Forty-five years ago, I worked in a large shop where I cut out parts for store cases, 50 or so per tablesaw setup. In some instances, we had to mill special orders to slightly different dimensions and then return to the original saw settings. This required tedious machine changeovers, particularly setting and resetting the fence. In my home shop last year, I belatedly came up with an idea that would have been very valuable to me nearly a half-century earlier.

It is a very simple fixture, consisting of two hardwood bars that form an adjustable cross. I sized the bottom bar to fit the tablesaw miter-gauge slot and routed a slot in the top bar. It slides back and forth over a bolt and can be locked in place with a knob. To use the fixture, I push it into the miter-gauge slot, move the upper bar against the rip fence and tighten the knob. It’s a good idea to check fore and aft on the fence to make sure it is parallel to the blade. To reset the fence to the original setting, I just pop the jig into place and slide and lock the rip fence against it.

George S. Graham, Branford, Fla.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1995 No. 113

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