For five years I have looked unsuccessfully for a 10-in. table saw with a “rolling table” facility for crosscuts and miters. The one I’m familiar with is a big, old Oliver. The new Rockwell and Powermatic sliding table attachments are similar in concept and are fine if you have $2,000 to spend on the saw and rig. They take up room on the left of the saw and are really designed for the large stock requirements of a cabinet shop. There are plywood jigs that sit atop the saw and serve the purpose, but I’ve found them to be inaccurate. My solution is simple, inexpensive and as effective as the expensive attachments if you are not cutting whole sheets of plywood.

Simply take your miter gauge apart and insert a piece of Formica between the miter-gauge bar and the protractor fence. Cut the Formica the same size as the left half of the table and fasten the smooth side down. When using the fixture you can press down on the piece of wood being crosscut without causing the wood to bind as it slides on the table. The Formica spreads the pressure over a wider area. The addition of a backboard faced with abrasive paper practically eliminates creep.

Michael J. Hanley, Cedarburg, Wis.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1981 No. 29

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

3M Blue Tape

One of the most versatile accessories to have in the shop: from layout to seaming veneer. It has enough stretch to pull joints together.

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Double Sided Tape

A thin woven core makes XFasten tape strong yet not too thick (0.008 in.), and helps it hold powerfully without being difficult to peel off.

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Tite-Mark Marking Gauge

These gauges can be easily and precisely adjusted with one hand, which allows you to set the tool while holding a ruler or workpiece in the other. The quality is exceptional, and all have sharp cutters that offer great visibility.

Buy at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks