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I don't have a table saw but I do have a radial arm saw. Any tips on squaring all four corners of Wood?
Does your wood rough or already jointed on one or two faces? Are you talking about long boards or short boards? Or even panels or plywood?
Providing more informations could lead to a better of proper anwser.
Best,
Serge
www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
Learn from yesterday - Work today - Enjoy success tomorrow
I was squaring up a small panel on my radial arm saw after readjusting the saw and table. I got three sides true but could not get the dthird side at 90 degrees. I checked the square on three corners and they were all at 90. I squared the panel with the saw in crosscut position, then tried three sides with crosscut and one with rip. I could not get the last side at 90 to the fence???
Thanks for getting back with me.
It is very challenging to get a radial arm saw cutting square. It’s a fussy machine that needs to be well adjusted and maintained. If you have the owner’s manual, get it and set your saw properly. First, the bed should be flat and parallel to the arm in all corners. To check it, remove the saw blade and turn the motor assembly so the arbor will be towards the table (down). Lower the motor assembly and move it in all four corners to check the distance between the tip of the arbor and the tabletop (you can use a block and a feeler gauge). First swing the arm all the way down to the left and check the distance near the fence, then pull the motor assembly and check in the corner away from the fence (moving the arm if needed). Repeat the same procedure on the right side. If the table is not equally spaced to the tip of the arbor, each cut you make is a compound cut, one reason for not getting a square panel. Your table support should provide adjustable slots from under and if not, use paper, cardboard or any shims required to make it parallel. Then check if there is any play when the arm is set at 90° from the fence. A tiny play can end up, in repetion when cutting a square panel, to an accumulation of fractions of degrees, which can’t be noticed with a square at each first three 90° cuts you make. Only the last one is noticable. If there’s a side play on the arm, there should be an adjustment screw somewhere at the back of the central post. Another cause may be the fence itself. If the fence has a nick or is not perfectly straight, the panel can be shilfted a little bit and again, only the last cut will show the unsquareness. I would suggest you install a new 3/4’’ MDF fence. This material is stable, flat and straight. And before installing this new fence, chamfer the edge of the tabletop where it meets the fence. Any accumulation of dust will drop into the chamfer, eliminating the risk of saw dust from shifting or pivoting the panel. And keep this chamfer free of dust. Another method to get a square panel is to rip your panel first to the required width, by swinging the motor assembly so the blade will be parallel to the fence, then crosscut one end after swinging back the motor assembly to 90°, then swing it back and rip the final side. This method prevents from accumulation of any fractions of degrees. I own a radial arm saw since 1976 and I must admit that I use it for rough cuts only, because of all the above reasons. Having only a radial arm saw, no doubt you have to deal with the precise adjustements, care and attention this tool needs. Note that I would never separate from my radial arm saw. If you don’t have your owner’s manual check this website - http://www.owwm.com/ - You may find yours there. Best, Serge http://www.atelierdubricoleur.spaces.live.com
It is very challenging to get a radial arm saw cutting square. It’s a fussy machine that needs to be well adjusted and maintained.
If you have the owner’s manual, get it and set your saw properly.
First, the bed should be flat and parallel to the arm in all corners. To check it, remove the saw blade and turn the motor assembly so the arbor will be towards the table (down). Lower the motor assembly and move it in all four corners to check the distance between the tip of the arbor and the tabletop (you can use a block and a feeler gauge). First swing the arm all the way down to the left and check the distance near the fence, then pull the motor assembly and check in the corner away from the fence (moving the arm if needed). Repeat the same procedure on the right side. If the table is not equally spaced to the tip of the arbor, each cut you make is a compound cut, one reason for not getting a square panel. Your table support should provide adjustable slots from under and if not, use paper, cardboard or any shims required to make it parallel.
Then check if there is any play when the arm is set at 90° from the fence. A tiny play can end up, in repetion when cutting a square panel, to an accumulation of fractions of degrees, which can’t be noticed with a square at each first three 90° cuts you make. Only the last one is noticable. If there’s a side play on the arm, there should be an adjustment screw somewhere at the back of the central post.
Another cause may be the fence itself. If the fence has a nick or is not perfectly straight, the panel can be shilfted a little bit and again, only the last cut will show the unsquareness. I would suggest you install a new 3/4’’ MDF fence. This material is stable, flat and straight. And before installing this new fence, chamfer the edge of the tabletop where it meets the fence. Any accumulation of dust will drop into the chamfer, eliminating the risk of saw dust from shifting or pivoting the panel. And keep this chamfer free of dust.
Another method to get a square panel is to rip your panel first to the required width, by swinging the motor assembly so the blade will be parallel to the fence, then crosscut one end after swinging back the motor assembly to 90°, then swing it back and rip the final side. This method prevents from accumulation of any fractions of degrees.
I own a radial arm saw since 1976 and I must admit that I use it for rough cuts only, because of all the above reasons. Having only a radial arm saw, no doubt you have to deal with the precise adjustements, care and attention this tool needs. Note that I would never separate from my radial arm saw.
If you don’t have your owner’s manual check this website - http://www.owwm.com/ - You may find yours there.