Fun way to test table saw setup

rwyoung

I just got a new blade for my table saw. Bought a Forest Woodworker II 40T combination blade. Cuts like butta. Ran 4/4 white oak through like it was nothin'.

But I did get a little bit of burning so I decided to check my setup. It has been a while so might as well. Turns out the problem was the splitter was set a little too far to the left of the blade and would pull the right side into the back of the blade. Kinda defeats the purpose of a splitter. So working on that issue. Otherwise the blade was 0.003" to the left miter slot and the fence was still 1/64" heeled out from the back of the blade. Saw is a TS3660.

Now onto the project part. I decided to take my piece of white oak and run it to 3/4" with the planer and jointer. Taking small bites, they did a nice job. Then back to the TS to make a couple of feet of 3/4" x 3/4" material. And after a basic check of the miter gauge and sacrificial fence on it being (reasonably) square I proceeded to make 27 little blocks at 3/4" x 3/4" x 3/4". And what wonderful thing can you make with 27 identical cubes? Why a Soma cube of course.

Not perfect when assembled, looks like a few of the cubes slipped a little during glue-up. Time to make some gluing jigs because I want to make a few more of these. And maybe use just a dot of epoxy instead of PVA on the next one so I don't have squeeze out issues. Guess this is another of my prototypes!

Also decided to make a miniature version of my miter sled to better work with small stuff. Used birch for the front and back fences and white oak for the runners (oriented so the expansion is in thickness, not width). Nailed the alignment first try. Otherwise my technique was going to be to use playing cards as shims behind a sheet of 1/4" hardboard that would be attached to the inside face of the back fence. The bit of 1/2" birch ply across the top is temporary, I'll find some scraps of clear acrylic at work tomorrow and either replace it. And glued two reminder blocks on the back fence, either side of the exit slot.

All that typing and only a couple of pictures.

eccentrictinkerer

I like that miniature miter sled. You just helped me out with a solution to a project I've been hung up on.

Thanks!

rwyoung

16" wide, 14" deep, fences are 3" tall and 7/8" thick. Base is 1/2" MDF, fences happen to be birch because I had some. The birch was 4/4 rough and after tuning up it ended up pretty close to 7/8".

xplorx4

I to like the sled, I shall now show my ignorance what is it for, I mean just to cut something small or what? I can hear you guys laughing at me. I guess I am not sure the full purpose of that over a regular miter? (Can't learn if I don't ask)

__________________
Wisdom: Where experience and knowledge combine and become one.

"We are all one decision away from Stupid!!"

Lamentations 3:22-23

"How often we sacrifice the permanent plans of God on the altar of immediate solutions"

I have a very good memory, just short is all.

levon

hello Jerry,

Rob said his sled was 16 inches wide and 14 inches deep i think . you could cut a board or panel 14 inches wide and probably at least 24 inches long.maybe more that would be tough with a small miter guage. the width of a miter guage would not hold the board stable enough. its also a lot safer. my only question or thought is that i would have made the blade guard out of lexan to make it easy to see to set up. but my sight aint what it once was , lol

btw, nice looking tray and hot plates!

__________________
light travels faster than sound, this is why some people seem bright til you hear them speak.

Please Please Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you and make for a friendlier forum

levon

bobj3

HI Rob

I like your sled, I used the chop saw to make the puzzle,,I like my fingers to much to get the close to the blade..

Put-Me-Together block puzzle
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bruce.v...her%20plan.pdf
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bruce.v...0page%201.html



=========

__________________
"It's fine to disagree with other members as long as you respect their opinions"

MANY,MANY help files on John's web site
http://legacy.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

Sommerfeld Tools ,Videos
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT-n...RWaEpMA/videos

levon

hello bobj,

i like the puzzle. i got to get a little shuteye.lol

__________________
light travels faster than sound, this is why some people seem bright til you hear them speak.

Please Please Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you and make for a friendlier forum

levon

rwyoung

Thanks. I may not have mentioned in the post that the guard is temporary as I have not picked up any plexi/lexan to replace it. By having it fixed across the top like that I get some extra stability in the back fence.

I thought I could find some scrap at work but the only stuff I found was the red kind you use for bezels in front of LED displays! Nuts.

rwyoung

I hear you about the blade. I've made an uber-simple hold-down for work pieces so that my hand doesn't have to get close to the blade. It is some 1/2 plywood about 6" long and 3" wide (roughly) with a second piece glued on at the end so that in profile it is "L" shaped. I should add some sandpaper on the flat surfaces for more grip but it works well.

I can lay this down over my workpiece and press down with my hand safely to one side.