TS Miter Gauge Question

May 31, 2016 39 Replies

I have a new table saw and the miter slots are T shaped. The new miter gau ge has a keeper on the end so you can?t seat the gauge in the slot unless that end of the gauge bar is off the table.



I can see the advantage of this (slightly) since my new saw has the blade c loser to the front of the table and the miter gauge has to be pulled way ba ck for cross cutting wide stock. In this case, the keeper keeps the far en d of the gauge from rotating up as you start the cut.



Still, I (currently) find it annoying to have to move the miter gauge end o ff the table end to lift it off or set it in the groove. Different than ho w I?ve done business for a very long time.



So, I am asking the group how you all feel about the keepers on these miter gauges. Please let me know more of the pros and cons.



Thanks,



Bill Leonhardt


Strictly personal preference and while it can be annoying at times it prevents the miter gauge from tipping and falling off the front of the saw. This is especially helpful when cross cutting a wide board and you have to grab some where else, other than the miter gauge, while positioning for the cut. Basically you don't really appreciate it until you realize the keeper has kept the miter gauge from falling to the floor. If you never cross cut wider than the area between the front of the blade and the front of the saw you may never appreciate this feature.

I removed mine, but keep it around just in case I need it for a long piece. But then I generally use my panel cut off

only advantage i know of

well it can be good too if you use a cross cut sled for the same reasons but more so

but do what you are used to doing

auge has a keeper on the end so you can?t seat the gauge in the slo t unless that end of the gauge bar is off the table.....

If you are anything like me you will remove it, store it in an extra save and secret place to never ever be seen by you again. ;~)

keeper and put it back when I see the need.

r gauge has a keeper on the end so you can?t seat the gauge in the slot unless that end of the gauge bar is off the table.....

...and if you're like me, you'll spend at least a half hour weighing the pros and cons of various safe and secret places before deciding on the perfect spot, the one that makes the most sense for that particular item, ensuring that you won't forget where you put it.

Then, and only then, will it never ever be seen by you again.

On 05/31/2016 8:43 AM, Bill Leonhardt wrote: ...

Having a PM Model 66, it's how things are intended to be! :)

I've used it that way for so long it's completely automagic to move it to the rear to remove when wanting to do so.

Personally, I find the extra stability _far_ outweighs the possible inconvenience (and, as noted, after 30 yr or so, you don't even think of it as inconvenient; it's only until you're trained (properly I might add :) ) it seems so.

Not that I have an opinion or anything... !:)

I am so guilty on that. Irritating, all those "special obvious spots"

DerbyDad03 wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

The great thing is, whenever I do that I find all sorts of useful stuff which was carefully set aside years ago and immediately forgotten. It's almost like Christmas!

(of course, I then move the useful stuff to new places and forget about them again).

John

Of course, at the time that you find that long lost item, you don't need it. Then when you *do* need it, well, you know the rest...

Or you look at it and think, "What the hell is this, and how did it get here?".

Or you find that long lost key item just after you buy its replacement.

I had a friend who remodeled his kitchen. Somehow in the process, he lost is framing square. He lived there another three or four years and never did find it.

Probably will be found with the next remodel of that kitchen.

[snip]

Yep, right beneath one of the base cabinets. I'd bet money on it.;)

I lost a framing square once and a while later noticed a bump in the vinyl-no-wax floor shaped exactly like a framing square.

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