Keeping the rip fence parallel to the blade

bdorf1 · Post by **bdorf1** » Thu May 08, 2008 3:58 pm

This is a really basic question, but I've been having trouble keeping the rip fence parallel to the table saw blade. Each time I move it, it seems to shift away from parallel. Any advice? Thanks!

paul heller · Post by **paul heller** » Thu May 08, 2008 4:09 pm

Do you know what model Shopsmith you have? The answer is a bit different depending on which model.

Do you know if your table is square to the blade? The best way to determine that is if the miter slots are perfectly parallel. If you are not sure, or don't know how to determine this, just ask!

Paul

bdorf1 · Post by **bdorf1** » Thu May 08, 2008 4:18 pm

I have a 510 upgraded to a 520. Although I have checked the miter slots in the last month, they were parallel then. What happens is that when the fence locks down, it shifts.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Thu May 08, 2008 5:19 pm

My guess is the fence is not parallel to its own locks, the 520 fence can be adjusted, this should have been done as part of the upgrade process.

I would help more but I need to leave, I am sure someone else with answer before I return Monday.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Thu May 08, 2008 6:11 pm

bdorf1 wrote:I have a 510 upgraded to a 520. Although I have checked the miter slots in the last month, they were parallel then. What happens is that when the fence locks down, it shifts.

Are you pressing the fence base forward against the rail before locking it? If not, when you lock it the fence will move.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » Thu May 08, 2008 6:29 pm

Hi bdorf1,

Sounds like the fence is just out of adjustment. You really need to check this when doing an upgrade as you have.

The instructions that came with your new fence should show you how to do the adjustment. There are some adjustment screws on the top of the fence that allows you to move it parrallel to the blade.

Just make sure the table is adjusted parrallel to the blade first. Do not trust the miter slots unless this has been checked.

All the procedures for this is in your owners manual. Another good source for info is Rick Davis' DVD on maintenance and alignment. He has a lot of good advice and shows how to do this step-by-step for all the different Mark V models.

brown_hawk · Post by **brown_hawk** » Thu May 08, 2008 7:07 pm

Bruce wrote:Are you pressing the fence base forward against the rail before locking it? If not, when you lock it the fence will move.

Are you checking the fence for parallel after it is locked down?

If you move it, and then set the distance without pressing forward, pushing the lower lever will set the fence to parallel and mess up your measurement. If it is parallel after locking, this is your problem. If it is not parallel, you will need to adjust the fence.

Hawk

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu May 08, 2008 7:15 pm

bdorf1,

I have a piece of 1x2 about 30" long that I have milled to fit firmly into the miter slots. It is clearly marked as an alignment tool and I keep it handy just for situations like this.

With the "tool" installed in the miter track, I slide the rip fence up against the "tool" until it just barely touches. I expect that the fence will touch the "tool" evenly from end to end. If it does not, it will be clearly visible.

With the fence up against the "tool", I lock the lower handle, I do not expect the fence to move. It should remain against the "tool" from end to end. As stated previously, press the rip fence firmly against the rail to square it before locking the lower lock handle.

The lower lock handle is designed to square the fence with the rail when locked but I don't depend upon that.

The four screws on the top of the fence can be loosened and the fence squared - if it is not. Then retighten the four screws and repeat.

NOTE: All of this pre-supposes that the table has been properly aligned per the procedures that other have referred to.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri May 09, 2008 2:20 am

bdorf1 wrote:This is a really basic question, but I've been having trouble keeping the rip fence parallel to the table saw blade. Each time I move it, it seems to shift away from parallel. Any advice? Thanks!

Yours may not be such a basic question after all. Since you have a 510, upgraded to a 520, There is a solution for your problem that has not yet been addressed. There is a possibility that the 520 rails got warped (think that's the right word) a little bit during assembly. Nick posted the solution to this previously. I'll look for that post, but I'll bet there are a couple of guys that remember it and can find it faster than me. Someone was having this problem and persisted in writing about it until he got a solution.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri May 09, 2008 6:00 am

Both of these deal with issues that could be related to your situation.

Hope these help.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=131

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=539

Shopsmith Forums

Keeping the rip fence parallel to the blade

Keeping the rip fence parallel to the blade

Miter Slots and Table Bosses