Page 18 - Australian Wood Review Dec 2021

52
Australian Wood Review
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Calibrating a Sliding Tablesaw
Sliding tablesaws offer a range of cutting capabilities. David Luckensmeyer explains how using a series of alignment checks will reward you with accuracy.
Why a slider?
I made the transition from a cabinet tablesaw to a sliding tablesaw (or ‘slider’) and never looked back. Everything a conventional saw can do – whether contractor, hybrid, or cabinet saw – a slider can do. In fact, many cutting operations are easier, more accurate, and safer on a slider. The only drawbacks are the footprint size and the cost of purchase.
The advice given in this article is general in nature, and I cannot stress enough that sliders are complex machines. Hopefully the calibration process for your machine will consist mostly of alignment verifications. But if you uncover some serious calibration issues, you should involve the technical support representative for your make and model of slider.
Verification tools
Photo 1 shows the tools that I like
to use when verifying the calibration of my sliding tablesaw. You may
be surprised not to see a precision straightedge and feeler gauges. Straightedges are expensive, and the verification methods shared below are easier to employ. The tools discussed may be difficult to source but they are all available online in metric or