Are you maximizing the efficiency of your table saw? If you are similar to a lots of woodworkers, you mainly utilize your table saw for splitting wood and have not attempted to use it as a tool for crosscutting.
It is understandable that even when they come from the manufacturer, high-quality saws do not usually have the capability to make accurate crosscuts. In order to excel in that domain, the majority require a fitment overhaul to a refined miter rule or a miter sled. In this article, we will be examining the steps necessary to correctly execute crosscuts with a table saw, along with the sophisticated crosscutting tools that can help make the process both efficient and precise.
Is a Table Saw the Right Tool for Crosscutting?
Cutting wood can be broken down into three steps: ripping, crosscutting, and re-sawing. Crosscutting is cutting wood to length across the grain. Tearing apart is the term used for slicing lumber into equal widths along its length, while re-sawing is the phrase given to the activity of slicing lumber down to a specific thickness. In woodworking operations and hobbyist shops that are limited in size, the most frequently done activities are cutting parallel to and across the grain. These two processes are very essential.
A table saw would be the best option for cutting wood into strips. A table saw that is set up correctly and has the right tools can quickly and easily cut lumber to the desired width. If the blade is sharp and the fence correctly aligned, you should be able to get a cut that is straight and smoothly finished. Many people don’t consider a table saw to primarily be used for crosscutting. In numerous stores, a radial arm saw or a compound miter saw does the bulk of the work when crosscutting. Although these specialized tools make crosscutting easy, it would be a mistake to underestimate the table saw’s capability for crosscutting and deem it mainly a “ripping machine.”
A table saw is the go-to instrument for crosscutting in a lot of cases, and there are times where it is the exclusive option. When equipped with a precise angle meter and a cross-cutting board, a table saw is the safest and most dependable device to use when working on extremely small components. This is the only device that allows you to cut only a portion of the material, for example making grooves or the individual components of a box joint. A table saw offers a wider range of cutting angles than other tools that are used for crosscutting. Radial arm saws and compound miter saws tend to be able to cut angles of up to 45 degrees on the most part; however, a table saw, with the correct equipment, is able to make any kind of angle from 0 to 90 degrees.
Getting Good Crosscuts on a Table Saw
Oddly, even the best quality table saws typically only come provided with a common T-shaped miter gauge for making crosscuts. This miter gauge consists of a miter bar that fits in the miter slot on the saw and a positionable protractor head. To set up for angle cuts, line up the angle scale on the protractor head with the cursor connected to the bar.
Unfortunately, the T-square miter gauge provided with most power tools is not suitable for making the accurate cuts necessary to produce tight and secure joints, nor is it effective for completing many other common woodworking projects. There are several issues with its design—including a lack of an effective way to set precise angles, inadequate support for the workpiece, and most commonly, an ill-fitting miter bar within the miter slit—that prevent it from being used for the common 45-degree miter cuts necessary for a simple box frame.
The secret to success when performing straight cuts with a table saw is having tools that enable you to quickly and with trustworthiness cut several types and dimensions of materials to precise measurements and with consistent angles. Fortunately, some add-on miter gauges and sleds exist that drastically improve the capabilities and versatility of a table saw for cutting across pieces. Below, we’ll discuss our top selections and their beneficial characteristics that make them a worthwhile investment.
Setting Accurate Angles
One of the greatest difficulties with using a powered saw to make angled cuts is achieving repetitive accuracy. Universal miter gauges such as Kreg and Incra Tools lines of precision miter gauges come with “positive stops” – a mechanism that enables users to quickly and accurately adjust a wide range of angles.
The Kreg Precision Miter Gauge is equipped with pins which permit the setting of precise stop positions, as well as a micro adjustment capability to a resolution of 1/100th of a degree – an accuracy that should meet the expectations of almost any discriminating user.
The Incra miter gauges have a unique structure, as the protractor head is constructed from solid steel and has laser-cut indexing teeth which are at 5-degree intervals. Furthermore, a precision vernier scale enables angle adjustments with more exacting resolution. Configuring both miter gauges can be done quickly and efficiently, so there will be no moments of pause in between cuts.
Fine-Tuning the Miter Gauge to the Miter Slot
Using miter gauges that are equipped with angle positioning stops makes it extremely difficult to make incorrect angle adjustments. Making sure that the angle is exact will not result in an exact cut if the miter gauge bar is not tightly set into the miter slot on the saw. A slight gap between the miter gauge and the miter slot can lead to crosscuts that are not at the prescribed angle and a cut line that is not even. This causes woodworking pieces to not fit together properly and can leave gaps in miter joints and surfaces that are misaligned.
Unlike the ordinary miter gauges, the upgraded high-precision models take into account the exact fit of the miter bar. Examples of Incra miter gauges can be quickly tuned to adjust to the width of any table saw utilizing their patented GuideLOCK system that comes with expansion discs for a smooth adjustment.
Supporting the Workpiece
An issue with the normal miter gauge is that it doesn’t give much backing to the workpiece when it is fed through the saw. When you are making cuts at an angle, it is necessary to ensure that the material you are working on is firmly held against the fence of the miter gauge. Cuts made in opposition to the direction of the blade at an acute angle will likely cause the wood to be directed toward the blade, leading to cuts that deviate from the desired angle.
