I've been working on woodworking projects as a hobby and side hustle, and I'm using a Dewalt 10 inch table saw. I'm having trouble achieving perfect cuts, particularly when using a joining jig to square two sides. Even when I clamp the pieces, there's a gap where I can see light coming through. I checked the flatness of my pieces against my granite countertops, and they look good. However, when I measure the blade from the miter saw, I find discrepancies—it's off by a thousandth or two depending on how I measure. The blade shows a difference of about .010 inches, and even when I spin it, I still see a movement of .013 inches. The fence seems to be off by .005 inches too, which is also tapering inwards. Plus, my blade's angle is off by just .2 degrees according to my digital angle finder. Can anyone help me troubleshoot why my pieces aren't aligning flat?
1 Answer
Looks like you've got a few things going on. First off, definitely check if your saw can be adjusted to square the blade to the miter slots and the fence to the blade. It’s key to start with getting the blade squared. Some people even angle the back of the fence slightly away from the blade for better accuracy. Keep in mind that jobsite saws might need extra tweaking compared to cabinet saws, and while they can do a good job, they often take a bit more fiddling.
Also, if you're struggling with your jig, in a pinch, try gluing your boards together and then running them through the saw right at the glue line. That might help achieve a better fit without relying solely on the jig. And don’t forget, a hand plane could be your friend for fine-tuning!
What kind of tolerances should I aim for with a job site saw? Also, is it a big deal if the blade isn't the same distance from the miter slot when I rotate it?