Hey everyone.
I’ve run into this a few times and for some reason haven’t come up with a solution I like.
My table saw only tilts to 45 degrees like most I’m familiar with. On more than one occasion I’ve needed to rip a board to 50 degrees. In the past I’ve used a clamp on guide and a modified circular saw.
Was wondering if anyone out there has any good simple ideas for achieving the 50 degree cut on a table saw. I’m sure there is something I haven’t thought of. Googled it and searched tauntons but didn’t come up with any solutions.
This is not a crosscut with a mitre sled. This is a rip on the entire edge of a board.
Thanks for any ideas you can share.
Joe
Edited 8/10/2009 6:52 pm ET by josefis
Replies
Isn't 50° 5° closer to 90° than 45°? ;-)
Yes but knowing this and achieving the rip cut for me are two different things. I am not seeing the solution.
You can either tilt to 40º then rip with your board on edge or flat to the fence, or you can make a 5º sub base that holds the board up 5º more, and tilt to 45º. Making a sub-base may be your next challenge, depending on which way your saw tilts, it may need to be as wide as the board you intend to rip. You might also look under your saw to see if there is a stop bolt at the end of the trunion which stops the tilt at 45º. If it can be screwed down another 3/8" this may allow it to tilt more.
Tape an appropriately sized block to the far side of your panel so that the panel is at a 5-degree angle to the table. Then rip with the blade at 45 degrees.
To jog the old memory, (block height) = (tangent 5 degrees)/(panel width).
Thanks guys. Got it now. It's funny sometimes when you can't figure out something so simple. I think I'm over tired these days. New baby and all. Lots of work and little sleep.
I recently had to do a bunch of 50 degree rips, as previous replies have noted, the 5 degree block taped with doubled sided tape to the fence is the least complex, most reliable and safe solution I could come up with.
Am I missing something here?
If I tape a strip of lath to the underside of a piece of wood - on the side that rides next to the fence - in order to elevate it 5 degrees, and I tilt the blade to a 45 degree angle, don't I end up with a 40 degree bevel cut?
On a left-tilting tablesaw, it seems as though that would be the case.
I'd have to tape the lath to the edge next to the blade in order to elevate the wood to a 5 degree angle to wind up with a 50 degree angle on the wood. Is this right?
I always was mathematically and geometry-impaired, so this is confusing me.
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Zolt you are not impaired at all. The block has to be next to the edge being cut!
Morgan who loves geometry but has never mastered all the skills. <!----><!----><!---->
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Morgan,
So I wasn't taking crazy pills after all..
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
I don't know about you, but I hate ripping my finished piece trapped under the blade. I like the smaller waste side to be under the blade...
Morgan <!----><!----><!---->
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Morgan,
I, too, don't like to trap anything between the blade and fence. That's why I own a left-tilting saw...
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Azmo,Agreed. Cutting to that side is a classic never do. Sets up a under blade to fence trap. Reeeeel dangerous.
Move fence to other side and cut a 50 without all the folderol.
IMHOBoiler
Yeah, I think I did a rip like that when I was 17 and got my first TS. All I can say is my dad did not think the hole in the wall of the garage was to neet. I hate fixing stuff.....
Morgan <!----><!----><!---->
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-------(*)/ (*) http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com
Don't feel bad. I'm confused by the conversation, as well, since the explanations don't mention either the direction of the tilt or which side of the blade the fence is on. Plus, the OP said he wanted a 50° rip, which falls between 90° and 45°.
Ralph,
Mr. Brown has supplied a drawing that clears this up. Some of the other posters must have been talking about working on a right-tilting tablesaw.
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Ralph, When you look at the front of your saw does the tilt angel start at 90º then count down to 45? I don't think so, and why would anybody ask how to tilt less than 45º?
It depends on which angle you are measuring.
Mr. Brown,
That explains it! Your drawing shows the cut being made on a right-tilting saw.
I've got a left-tilting saw and could not for the life of me figure out what you guys were talking about! Thanks for clearing it up..
Zolton
If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
The Fine Woodworking October 2008 issue has an article on page 36 that describes a "miter angle sled" for a router table. The design may be adaptable as a table saw sled. Just a thought!
Good luck,
Rex Featherston
Mount Joy, PA
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