A fence that you build yourself for your miter gauge can help with the issue, but buying one offered as an aftermarket add-on miter gauge usually yields more positive outcomes. Both Incra and Kreg provide diverse solutions for miter gauges, as well as options to integrate fence systems.
Crosscuts and Miter Cuts
In other words, cross-cutting is when one cuts a piece of wood at a right angle to the direction of the grain.
Crosscuts are employed to trim the end of the material and to “cut boards to size” (which is also a frequent term used for crosscutting).
It’s the second fundamental table saw cut. It employs the miter gauge in place of the rip fence. Or sleds, when you are ready for them.
Verify that your miter gauge is parallel to create angular cuts of 90 degrees. Determine which side of the knife you prefer to stand on when you are making your cuts. Attach the miter gauge to that side.
You will have to secure the material you are using to the miter gauge using whatever step the manual you received describes. You are almost prepared to lead your material across the blade using the miter gauge.
Ensure the accuracy of your chamfer line by pushing the cutting angle adjuster until the material meets the teeth of the blade (the ones that angle towards the direction of the cutting angle adjuster if there are set teeth). This way, you can guarantee that your cut will be precise before you spoil your board.
Bring it back, start the saw, wait until the blade is rotating quickly, and then start to cut.
Use one hand to push down on the miter gauge while using the other to support the end of the piece of wood. Do not thrust the free end of the stock frontward, backward, or toward the edged tool. This just begs for a kickback. The use of your unoccupied hand should be to provide stability and not to put in any extra strength.
Always thrust the stock through the cut and pause until the cutter has ceased moving before changing the stock or gathering any remaining pieces. The additional effort required is minimal, yet the potential for risk is greatly reduced.
Make sure your stock has proper support when dealing with larger sizes. This is similar to the technique of rip cutting. If you are constrained in your choice of extension tables, give priority to which ever side requires it more urgently.
If you handle considerable amounts of stock on a regular basis, think about using multiple backup tables or attachments in order to make it simpler to stabilize both sides of your material. I strongly suggest the utilization of miter gauge extensions and sleds to make crosscuts more convenient and accurate.
If you have to trim several pieces to size, there are a few different ways to go about it.
One of the simplest methods is to get a miter gauge fitted with a stop system included. You can also build a jig that is adjustable as well as equipped with a kerf to direct your sawing. Include a DIY spacer and shortening crosscuts becomes very easy.
Do not rely on the rip fence as a method of determining length when cutting. Without a conveniently crafted spacer, your stock will get held up between the fence and the knife, which will unavoidably cause a kickback. I won’t explain how to construct one as there are many other solutions that are highly efficient and do not increase the chances of any dangers.
Once you are familiar with how to carry out a crosscut properly, switching your miter gauge to create an angled cut is very easy. You must only select and lock in your angle. Once more, I adjust the workpiece against the unmoving saw blade to make sure it is aligned correctly before activating the saw and starting the cut.
When making angled cuts, take it slow with the feed rate to keep the stock from bending or slipping from your grasp. You should have a range of miter gauge add-ons for your diverse jobs, angles, and wood varieties.
Crosscut operations typically entail slicing long pieces of lumber into a bunch of identical-sized slats. Attempt to minimize cutting small pieces off the end of long stock as much as possible. Try to start in the center if you can, so that it is easier to handle the material and your edits will be more precise. Steer clear of any uncomfortable activities using the table saw when possible.
If you are using sheet materials for cutting, you may need to increase the length of your saw table in both directions. Be careful not to make any crosscuts that will force the miter gauge away from the table. If necessary, you can either purchase or make a sled for use instead of the standard measure.
If you want to cut through anything thicker than usual, you will have to use the saw twice. Bring your knife to a little more than half the thickness of the material. Make one pass. Flip the stock over. Take into account the blade arrangement and make a second pass.
If your cutting operations become more nuanced than this, it’s time to progress to the following stage.
Safety First
Oh yeah, safety. Nothing is more important.
Expect heavy doses of safety throughout this post. Safety and cost reductions often go together. But it is appropriate to address this to those who are just starting out, so it is logical.
Ensure that you are familiar with all the necessary precautionary measures. Make sure to take a look at my articles concerning the Basic Principles of Table Saw Safety as well as Critical Table Saw Accessories before attempting to make even a straightforward cut.
It is all about keeping fingers. Seriously.
Getting Better and Looking Ahead
By using this crosscutting guide, you should now have learned about the two most basic cuts using a table saw.
However, tearing apart boards and cutting them in multiple sections is just the start of a woodworker’s path ahead.
There are also resawing bevel cuts and miter cuts. Taking it a step further, one can even perform complex operations such as forming dados and tapering.
If you have had enough practice with rip and cross-cutting, it is a good idea to advance to the Advanced Table Saw Skills Guide. Make sure that your understanding of the basics is used in practice and not just in theory.
It is important to bear in mind that the first step to gaining knowledge is to learn the correct methods. The phrase “practice makes perfect” may have originated with a woodworker. Implementing the knowledge gained in the first step, the physical manifestation of the idea is done in the second step.
Before you jump into learning more complicated matters, take some time and put effort into mastering the fundamentals.
