What’s the left side of my table saw for
LloydBowman
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
This is such a newbie question in spite of the fact I’ve been woodworking for about three years … What in the heck is the left side of my table saw for, more particularly, what is the left side of my fence for? I don’t understand why my fence doesn’t basically stop at zero on the right hand side. What is the point of the left-hand side?
I feel like there must be something useful about this side of the saw an my fence I’m missing out on.
In case anyone is unsure what I’m talking about, I’ve attached a photo.
Replies
Lloyd,
Evidently you havn't cut full sheets of plywood or any sheet goods with size for that matter because if you did you'd come to appreciate all the size that you have on your table saws surface also there's times that you need to use your miter gauge or rip fence on the opposite side of the blade than what you usually do for certain joints such as box joints then like I said you'll come to appreciate all the surface your saw has to offer you might come to relies a little more surface would be better,
Sincerely,
Jim at Clark Customs
That is where you set the coffee cup while you change the chain on the chainsaw, of course...
NOT!
anything wide needs that space, like plywood or a sliding table, cross cutting whatever you might fit against that mitre gauge that fits that slot there....
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Dear Lloyd,
That's the anvil.........
Best,
John
Everyone needs a place to stick their old chewing gum...
Lloyd,
There are times when you're gonna have to move the coffee cup, and your measuring tape, and the box of screws, and the stereo remote and all the other assorted stuff that collects on the left side of the saw... because you will have to run the stock on the left side of the blade and against the right side of the fence.
Primarily this happens with bevel cuts... as when you are knocking a chamfer off of the stock... or when a bevel cut doesn't run the full length of the stock.
Not so often, but it'll happen. Was that clear as mud?
-Dakotan
Quite a few of us use our miter gauge on the left. Sleds and other jigs often mount in both miter ways and some may cover or be larger than the saw table. Regardless of which way the blade tilts, there are times when you use the fence on the opposite side of the blade. This happens most often when cutting complimentary angles beyond the tilt capacity. Besides supporting your work, the left gets used for clamping featherboards or attaching power feeders. The table saw top is one of the largest flat surfaces in the shop. When gluing up chairs or small tables, it makes a great reference for keeping the legs even.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Lloyd,
The left hand side is the place where the sliding crosscut table and fence go, on a proper saw like them as is made in Europe. :-)
Presumaby your fence is able to have its face dismounted then remounted on the other side of the fence main arm, so that the cursor reads form the scale on the left when the fence is then used on the left.....? Certainly that's what mine (a European) does.
Lataxe
The lens over the rule on the fence rail is supposed to be directly over the zero- if it's not, you need to move the rail so it is. What do you use your saw for? Even if you're ripping, the left side is there for support. I'm not left-handed so I never use the fence on the left side of the blade, either.
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