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Fine adjustment on a table saw

PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 15:34
by RogerS
Waste of money or worth it?

Looking at getting a combi and one of the options is fine adjustment on the table sae rip fence. I'm thinking that it's waste of money as all the stuff I cut on the table saw is finished off on the planer/thicknesser.

A fine adjuster on the spindle moulder...now that's worth having IMO.

Any thoughts ?

Re: Fine adjustment on a table saw

PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 17:26
by Jimmy Mack
For me it depends on the mechanism. The one on my old Wadkin SP30 I used all the time... Though the previous and the current, an SCM had a separate lock screw or lever and then a fine tune screw ...I always found this a hassle and often you run out of adjustment from previous tweaks.

The Wadkin had a cogged knob which toothed off notches to the underside of the rip fence bar. So adjustment was quick and infinite....well up to 1600mm :)

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Re: Fine adjustment on a table saw

PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 18:47
by RogerS
Thanks Jimmy

Your SCM ..is that one of the Minimax varieties? Bit confused about the relationship between the two TBH

Re: Fine adjustment on a table saw

PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 20:03
by Jimmy Mack
The SCM is an 'si' circa 98.... I'm a bit confused myself by the si & minimax labeling, but I think the larger machines were the si or invincible and the smaller minimax.

Looking at some of the new machines they have a rack and pinion (the term I should of used) micro adjust like the Wadkin I mentioned.

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Re: Fine adjustment on a table saw

PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 20:19
by Tusses
My Wadkin AGS 10 has a rack and pinion (which I use all the time) .. but I never considered it a fine adjustment ? I thought that (fine) was for dialing in 10th's of a MM, or there abouts ?

Re: Fine adjustment on a table saw

PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 20:56
by 9fingers
I guess it all depends on your style of working Roger.
I come at woodworking from an engineering background simply using wood as another material so I would go for fine adjustment and readouts whenever possible.
On a well set up saw, I find that there is rarely a need to plane afterwards. YMMV

Bob