Hamlin said:
Which way is the true an proper way? The thin cut next to the guide or on the opposite side? I've seen and have done this both ways, to make this short, I hate thin cuts. However, once in awhile, one needs to make them.
Ken
Either side should be fine if the blade is parallel to the fence, you are not trapping the stock or cut-off between the blade that way. The limiting factor as I see it would be the safety level with pushing stock through with the thin side nearest the rip fence. A thin enough cut and your blade guard may be in the way and not allow your push stick clearance to get to the stock.
For thin cuts, I use a spline cutting jig as shown:
Between this jig and a micro-adjust mechanism for the rip fence -- thin cuts are much less stressful. I saw this one in a recent magazine and gave it a try. Still don't have the rip-fence slide part of the jig working as freely as I'd like, but it will still work great as a spline cutting jig.
I'm not sure how thick a piece you are referring to as 'thin cuts', but a jig or sled similiar to this would seem to take care of most situations.
The above picture was taken before the jig/sled was completed, but by design it allows running stock of any length next to the sled and through the blade. As the infeed end of the stock passes the front of the sled, the hinged 'handle' will be allowed to fall into place behind the stock. A narrow cleat attached to the front of the handle piece will then 'hook' the edge of the stock being cut and will guide the stock through the blade as the entire jig/sled and stock combination is then pushed along the rip fence to complete the cut.
Cutting splines with the jig above, of a width of down to 1/16" and pretty much any length needed would be no problem (be sure and use a zero clearance throat plate).