Shopsmith Forums

Just bought the SS miter guage pictured below. I have never used a table saw for cross cuts so this is new to me. My question: What is the circular piece "washer" on the base of the miter guage bar for? It would seem to have to be removed before I can use it since it will not fit into the slot on my model 500 table. Is this for the later model tables and therefore must be removed for mine. (As I am typing this, this would seem to be the case.) Is the other threaded hole to put this "washer" in a new location for use on later model tables?

You slide the miter gage into the slot from the edge. That washer keeps the miter gage from pulling up if there is a kickback from the blade. The other threaded hold it for a screw that makes the miter gage fit better in the slot. You tighten it and it removes play side to side in the slot.

Please excuse the very basic questions: Why wouldn't you want the miter guage to move? I thought it's only purpose was to push lumber through for different angled cross cuts. Is the miter guage used in the fixed position when performing a different operation, like disc sanding the end of boards?

a few pictures ----------a 500 table with no groove. 505,510,520 has slot . picture is of a 510 table.

cast iron bandsaw table,[ATTACH]18608[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]18609[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]18610[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]18611[/ATTACH] and belt sander table do not have grooves either,

Has anyone machined in a groove on a 500 table?

marcp1956 wrote:Has anyone machined in a groove on a 500 table?

Methinks there is not enough material there to do so.

I would not!

As a '500' user(Goldie) I find the washer a PITA when using a 510. I am used to just dropping the bar into the slot from above rather than 'inserting' from the front.

The 500 etc. uses a front table extension. The later models use the washer.

It has been suggested to put flats on the washer so it can be rotated to either catch the t slot, or drop into the 'plain' slots.

marcp1956 wrote:Please excuse the very basic questions: Why wouldn't you want the miter guage to move?

If there is play, i.e. the bar can move sideways in the miter slot, you may find that you angle gets off a degree or two from what you were attempting. Could be an issue in you were looking to make a picture frame where you are looking for perfect 45 degree angle cuts. You want the bar to slide easily forward and backwards, just not side to side.

Image each corner being made of two 45 degree cuts put together make a 90 corner. Now if you bar slipped a little you theoretically may end may end up doing all your cuts the the frame corners might now meet up.

marcp1956 wrote:Please excuse the very basic questions: Why wouldn't you want the miter guage to move? I thought it's only purpose was to push lumber through for different angled cross cuts. Is the miter guage used in the fixed position when performing a different operation, like disc sanding the end of boards?

I use the miter gauge for positioning stock in the drill press mode, I use it on the belt sander table for positioning stock, I use it on the band saw table (as a fence), and it even works when I use the shaper function. In fact, I use it there much more than I do on the table saw because I have a sled and an Osborne miter gauge.