Shopsmith Forums

Hi Bob,
I have a set of key way bars from 1/8" thru 3/4". When the height required makes the bars inadequate or clumsy, I use a rather old plastic Incra gauge.
Then, there are times when a piece of 2X4 is all I need. I seldom cut anything thicker than that.
For setting the table when using a dado set, the bars or the Incra gauge prove sufficient.

mbcabinetmaker, a short while ago was discussing this issue in his shop. There were a number of depths that he repeatly required. To speed up (I believe not necessarily increase accuracy) he cut a set of stop blocks for under the table.

I thought it was a neat solution so I made mysef a set also. I believe I have six or seven different stop blocks. I have used some of them a few times and now they just take up space in the cabinet.

Why? Not because they don't work. If one was constantly changing AND time to set up was important, I would use them. Time is not that important.

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Dusty's One Inch Setup Block



I have a Veritas Gauge that was made for this and if I need an accurate depth of cut setting, I use the Veritas. Otherwise, I do what most of us do. Get it close.

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Veritas Setup Gauge at One Inch

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Veritas Setup Gauge

NOTE: If I need an accurate setting - I always do a test cut. Never trust a set up procedure for something that requires precision without a test cut.

Speaking of thru cuts - usually, I don't worry about depth of cut. The exception is sawing thru thin material. Here I will slide the material up to the blade and set the depth so only the teeth are fully above the material. The bottom of the gullets are below the material. This pretty much assures the only "edge shredding" will be on the last thin edge through the saw, not on the bottom of the work.

On non-thru cuts, I use a router type depth guage followed by a test cut (or two).
P.S. The Shopsmith Adjustable Stop Collar helps with non-thru cuts (555937)

Veritas Set-up Blocks.

I use a combination square as shown

anmius wrote:I use a combination square as shown

This method just may be better than using the Veritas Setup Gauge because you have the benefit of some tactile feel.

The Veritas can be a bit clutsey especially if one has some vision impairments.

I use brass set up bars for the table saw and also for the router. Raise the cutter until you can just feel the tip of the cutter above the set up bar.
Also for the plunge router set the bit depth to "zero" by lowering the router until the bit contacts the surface of the work and use the brass bar to adjust the depth stop for the depth of cut. Great for dados and such.
Bill V

I use one of these from Shopsmith.

tryinhard wrote:I use one of these from Shopsmith.

I use the same Shopsmith gauge and then double check with a small tri square. Admittedly I seldom change the setting yet still find measuring twice works better for me. fjimp