How to tune your HF 12" sliding miter saw #2.
Once you have collected the tools needed to do the adjustments, your area is clean and safe to work in, now it's time to proceed.
In this post, I explain how to set the fence to square. Photos are coming, I am running behind a bit guys...
Step #1. This is most likely the most important step. Unplug the saw from any power source. No power, no problem right?
Step #2. Insure the blade, fence, table etc... and completely free of dust and debris.
Step #3. Insure the bolts, washers, and seating area around bolts and washers securing the fence are clear of dust and debris (vacuum would be helpful here).
Step #4. Remove the hold down clamp, it will get in the way... Set it aside.
Step #5. Lower the head of the saw, and lock it in the lowered position. The table should be set at 0 deg rotation.
Step #6. Select a 13mm socket, ratchet, and extension that will allow your ratchet to clear the fence, on my socket set that is a 2" extension, YMMV depending on your set. One at a time, fully remove each of the 4 bolts, apply thread locker to the bolt threads, and run the bolt back in, but do not tighten it all the way, you want to end up leaving the fence loose enough to move.
Step #7. Once the fence is loose enough to move, with the bolts having thread locker on them. Use the duct tape to pull and hold the blade guard out of the way.
Step #8. Using your engineer's / try square, with one side to the blade, use it to line up the fence to the blade. It helps if you use the fat side of the square against the blade, and held in with a padded clamp to free your hands. Not required, but it DOES help...
Step #9. Once your set to square, carefully snug the bolts up, going right to left, outer right, outer left, inner right, inner left. As you tighten, the fence itself, by the action of the fastener and the ratchet will want to rotate counter clockwise, you need to compensate for that. Once snug, tighten the bolts. I have no torque spec for them, other than to say, sufficiently tight. Don't go gorilla here, but you do want the bolts to stay secure.
Step #10. Remove the square, duct tape etc... so you just have the saw, unlock the head, and plug it in.
Step #11. Make a test cut on some scrap, using your square to verify that you have a perfect 90 degree cut. Repeat as necessary until you have repeatable perfect 90 degree cuts.
Once your saw is cutting 90 degrees dead on, you can check it for 45 by cutting a couple of 45s, then checking them against each other to insure you get a perfect 90.
Coming up...
Adjusting the tilt / bevel of the saw head.
Once you have collected the tools needed to do the adjustments, your area is clean and safe to work in, now it's time to proceed.
In this post, I explain how to set the fence to square. Photos are coming, I am running behind a bit guys...
Step #1. This is most likely the most important step. Unplug the saw from any power source. No power, no problem right?
Step #2. Insure the blade, fence, table etc... and completely free of dust and debris.
Step #3. Insure the bolts, washers, and seating area around bolts and washers securing the fence are clear of dust and debris (vacuum would be helpful here).
Step #4. Remove the hold down clamp, it will get in the way... Set it aside.
Step #5. Lower the head of the saw, and lock it in the lowered position. The table should be set at 0 deg rotation.
Step #6. Select a 13mm socket, ratchet, and extension that will allow your ratchet to clear the fence, on my socket set that is a 2" extension, YMMV depending on your set. One at a time, fully remove each of the 4 bolts, apply thread locker to the bolt threads, and run the bolt back in, but do not tighten it all the way, you want to end up leaving the fence loose enough to move.
Step #7. Once the fence is loose enough to move, with the bolts having thread locker on them. Use the duct tape to pull and hold the blade guard out of the way.
Step #8. Using your engineer's / try square, with one side to the blade, use it to line up the fence to the blade. It helps if you use the fat side of the square against the blade, and held in with a padded clamp to free your hands. Not required, but it DOES help...
Step #9. Once your set to square, carefully snug the bolts up, going right to left, outer right, outer left, inner right, inner left. As you tighten, the fence itself, by the action of the fastener and the ratchet will want to rotate counter clockwise, you need to compensate for that. Once snug, tighten the bolts. I have no torque spec for them, other than to say, sufficiently tight. Don't go gorilla here, but you do want the bolts to stay secure.
Step #10. Remove the square, duct tape etc... so you just have the saw, unlock the head, and plug it in.
Step #11. Make a test cut on some scrap, using your square to verify that you have a perfect 90 degree cut. Repeat as necessary until you have repeatable perfect 90 degree cuts.
Once your saw is cutting 90 degrees dead on, you can check it for 45 by cutting a couple of 45s, then checking them against each other to insure you get a perfect 90.
Coming up...
Adjusting the tilt / bevel of the saw head.
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