: Here's a related question. I also have an inexpensive (allright cheap) Delta
: or similar bench top saw and have had problems setting the blade at a
: right angle to the table. What is the accepted method for setting the
: blade. It would be nice if there were a fine adjustment, but there isn't.
: Where can I tap to get the last 5 degrees, and how do I measure. Even
: though it looks fine with a square, the cut always seems to be a little
: off.

: Ron

Hi Ron

A couple of questions: Which part of the wood is cutting under. Fence Side? or Waste side? Reason being; you are probably experiencing a bad fence or an unsquare blade/arbor. If your measured distance is O.K. at the top of the blade, but you are getting an unsquare cut at the bottom, the front end of your blade, just as it goes down under the plate, is getting a little extra bite or at the back, when it comes up. If it's the back, sometimes you can hear it as the end of the wood passes the front of the blade, the cutting sound should stop, and you just hear the blade turning. If you can still hear some light cutting, then the back of the blade is still working back there, "after hours." It's cutting into the bottom of you wood either on the inside or outside. Not Good. That means either your fence is not squareing up at the back end, or your arbor is a little out of whack. Both are easy to check out.

Unplug the saw, just to be safe, as you will be playing with the blade here. Lock your fence in place a few inches away from the blade. Using a steel rule, and not a tape measure ( with a loose tip ) Measure one of the flat sides of a particular tooth on the inside of the blade, and mark that tooth so you can easily see it again. Write down your measurement. That should be your cut distance. Now rotate the blade (tooth) to the back, down at table level, and measure the same tooth, the same way. Write it down. Now rotate the blade to the front at table level. Measure again. Write it down. Now, they should all be the same. My guess is that your front and/or back measurements are either in or out from the cut distance ( top measurement ). That will explain your unsquare cuts.

Now, measure the distance from the same tooth to one of the miter slots, at the inside edge. Same proceedure with the same tooth, front and back. That will tell you if your arbor is straight or off a bit.

Now, measure the fence (locked down still) from the same miter slot, at the front of the fence and the back of the fence. That will tell you if and how much your fence is off when it's locking down.

If you have found any discrepencies, you are going to have to do some corrections to get it cutting perfect again. The fences are usually easy to adjust as some or all have a method of loosening and moving the fence in relationship to the locking "T" portion. If not, then like I have to do on my saw, I have to measure the front and back of the blade to fence distance each time, or, when you get it set where you want the cut, push in on the "T" portion of the fence and see if it will square up. You will have to remeasure the distance each time, but, it will work.

If your arbor ( blade to miter slot ) distance is off, that means your arbor is out of adjustment. Don't be surprised as they are often not even square when you buy them. The saws come in a kit form to the dealer and some guy they just hired and working his way into management is doing the setup on your saw. Almost an engineer by the time he gets his 3rd or 4th one put together. But, uh-oh, the new redhead with the dynooomite bod goes by on her break and he slams a couple of pieces together to get his break started at the same time. Heck, that's good enough. Hey Ron, that's YOUR saw. Anyway, stuff happens. So, you need to find the owners manual and see if and what you can do to adjust your particular saw. Most are about the same, and there are 3 or 4 bolts underneath, inside the contraption. Remember, it only takes a couple of thousandths to correct or uncorrect these things. Lots of up and down work. Tiny adjustment, then get out and measure again. Have fun, and I hope this has helped. :^P

Rehd