SEPT/OCT
2003
Volume 46/Issue 5
IN
THIS ISSUE
Project
Articles
•
Queen Anne Living Room Tables
• Covered Wagon Toy Box
• Tilting Shelf Sewing Thread Holder
DEPARTMENTS
•
Ask Smitty
• Owner’s Gallery
• Letters from Owners
Academy Notes
Clean
Cuts - Pt. 2 - Lathe Tool Sharpening
Service Pointers
MARK
V Miter Gauge
Safety Tips
Safety First!
What's
New
42"
Filter Hood for DC3300
EDUCATION
• Find
A Shopsmith Woodworking Academy Near You
• National
Woodworking Academy in Dayton, OH
ONLINE
CATALOGS
• Online Accessory Catalog
• Request
Printed Accessory Catalog
• Online
Replacement Parts Catalog
MARK
V INFORMATION
• Find
A Shopsmith
MARK V Demo Near You
• Request
MARK V Information Package
LINKS
•
Links Worth Visiting
•
Free Woodworking
Tips
FEEDBACK
Contacting
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Copyright
2003.
Shopsmith, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Service
Pointers
MARK V Miter Gauge
Printer
friendly PDF copy of article
An accurate Miter Gauge is essential to making square & true cut-offs and precision miter cuts. Dropping or bumping the Gauge...even regular use...can tend to alter its accuracy.
Periodically, it's a good idea to check the squareness or angle of the Gauge to the Saw Blade with a drafting triangle or a precision, adjustable arm protractor. Another device made especially for this purpose is a see-through plastic Angle Setter. Remember, too, that the protractor on the Miter Gauge is not a precise measuring instrument, but should only be used as a guide.
That's why you should take extra care in setting the Gauge's Auto-Stops for 45-degree left and right and 90-degree settings. This way, when you're ready to make straight or 45-degreed mitered cuts, just go to the Auto-Stops and everything should be OK. When making a critical, angled miter cut (other than 90 or 45-degrees), you should always use one of the set-up devices listed above.
Finally, it's a good idea to use paste wax or a machine table lubricant such as Top-Cote or Dri-Cote to reduce friction between the Miter Gauge Bar and the Worktable Slot.
| Problem | Possible Cause(s) | Remedy |
| Miter Gauge won't slide through Table Slots |
Miter Gauge Bar bent Warped Table is pinching the Bar Setscrew in Miter Bar is too tight |
Replace Bar ReplaceTabletop Loosen setscrew |
| Miter Gauge Bar will not lock in the Tabletop |
Bad setscrew Screw hole cut too deep in Miter Bar |
Replace setscrew Replace Miter Gauge Bar |
| Safety Grip leaves marks on wood |
Excessive Hand Grip pressure Burr on Safety Grip Pad |
Use less pressure Remove burr with single-cut mill file |
| Gauge rocks side-to-side | Glides are improperly adjusted | Adjust Glides |
| Wood teeters on Miter Gauge Protractor | Protractor face warped | Replace protractor |
| Miter Gauge does not cut indicated angle |
Angle stops are inaccurately set Tool used to set angles is inaccurate Scale is improperly adjusted Protractor face is warped Wood not being held firmly against Gauge |
Reset stops Use precision setting tool Re-adjust the Scale Replace protractor Hold wood firmly. Use Safety Grip if possible |
