Zero Clearance TAPE for table saw

[leehljp]

I was looking at a FastCap youtube on self centering pocket hole screws, and after it ended, the next youtube FastCap (commercial) showed a tape that fits over the blade hole, effectively making a zero clearance tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTr7TPuYGH8&ebc=ANyPxKqu7OOB1W1pVbvHUg6chjtgUyf6TLfqHdS0XiwYXoIFX_XN9_LVMdNpL_RjghIoe8ty80oBhhQosu6mgKb6UfVo4NrFGw

What do you think?

Here is the link to the "self centering" pocket hold screws referenced above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qew1ZGw554

[Bill in Buena Park]

Hank,
An interesting idea. i wonder how thick it is, if you would have to lower your regular TP to accommodate, or if its negligible enough not to not worry about lifting your workpiece during the cut.

[LCHIEN]

zero clearance tape, that sounds like a good idea for one time use, it could be made fairly cheaply. Don't know how much they charge for it but its easier than fiddling with several throat plates if you have blades with different kerfs. And its always the right length if that's a concern. I would imagine its only 3-4 thousandths thick, probably nothing to worry about.

As for self centering pocket hole screws, that's a stretch. Anyone ever have any problem not finding the pilot hole with just a little feeling around?

[JoeyGee]

Self centering pocket hole screws look like a solution in search of a problem.

I've used painter's tape as a quick zctp on my band saw quite a few times and it works ok. I wonder how temporary this tape is supposed to be and how much residue it leaves behind.

[LCHIEN]

Self centering pocket hole screws look like a solution in search of a problem.

...

exactly

[Cochese]

Here's a vid using it on a Kapex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJP-hAVnPQ4

[poolhound]

The tape sounds like a great idea for miter saw. not sure about TS. I also wonder how long it will last. not sure if you can find it cheaper but at $5 for 5 strips its well worth a try out and way easier than making a real ZCTP.

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/FastCap-Zero-Clearance-Tape.aspx

[atgcpaul]

Now why didn't I think of that! I think I'd be catching the board on the leading edge of the tape, though, but in a pinch, I'll try it out.

Crazy that he has that huge sliding table and he still pushed it through against the fence.

[tfischer]

I was actually pondering this very idea the other day... thinking about having zero-clearance plates for odd blade angles where you don't want to make an actual ZCTP.

That's my biggest gripe about the BT3K at this point... that they use such non-standard throat plates that are now unavailable at anything close to a reasonable price.

[capncarl]

My first thought on the zero clearance tape is it won't provide much support for the bottom of the board to prevent tear out.
Capncarl

[All Thumbs]

The tape could be okay for a few cuts provided it is installed forward of any riving knife. Not sure the time savings installing it would justify the amount of time it may take to remove it, though. You can get rolls of PVC tape cheaper than they'd probably sell a few pieces.

[leehljp]

MY 7 to 8 year old ZCTP has a gap of about 1/16 - 3/32 inch on both sides and it shows on some cuts by the chips. In my case, the tape would be great for re-newing my ZCTP.

Is it me, or do other's ZCTP gap clearance seem to grow with age? Mine has.

[mpc]

I've used thick metal foil tape (ductwork tape?) as temporary ZCTP and it's worked fine. A mess to remove though; the tape tears easily. I wrap the tape over the front and rear edges of the BT3 table-top so there is no edge to catch on the workpiece. Mostly I do this when making bevel cuts so I don't have to make yet another ZCTP for whatever bevel angle I'm cutting this time. I have one generic bevel ZCTP... I say "generic" because I've used it for several angles so it's not zero clearance any more. I don't really expect the tape to do much for reducing tear-out; I use it mostly to get zero gap so small pieces being trimmed don't fall into the saw body or drop down and create a kick-back situation.

Hank: My shop-made ZCTPs for the BT3000 do grow little gaps with time. My primary one (for normal non-bevel cuts) probably has about a third of a blade kerf extra gap - on either side of the blade - now after many years. Not sure why. Slight lateral movement each time I re-install it perhaps? Different blade tooth widths - I do use this ZCTP for almost all of my blades. (Mostly Freud rip and crosscut blades with laminate & plywood blades every so often)

My ZCTPs don't fill in the entire throat area either. The stock BT3 throat plate has a thin part at the front of the saw and possibly the back... it's been so long since I looked at a stock one. Those thin parts are what, about 3/4 inches long? I just skip that part. My ZCTPs fill in the rectangular opening (where the stock throat plate is much thicker) and I've tapped the 4 holes in the throat opening to accept the same size screws as the normal throat plate holes. So my ZCTPs are simple rectangles... just gotta plane them to the right thickness. For folks without a good thickness planer, I'd suggest using plywood or whatever stock that's not quite as thick as the distance between the table top surface and those 4 holes. It's easy to make thin shims on the ends of the ZCTP to make up the difference... the whole ZCTP doesn't have to be the same thickness. A thicker plywood piece - thicker than the opening is deep - should work with simple rabbets cut into the ends. Slowly make the rabbets deeper and deeper until the plate is flush with the table top. Then cut a slot for the BT3's riving knife/blade guard support.

mpc