Hey everyone, I'm relatively new to using my table saw and I'm finding it really helpful. The only problem is that I'm not always getting perfectly straight edges, especially when the wood I start with isn't straight to begin with. Does anyone have tips or tricks to help me tackle this issue?
3 Answers
Make sure you never push a significantly curved edge against the table saw fence. That's a recipe for kickback, which can lead to serious injuries. Instead, consider building a sled to flatten your board's edge, or attach a known straight edge to your board and run that along the fence. Don't forget your board should be flat in all directions too; avoid running bowed or twisted boards through.
One of the best solutions is to make a jointing jig. It's straightforward and inexpensive, and there are loads of videos on YouTube that walk you through the process. This can help you achieve nice straight edges before feeding your wood through the saw.
I've had good luck using a metal level next to the fence. Just tape your board to the level securely, and then push the level against your fence. This way, you get a straight edge quickly, and you can reuse the tape for future boards!