Zero clearance inserts?

brick1 · Post by **brick1** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:49 pm

Hi all, Has anyone made their own zero clearance inserts for the table saw setup?? I found a set of plans on the American woodworker website and looks good....??? Careful measurements are required.....

take care, bill

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:56 pm

You can do some reading here.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=2548

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:41 pm

brick1 wrote:Hi all, Has anyone made their own zero clearance inserts for the table saw setup?? I found a set of plans on the American woodworker website and looks good....??? Careful measurements are required.....

take care, bill

ZCI were one of my projects. I have a pretty good supply now. You can use the search function and spend the day reading about ZCI.

brick1 · Post by **brick1** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:56 am

I really appriciate the help.......I'm in the process of making some now. I'll make several as i have three type of blades and will mark them for each blade. I read some of the other links and can add that the OEM inserts do sit
.020 lower than the table. the flush measurement is .270 in. I might get my tool and die expert son over to make sure dad dont scrap bunch of firewood!!! haha

thanks, bill

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:14 am

brick1 wrote:I really appriciate the help.......I'm in the process of making some now. I'll make several as i have three type of blades and will mark them for each blade. I read some of the other links and can add that the OEM inserts do sit
.020 lower than the table. the flush measurement is .270 in. I might get my tool and die expert son over to make sure dad dont scrap bunch of firewood!!! haha

thanks, bill

I made one and decided that it fit well so I used it as a pattern and made a bunch more. When I started using them I realized that they sat lower than the table surface. Too much lower than one can just ignore.

I now use a black duct tape made by Gorilla as a spacer. It works great and is the right thickness to correct my mistake. It also works well with 1/4" hard board.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:18 am

After you have cut your ZCI, flip it over and try to install it. If it installs without binding the blade, your blade is 1) parallel to the table cutout which I believe is parallel to the miter slots and 2) centered in the cutout which is the way I believe Shopsmith meant for it to be.

This is sort of a quick check of table alignment.

ss50th · Post by **ss50th** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:08 pm

I saw a tip recently. Naturally, can't remember where and haven't tried it yet. But, to get it level with the table put a dab of hot glue on the 1/4" insert where it will contact the metal supports underneath and while it is still hot press the insert down using a square to make it level with the table. After the glue cools somewhat remove it. Don't remember if you're supposed to coat the metal with something or not to keep the glue from adhering to it.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:08 pm

Brick
I make my own ZCI's using 1/4" plywood and the slot is cut by raising the blade through the insert. The slot is extended using the router table and a
1/4" bit as seen in the photo. This permits the use of the riving knife and upper saw guide.

Bill V

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:16 pm

OK photo did not load the first time sp here I go again.
[ATTACH]18035[/ATTACH]

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:29 pm

wa2crk wrote:OK photo did not load the first time sp here I go again.
[ATTACH]18035[/ATTACH]

Here is a discussion on ZCI construction. I made a sled to cut the kerf including that needed for the riving knife.

I use the same sled, in the drill press mode to drill the holes for the mounting screws. After doing one, the rest are identical.