Using angle blocks to set table saw angles.
I have a set of the Veritas angle blocks, Item Number 88N82.01 from Lee Valley Tools. The 10 blocks, each 3 inches long, come in a variety of angles so that by combining various blocks one can set any angle from zero to 90 degrees in one degree increments. Veritas claims an accuracy of .0001 inches per inch.lee valley angle blocks I have just tested them by using various blocks to set blade angles on the tablesaw. I have a right tilt blade.
To set blade tilt: I first took the 30-degrees block, set its base on the tablesaw table, with the edge of the block at a right angle to the face of the blade. I then butted the angled corner of the block against the side face of the blade. I began turning the blade tilt handle while keeping the angled base corner flush against the face of the blade.
As the blade tilted farther I could feel a slight push against the angle block so I backed off and came at it again very slowly and carefully. Eventually I could see that the blade was flat against the angled side of the block since no light came through any gap.
I cross-cut a wood sample and marked it. I then did the same procedure with a number of other angle blocks with the same experience. I cross-cut wood samples for each of those as well.
I then repeated the test with eyes blindfolded. Once I felt that blade against the angled edge of the block, I backed off and carefully adjusted the tilt so that I could feel the blade flush against the angle block. I tried using a feeler gauge to see if there was a gap. For the larger angles there was no gap but for the smaller angles often I failed to feel that the blade was flush against the angle block so there was a slight open gap.
After cutting sample pieces, I did check visually to see if I could spot any light between the blade face and the block. In most cases the fit was almost perfectly tight but there were slight openings for each of the narrow angle blocks up to about 10 degrees.
5. I then tested the resulting cut angles on the samples against my Bevel Boss angle measuring device that lets me visually check an angle against a 3 inch by 12 inch marked aluminum piece. southern land tool
And the envelope please.
The results show an extremely close visual match between the actual angle of the cut wood samples and the intended setting leading me to conclude that blind woodworkers can successfully set blade tilt angles using angled measuring blocks. And the angles checked out closely against my Wixey Digital Angle Gauge. The discrepancy I was getting earlier was due to the fact that the 90-degree measurement I was setting up with the Veritas angle block used on the left side of the blade was made using the original equipment metal insert and the insert was slightly concave at that point thus throwing off the measurement. That indicates the extreme importance of having a flat and level tablesaw insert whenever the insert serves as a reference base.
submitted by Larry Martin