For five years I have looked unsuccessfully for a 10-in. table saw with a “rolling table” facility for crosscuts and miters. The one I’m familiar with is a big, old Oliver. The new Rockwell and Powermatic sliding table attachments are similar in concept and are fine if you have $2,000 to spend on the saw and rig. They take up room on the left of the saw and are really designed for the large stock requirements of a cabinet shop. There are plywood jigs that sit atop the saw and serve the purpose, but I’ve found them to be inaccurate. My solution is simple, inexpensive and as effective as the expensive attachments if you are not cutting whole sheets of plywood.

Simply take your miter gauge apart and insert a piece of Formica between the miter-gauge bar and the protractor fence. Cut the Formica the same size as the left half of the table and fasten the smooth side down. When using the fixture you can press down on the piece of wood being crosscut without causing the wood to bind as it slides on the table. The Formica spreads the pressure over a wider area. The addition of a backboard faced with abrasive paper practically eliminates creep.

Michael J. Hanley, Cedarburg, Wis.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1981 No. 29

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Hedgehog featherboards

The Hedgehog's unique spiral shape and single knob make it easy to set up and fast to adjust.

Buy at Amazon

Starrett 12-in. combination square

This accurate, robust, well-machined, easy-to-read combo square is as great as ever.

Buy at Amazon

Compass

An essential tool for drawing circles and curves accurately. Also good for layout.

Buy at Amazon