I have a Makita 2703 table saw set up with a Rousseau 2700XL stand and fence, and it's the only table saw I've owned so I don't have experience with cabinet saws. I've been clamping the opposite end of the fence because I noticed it flexes a bit when cutting. I believe the saw is set to a 0-degree angle, but I can see a slight angle in my cuts. My speed square didn't indicate any angle, which leaves me wondering if the blade might be flexing. Additionally, I've noticed some minor variations in rip cuts; for a 4-foot board, one end might measure 3 inches while the other could be anywhere between 2.90 to 3.00 inches. Is this level of accuracy typical for jobsite saws, or could I be doing something wrong?
1 Answer
It sounds like your fence might not be perfectly square to the blade. When you clamp it down, make sure the pressure isn’t pushing the fence out of alignment. Also, keep in mind that speed squares can sometimes be a bit unreliable, which sounds odd but is true! You might want to use a better square to double-check your setup.
Is an engineer's square a better option, or what's the best tool to check if everything's square?