Are you frustrated with your table saw because it does not give you the desired results and does not make straight cuts? You might be thinking of flipping that cheap saw and buying a new one. If your wallet allows it, go for a new one. However, if you are like me and cannot afford a new saw with heavy machinery, you might be interested in learning how to make a cheap table saw better. Let’s improve a cheap table saw together.
How to make a cheap table saw better 6 Main Techniques
Improving a cheap table saw can be a great way to enhance your woodworking abilities and produce high-quality results. There are several simple and cost-effective ways to upgrade your saw, such as replacing the blade, adding a fence, or installing a zero-clearance insert. These improvements can make a huge difference in the precision and accuracy of your cuts. With a little bit of time and effort, you can transform your cheap table saw into a reliable and efficient tool that will take your woodworking projects to the next level.
How to make a cheap table saw better here I have touched on some main techniques that you can use to improve your cheap table saw.
- Extend the Outfeed Table
- Remake the fence
- Rebuild the riving knife
- Add dust collector
- Clean the tabletop
- Ensure an accurate blade.
Extend the Outfeed table
Build an outfeed table according to the size of your table. That will help you control the wood to be cut, it will not fall off after ripping. That will also add some weight to the table and limit the vibrations while operating.
You can also make a moveable outfeed table by adding wheels to it.
Remake the fence
To have better results from your table saw, make sure to have an adjustable fence. Do not fret! It is so easy to operate an adjustable fence.
There are fence extensions available in the market, you also can shop for them as well.
Rebuild the riving knife
Build a strong and extendible riving knife holder for your table saw. Take a metal sheet (a bit thinner than your blade), use your old riving knife as a template and create a new one.
Personally, I recommend a smaller riving knife to keep an eye on the blade.
Clean the tabletop
Always remember to clean your table saw top at least once or twice a month. If sawdust or pitch is allowed to settle on the tabletop, it will make an annoying layer on the tabletop and will bother you while operating your table saw.
Clean the tabletop with any brush and also apply dry coating lubricants. These are easily available in the market.
Lubricate your table saw engine
In order to avoid wear and tear from moving parts of your table saw, Always remember to clean the dust off and lubricate them. A variety of dry lubricants are available on the market.
Ensure the right blade
A clean and properly adjusted blade is necessary to make accurate cuts and to protect your wood from burn marks. Remove pitch from the blade.
We have extensively written about “table saw Maintenance checklist”, “how to sharpen your table saw blade” and “how to clean table saw blade”. Go read them. Many of you asked about the effective way to remove pitch from the table saw blade. Here I will guide you on how to remove pitch from the table saw blade.
- Unplug the table saw
- Remove the blade
- Clean the dust with a towel
- Put it in a tub
- Pour pitch cleaner
- Rub it with a brush or sponge
- Clean each carbide tooth and in between the teeth
- After cleaning, dry the blade with a towel
- Srey dry lubricant.
- And reinstall the blade.
We hope you find this post helpful. Share your thoughts about this post and let me know if I miss any step towerds improving a cheap table saw. Comment down in the comment section. And feel free to ask any query. We would love to answer them.
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