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A few weeks ago I built this Table Saw Rip fence. I'll put a link over here. Also, in
the description, if you haven't seen that yet. you can go check that out. One of the
questions I get asked is how do I make sure that it is aligned with the blade. Now on
a standard table saw blade the kerf is an 1/8 of an inch. The teeth alternate, one sets
to the right and one set to the left. So in this scenario I have my table saw rip fence
to the right of the blade, and I want a cut that is 5/8 of an inch. So I would take a
tooth that is off set to the right and measure 5/8 of an inch...set my rip fence. But I would
take note of the measurement back here at the miter slot which is 6 and 1/8th. I would
then take that measurement and move it to the front then do the same for the back. When
all three measurements match, I know that my rip fence is aligned with the blade. No
that is how I have been setting my rip fence for years, but as we all know, their is a
jig for everything. I have a threaded insert, a thumb screw, a couple of misc. screws. I
have some scrape wood, this used to be a 2x4 that I have cut down to these 3/4 inch thick
furring strips. And this is a .98 cent wooden yard stick that I found in the paint section
at my local home improvement store. First I'll start with a rip cut. Second, I'll realize
I didn't want to do that. Third, cut it down to size and have it dawn on you that it would
have been better had I not done this step either. Forth, accept that it's just going
to be that kind of day. It would have been more intuitive, had I just cut the daddo first.
But, sometimes that is just the way it goes and you work around it. Usually with a clamp.
A little fine tuning. Now its time to have an argument with this threaded insert. The
yard stick will slide between the two pieces and I can set it to whatever length I want
by tightening the thumb screw. Now, I know on my set up, my blade is 5 and 1/2 inches
from the miter slot. So if I want a rip cut that is, say 1 inch. I'll set my gauge at 6 and 1/2 inches.
As you can see the rip fence gets close on its own, only a minor adjustment at the end.
Home made rip fence, home made fence alignment jig.
Sort of like ice cream and apple pie. Only, you don't have to stick one of them in the microwave.