dusty wrote:I believe you are saying that the tubes on the extension tables have a different ID than do the tubes on the main table. That may well be true but I do not believe that is either the cause or the solution to your problem.
Your tables, at least in these photos, appear to be aligned to one another.
It's possible that my wording is overly vague -- as a non-expert I'm trying hard to only present the problem, and not draw any amateur conclusions of my own.
Yes, the tables seem perfectly aligned in the horizontal plane (x and y axes), which is great! In the ceiling-to-floor direction (z plane), the floating tables sit 2mm lower, which is too far off for these to be useful. This is true with the knurled knobs tight or loose - same offset either way -- only difference is that with the knobs loose, I can "jiggle" the extension bar within the main table tube.
NOT A CONCLUSION: it seems like the amount of "jiggle" is approximately the same as the table offset distance (2mm).
dusty wrote:
If you have an alignment problem, caused by mixing and matching vintage 510 tables, I believe the only solution (short of eliminating the vintage differences) would be to drill the holes in the extension tables larger so that there is some alignment capability.
But not yet.
Ooof... not yet indeed. I may bow out of the race when it comes to metalwork. Not sure why -- I can scrape away at ebony and cocobolo all day but even a drill bit into soft aluminum makes me feel like I should be "asking an expert" for help.
dusty wrote:
I need to better understand your problem. In the photos, it appears that the outer surfaces of the various tubes are not all aligned with one another. Is this the alignment issue that you are having OR do you have difficulties keeping the rip fence aligned (parallel to) to the blade depending on where the fence is located (main table or extension table).
One more comment. The only spacers that are normally used between the tables and the rails are the contoured ones. There should be no need to use flat washers there. IOn a couple of your photos there appears to be a washer.
Good question, I have not even tried putting the fence on the new tables. I have no reason to assume it won't work, but I'll try and take pics as soon as I can.
Correct that BOTH the outer surfaces of the tubes AND the table tops are offset by a small amount. The extension tube slides into both just fine, it's just looser in the main table. In the pics, if I grab the floating table and jiggle, it can move up and down a little bit (thumbscrews loose). Floating tables have a more "snug" fit on the extension tube.
I'll check on the washer question, but I don't think there's anything but the funny-shaped contoured washers -- flat and star-shaped are only used on the inside of each table attachment (I'll double check tonight, but it doesn't seem like that would cause a vertical shift)
dusty wrote:He gave up the battle and bought new tables.
I'd obviously love to avoid that at all costs.
One more note: I do NOT have a proper "extension table," meaning one with downward mounting tubes. My main table is 510, but my extension table with downward tubes is still 500 style. I'm NOT trying to use it or anything, so this should be an unrelated note, but just calling it out for the "full story," in case it's relevant somehow.
Thanks again!
