This month I’d like to take a few minutes to talk
about something other than tools. That’s right…the tool guru
does talk about other things from time to time. But do not fret. I am
not straying too far away. This month I’d like to address some of the
many accessories that you can purchase for use on your tablesaw that
will help to make it outrageously versatile, safer to use and afford
you the opportunity to get really creative with your projects.Let’s start with one of the most popular accessories, the
miter gauge. Many saws on the market will include the miter gauge
as standard equipment, but for those that don’t, or if you need to
replace an existing miter gauge, there are a few to choose from. The
standard miter gauge will fit in the miter slot of your saw and allow
you to set it at different angles to make angled cuts by pushing your
material through the blade with the assistance of the gauge. A great
alternative is a model made by Woodstock International that not only
serves as a miter gauge, but also as a great safety devise. It has a
D-handle that you grab and depress, and when depressed, it lowers a
bar that locks the material tightly against the miter gauge and allows
you to push the material through the blade while keeping your hand and
fingers out of harms way. Another option is the Incra
Miter Gauge that will provide you with the most precise cuts
available. The standard miter gauges allow you to lock down at an
approximate angle where the Incra will lock down precisely each and
every time. It has detents at every degree that insure its accuracy.
It also has extensions that assist when you are cutting longer stock.
The downside is the higher price tag, but everyone who owns an Incra
jig will attest to it being one of the best investments they have
made.
Next we will go to the tenoning jig. The long and short of
this device is that you secure the material in the jig and push it
through the blade to make perfect tenons each & every time. Most
major saw manufacturers make this jig, including Delta,
and Powermatic, with most priced under .
Safety equipment is essential for use with a tablesaw. Lets
start with assistance in pushing the material through the blade, if
not using a miter gauge as described earlier. Depending upon the size
of the material, you can use a featherboard that fits into the miter
gauge and keeps the material flush against the fence as you are
pushing it through the blade, or you can go to a push stick or a push
block. The push blocks are preferable and come in different sizes,
again depending upon the size of material you are working with. The
bottom line here is that your fingers are priceless, and as careful as
you are, accidents do happen. We should all do what we can to avoid a
bad situation.
Safety does not end with the fingers. Protective eyewear is
essential as well as hearing protection for the ears, and don’t
forget your dust mask or respirator for your lungs. Most people take
safety for granted until it’s too late. Let’s avoid this happening
to you.
Another great and handy tool is a taper
jig. It will allow you to make taper cuts on any tablesaw. It
is 24" long with a graduated scale for 15 degrees or 3" per
foot of taper. It is made for either right or left hand use, and the
grooved outer edges allows for adjustment of stop for shorter pieces.
How do you accurately and quickly set the correct depth of your
blade when you cannot simply eyeball it by setting your material
next to it and cranking it higher or lower to the desired height? You
can use a saw blade depth gauge that is simply a stepped piece of
metal that is marked off in increments that will allow you to crank it
to the correct height at which point the blade will touch the metal
and you will be at the correct cutting height. It only cost a few
bucks and will save you lots of setup time.
These are a few of the many neat devices available for your use
that you will find quite useful in making your tablesaw and the hobby
as a whole more enjoyable. If you have questions or comments, please
feel free to e-mail me at
