Subject: fence on left side??

From: "John W. Shear" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 08:57:07 -0600

Having been a long time RAS user, I am considering the purchase of a
Delta CS with either Bismeyer or Unifence.  One disadvantage of
the Unifence appears to be that it's more cumbersone to move it to the
left of the blade.
Having so little experience with a table saw, I would like someone to
explain what situation would require having the fence to the left of
the blade.  Seems to me everything could be done with it on the right
side, but that probably shows my lack of TS experience.
-- 
John Shear		Cray Research, A Silicon Graphics Company
[email-masked]		Chippewa Falls, WI

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From: Paul Celley <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 10:31:22 -0600

John,

It doesn't take much effort at all to move the Unifence to the left of
the blade. Lower the blade, slide the fence over, losen two large wing
screws, slide the fence out turn it around and mount on the other side
of the glide. 

Paul 

-- 
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

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From: [email-masked] (remove the _ before and after the @ to De-spam) (Keith)
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 16:39:15 GMT

John,

The main reason one would want to be able to use the left side of the table on a
CS is when the blade only tilts 45 degree's to the right, putting you at a
disadvantage when you have an angle to cut opposite (which requires left side
usage).  One of the other examples is when you want to attempt to make Raised
panel cuts, you have to be able to put the fence on the left side of the blade,
running the stock panel vertically (and praying the whole time) between the
fence and blade.

Other than that, there really is no reason to have a fence on the left side.

Sincerely,

Keith

Keith Hill, Project Manager, Forbes & Company
1002 Investment Blvd., Apex, NC. 27502-1954
(919)362-4277/387-7997(Fax)/303-0240(alt-Fax)
 
keithhill @ mindspring.com
www.mindspring.com/~keithhill/

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From: "John W. Shear" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 11:09:28 -0600

remove the _ before and after the @ to De-spam Keith wrote:
> usage).
> ...

Ah, I didn't think of that!  Thanks Keith!

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From: "Kent K. Fitzgerald" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 11:55:57 -0500

> side, but that probably shows my lack of TS experience.

When making a beveled rip cut, it's usually considered preferable to have
the blade tilted away from the fence, to avoid trapping the workpiece
between the blade and fence. On saws that tilt the blade to the right
(Delta, General, and most clones), this means moving the fence to the left
of the blade. Powermatic and Sears tilt the blade to the left. Jet swings
both ways, so to speak, depending on model. 

Kent
______________________________________________
Kent Fitzgerald           [email-masked]

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From: Michael Peele <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 14:49:23 -0500

> side, but that probably shows my lack of TS experience.

When making raised panels or preparing squares for turning I remove 
most of the material with fence on the left and the blade tilted.

Michael Peele

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From: [email-masked] (John Paquay)
Date: 11 Feb 1997 21:57:13 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] says...
>side, but that probably shows my lack of TS experience.

I think practically the only time I have the fence on the left is when
cutting miters and hopper joints.  It's much safer to have the board
above the blade, as it is when the fence is to the left, than the alternative.
Of course, that assumes that your arbor tilts clockwise, which most, but
not quite all, do.

-- 
John Paquay
[email-masked],  [email-masked]
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~jep/
-----------------------
Without my wings you know I'd surely die...

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From: Colin Montoya-Lewis <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 18:55:42 -0700

John Paquay wrote:

> cutting miters and hopper joints.  

Ok, I gotta ask:  What's a "hopper" joint?
-Colin

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From: Ken Stovesand <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 06:45:20 -0500

> Ok, I gotta ask:  What's a "hopper" joint?

Compound Miter

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From: [email-masked] (John Paquay)
Date: 12 Feb 1997 16:39:11 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] says...
>Ok, I gotta ask:  What's a "hopper" joint?

A  hopper joint is basically just a miter joint, but it's a compound
miter.
-- 
John Paquay
[email-masked],  [email-masked]
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~jep/
-----------------------
Without my wings you know I'd surely die...

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From: "Gary Stearns" <[email-masked]>
Date: 12 Feb 1997 20:03:04 GMT

Just moved the fence to the left last night.  Was making raised panels.
Attached a 12" auxillary fence, set the blade at a slide angle, and had
nice raised panels on the table saw.  Of course it depends on which way
your blade tilts.  Most tilt to the right (hence fence on left for panel
raising).  Powermatic 66 tilts to left so fence stays on right.

-- 
Gary Stearns
[email-masked]

John W. Shear <[email-masked]> wrote in article
<[email-masked]>...

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 02:41:47 GMT

>side, but that probably shows my lack of TS experience.

I have an old  "National' table saw which during it's last move, fell
off the truck, literally, and bent the table.  I fabricated a new,
screwed-on heavier table out of some sixteenth inch flat steel and
only made one mitre slot, on the left side of the blade.  As the saw
is really not that great at tilting the arbour, I am suffering with it
in the vertical-only position until I finally replace it with a new
one.  (I've been following this NG with great interest in CAD programs
and "What tablesaw should I buy??"  I have some suggestions on CAD
which I'll hold off on for another day.

My question, which I'll throw out to all you experiences woodwackers,
is "What is the 'proper' way to stand behind the board to run it past
the blade?"  Assume 3/4 inch by six inch spruce fence boards, or
trying to rip 3/4 inch thick plywood.

I have found the left slot allows me to stand behind the fence, rather
than behind the board, in case of a kickback.  I  am right handed, and
use my push stick(s) and feeding with my right hand while holding the
board against the fence with my left, i.e., pulling it into the fence
rather than pushing it into the fence if I had the fence on the right
side.

Since I type for a living, (was a programmer, now write technical
proposals) I'd like to keep my fingers intact, particularly for when I
buy a better machine.  Is there anything inherently wrong with this
technique?  Please, your thoughts are most welcome.

Given the recent messages on Netiquette, I would most appreciate
personal email as well as a posting, to  [email-masked]

Best regards.