55 - Tablesaw Setup/Tuneup (Pt. 1)
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Our tools are no good to us if they aren’t tuned up properly. As the “heart” of the workshop, its crucial that our tablesaws are configured to perform their best. So whether you are setting up a new saw, or tuning up your current one, this video guide will get you where you need to be. Part 1 covers three different methods for aligning the miter slot to the blade as well as a simple technique for attaching and leveling the extension wings.
I am sure you will also notice that this is a new sexy tablesaw. For those who are curious, it is a PM Custom from the folks at Wood Werks Supply. And even a big fancy saw still requires a good bit of setup and tweaking.
***The following clip was cut from the original video. Since the topic of table saw flatness came up in the comments, I decided to throw the clip out there as bonus footage. Enjoy.
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Nice video Marc and nicer saw. Congrats to you.
Marc,
As always great video. When I bought my table saw the store owner suggested I use clamps instead of a dead blow hammer to adjust the table saw top. I have not had to adjust my saw yet because it was aligned when I got it and has showed to be in alignment every time I check it.
Good job mark
I saw somewhere where you can slide the extension table to the main lthen tilt it on end and attach the center bolt the rotate it up on the bolt and attach the outside bolts
Allows it to be done with only 1 person
I must have gotten lucky with my table saw because the blade to the miter slot was within .002 right out of the box. Of course, that can change depending on the quality of the blade being used. Not all blades are absolutely flat and true.
Looking foward to part 2.
Another great video but you lost me on the shimming with the blue tape, how does the blue tape get rid of a dip at the joint ?
I like to do the ’sound’ test occasionally to be sure my blade is aligned. It is quick and easy.
Thanks Marc, for the excellent, instructional videos.
Hey Richard, I saw that too. I think it was on Fine Woodworking’s site. Great technique.
And Runningwood, the table had a slight valley where the extension wing met the table. To offset that and bring it into alignment, I put a little strip of tape at the top of the joint, which essentially forces the extension to angle down slightly, which in my case put it right in alignment with the table. Make sense?
Thanks everyone else for the comments and suggestions!
I ran across this last night, but you must’ve still been loading it.
It was a great to hear my tri-square technique wasn’t too imprecise.
Congrats on the new saw. With all those bright, pretty colors on the saw you may need a large brimmed hat with a feather, a fedora and a purple smoking jacket a la Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch to max out the pimp potential of that beautiful piece of hardware.
Once again, a great video, Marc. Very informative and it shows how simple and varied the tune-up process can be. I recently relocated and I’m going through all the tune-ups on my machines. Nice refresher course!
This comes at the perfect time actually. As I just set out to tune my table saw for the first time.
great video Marc!
been waiting for this one for awhile and i think that now i am ready to tackle at least the first part of my table saw tune-up!
Thanks for the video Marc. Your info will come in handy this week while I set up my unisaw.
And by the way, was that a coffee mug I saw on the deck of your PM saw? Shame shame, you should know better.;)
Great timing for me. I’ll be getting a new Grizzly after July 4.
Thanks, and looking forward to part 2.
The new sexy table saw is nice.. but where did you get those sexy specs?
Marc,
Excellent information ad always and looking forward to the second part. I am also happy to see the cheap method I use to align my saw has your approval :)
My built is not herculean by any means but I put together my Delta Contractor’s saw all by myself! I had to improvise quite a bit but with the aid of a 1-ton pulley, I managed to do it. I stood the wings up on their side, attached at one end and them rotated to bring it level and attached the other bolts.
One thing I was not happy with was my attempt to level the extension tables with the main table. Your method of aligning them is perfect and I shall do so very soon.
I do have some doubts around making my cheap saw work at its best. I am not sure if you are going to cover it next. Do the link belt and a custom pulley help the saw work better? I would be curious to see your take on it.
Thanks
Today I just noticed that my fence is acting a little funny. Looking forward to you part TWO. I’m sure fence alignment will be in it.
