Replies

1. 
   wjcargill | Dec 17, 2003 05:40am | #1

   I think it is just a personal preference related to safety. I live in Canada and I am just in the process of ordering a left-hand tilt model.

   As far as the mitre gauge is concerned, isn't there adjustable bearings on the arm? I haven't seen one myself, but I remember reading or hearing this somewhere.

2. 
   jako17 | Dec 17, 2003 05:51am | #2

   The mitre guage should slide smoothly with no appreciable slop.Most are sloppy some aftermarket guages are ajustable. This is your chance to tune it up.It may just be cosmoline in the slot or on the bar .Wash it with mineral spirits then wax it.Don't start filing till you've exhausted other avenues

3. 
   Mackwood | Dec 17, 2003 05:59am | #3

   Grant,

   As someone else stated most new miter gages are sloppy in the slot.  I would take some steel wool and mineral spirits and clean both the gage "arm" and the table slot.  Check the gage "arm" with a straight edge to make sure it wasn't damaged somehow.  If it's bent or twisted in any way, get right after the seller for a replacement.  It may also have a small ding somewhere that you can easily remove via file or abrasive cloth.  Do a very close visual inspection before removing any material.  Good luck and congrats on getting a great saw!

   Mack

4. 
   forestgirl | Dec 17, 2003 07:43pm | #4

   "Don't start filing till you've exhausted other avenues" -- or not at all.  I'd be real hesitant to do any filing (other than a small burr) on a new table saw's miter slot.  If you file the miter gauge bar, you've not got much to lose -- you'll probably end up getting an after-market gauge anyway!  But once you start messing with the miter gauge slots there's no going back.

   I filed the slots on my old Jet saw when I got it, but that was because it had been abused a bit by the previous owner.  The stock gauge, however, was a piece of bird poop, and didn't show any potential for working smoothly or accurately.  Hence the acquisition of an Incra 1000 aftermarket gauge.

   forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

1. 
   grant | Dec 17, 2003 08:57pm | #5

   Thanks everyone.  There was some gunk in the indented parts of the slots, which I cleaned out with mineral spirits, and then I rubbed wax on the miter gauge arm, and it slides a lot more smoothly now.  No filing necessary.

   ---Grant

1. 
   Mackwood | Dec 17, 2003 09:18pm | #6

   Grant,

   Glad to hear the problem was minor!  Enjoy your new saw!

   Mack

2. 
   jako17 | Dec 17, 2003 10:00pm | #7

   Hey FG Who suggested filing the slot? That is really THE last resort and should not be attempted on a new saw

5. 
   SBerruezo | Dec 19, 2003 09:32am | #8

   Most of the people I know prefer the left tilt saws, much because of the safety issue.  On a left tilt saw, with the fence on the right side of the saw, the piece will not get trapped between the tilted blade and the fence.  Computer drawing>  ___/__|||   is right tilt.  Left tilt is similar to ______|||  Not sure if that makes any sense.

1. 
   grant | Dec 19, 2003 06:56pm | #9

   Thanks for that tip. I like your diagram. I guess wherever possible the smaller offcut should be on the left side of the blade, if I'm doing an angled cut.

   Grant

6. 
   DonC | Dec 19, 2003 07:30pm | #10

   In my opinion, right tilt blades are better because when you rip at 45 degree tilt, your outside corners will match perfect even if the material is not the same thickness. This is because you are referencing from the outside of the miter. Left tilt blades reference from the inside and any mismatch will appear on the outside corner of you project. Biscuit cutters suffer from this same problem. Porter Cable and some others sell outside referencing fences for their biscuit joiner machines.

   On my right tilt table saw, I have an auxilary fence screwed to it with a 45 degree chamfer at the fence table surface location. This allows the 2nd 45 degree cut to be made with precision because the 45 degree angled cut from the first cut will have it's face sliding along this chamfer instead of the pointed edge.

   Don

7. 
   Dustmight | Dec 19, 2003 08:00pm | #11

   Hi Grant - Congrats on a great saw.  The miter will take some time to "work" in, but is worth it  It's really quite a nice stock miter gauge...not quite at the aftermarket level, but most sstock gauges are junk.  You will find it has nearly zero lateral slop because of the ball bearings.  Be sure the slots are completely cleaned from cosmoline, and rub some wax in the slot to lubricate.  I backed the ball bearing adjustment screws out quite a ways, then filed the back of the set screw so it wouldn't rub the slot.  This helped quite a bit.  Over time some of the paint starts to scrub off the miter bar, which will ultimately help it slide better also.  A bit of sanding can hasten the process too.   I've heard of others removing one or two of the set bearings, but I'm not sure it's necessary.