scrap to mitre four pieces into a square to confirm the corners are perfect. It is worth the time and effort.
Rip Fence Calibration
Constant parallel fences all come with a measuring tape built on to the fence rail. They should be checked periodically for accuracy. Once a blade is installed on the saw a test cut is made through a scrap piece of wood run along the fence. The freshly sawn s