Ron From Chicago
DEAD BLOW HAMMER!!!!!
i may have missed this, again (i usually ask stupid questions that have already been answered), but what happened to the old table saw?
The only comment that I have in the process, so far, is in the order of your set-up tasks. I realize that you are working with PowerMatic equipment and that they produce nice stuff, but you left out two important things. Well, you kind covered one…but then let it slide.
First, the top must be checked for “flatness” which you casually mentioned by stating that this was a second top. You really should have said more about that. You have to be starting with good parts, or your tuning time is wasted.
Second, along that same line of thinking, you really should check the arbor for “run-out” too. I realize that the “one tooth” method of testing compensates for that during set-up….but you really shouldn’t spend all of this time only to have your regular blades become “wobble dados”.
The likelihood of these problems may be slight with higher-end tools, but it can/does happen. Case in point, your second top.
There is no way you would know this, but I did test for flatness. I even did a short segment on the topic. The reason I left it out was because I truly feel that table saw flatness is a frequently overblown issue (and I needed to bring the video length down). And since I fall on the more “laid back” side, I didn’t want to upset those who are more discriminating than I am. So for the heck of it, I will add the cut scene to this post today. Keep an eye out for it.
Just an FYI, the reason the first table was replaced was more because of the exacting standards of the folks at Wood Werks, rather than my own desire for a dead flat surface.
And good point about arbor runout. I left it out because I was really trying to avoid anything that would require the use of a dial indicator. Do you know of a way to do it without one?
Another great video - I’m going to re-check my table saw the next time I use it.
Why use a dowel to check miter slot alignment? It seems that any piece of wood would work and wouldn’t require a special V-groove jig. So, what am I missing?
Marc, you are right about things being over-blown or exaggerated at times. It is wood after all, it can and will, move on it’s own by more than some “precision” measuring and cutting tolerances.
Table flatness is however easy and cheap to measure. Like you said though, how much you are willing to live with is up to the end user. But it should be checked for “extremes” and that should be one of the first things you check on a new saw. It really should never be an issue again.
Arbor run-out…you are right. There really isn’t a good way to test that w/o a dial indicator. As cheaply as one can be purchased though, it is a great thing to have. They are useful for many set-up tasks.
It might just be me as a “newbie” to the site, but what part of the country are you in? I though it was out west like AZ or something?
Wood Werks is just across town from me in Columbus OH. I know they are involved in the “Custom” PowerMatic stuff. You never showed the front of yours, did you get the name label or any of the other custom options? I just checked their website….and right there you are “front and center” ….cool.
I am indeed in AZ. If you are close to the Wood Werks store, I highly recommend stopping in. It will be worth the drive! We have some footage from their store that we are holding on to until they get their online store in order. That place was like a woodworker’s candy store. The fact that they have a Rockler INSIDE their store should give you an idea of what you are in for. lol.
I will indeed show the front of the new saw in all its glory near the end of the second part of the setup series. It does have the custom name plate.
Thanks for your input Longhair.
It is a great place, I am in there at least once a month.
I work in a commercial cabinet shop and they get quite a bit of equipment from there too, plus the occasional repair work.
There is a WoodCraft store here too. It’s one of the advantages of a living in a big city.
I have always used a piece of white oak milled to fit tight in the miter slot with a dial indicator screwed to it, until recently. I just got one of the new Woodpecker Saw Gauges. Talk about easy. You just drop three metal tubes into the miter slot and the gauge sits on top. When I change fences or make any adjustments I can now check it quick and easy.
ROFLMAO! Mac, the image of you explaining about aligning a table within 1/128″ while wearing sexy specs and holding the dead blow…man that’s funny stuff.
Sweet new saw… hopefully you will review it once you get everything together. I love that sexy cast iron extension table. FWIW I used the adjustable square method to align my miter slot to the blade… worked like a charm. Someday I’ll get one of those dial indicator sets when I’m feeling flush.
BTW… I agree that most people are far too anal about table flatness.