I am trying to get my outrigger fence aligned on my sliding tablesaw, and quite frankly, I can say it has been a PITA. For those unfamiliar with what an outrigger is (I was until I started looking at these things), it is the big cross cut assembly that you can cross cut an entire sheet of plywood or other long boards.
First, I tried using a framing square with my dial indicator only to find that my square has a bow in it and is not straight. So, I read the "unofficial Felder survivors guide" and it talks of doing a five sided cut on a board to determine how much you are off. This works, but it doesn't do a lot to help you adjust it. I did get it within 3/64 on a 24" square board, but when you multiply that by 4 for when you are cutting a full 8 foot long board or sheet of plywood on the slider that 3/64 becomes 3/16" and not as accurate as I want it.
My next alternative is to get what they call a "polish square". It is a very thick square (1/4 inch) that is high precision and is 18" by 8". Using it with the dial indicator is also a PITA. I have adjusted the fence back and forth and have gotten it close, but still haven't got it quite right.
So, I have been thinking. Why can't I lay a full sheet of plywood long wise on the slider and get the outrigger square to the slider using the sheet of plywood. I have some cabinet grade ply, and I don't think I have ever had a sheet of ply that wasn't square so shouldn't that work?
First, I tried using a framing square with my dial indicator only to find that my square has a bow in it and is not straight. So, I read the "unofficial Felder survivors guide" and it talks of doing a five sided cut on a board to determine how much you are off. This works, but it doesn't do a lot to help you adjust it. I did get it within 3/64 on a 24" square board, but when you multiply that by 4 for when you are cutting a full 8 foot long board or sheet of plywood on the slider that 3/64 becomes 3/16" and not as accurate as I want it.
My next alternative is to get what they call a "polish square". It is a very thick square (1/4 inch) that is high precision and is 18" by 8". Using it with the dial indicator is also a PITA. I have adjusted the fence back and forth and have gotten it close, but still haven't got it quite right.
So, I have been thinking. Why can't I lay a full sheet of plywood long wise on the slider and get the outrigger square to the slider using the sheet of plywood. I have some cabinet grade ply, and I don't think I have ever had a sheet of ply that wasn't square so shouldn't that work?