Micro-Adjust Feature
Reality Check
Before taking the time to set the micro-adjust, do a reality check to
see if the 1/100 deg. will really show. 1/100 deg. is a very fine adjust-
ment and is seldom necessary on most woodworking projects. 1/100
deg. is only a 0.001” gap over a 5.7” length of cut.
Example #1:
7 Sided Jewelry Box
The angle you need for a seven sided box is 25.71 deg. The sides of
the box are 1/2” thick. Micro-Adjusting for the 1/100 deg. would
eliminate a gap of less than 1/10,000.” Forget it, a gap that small is
meaningless. Just set your miter gauge to 25.7 deg. and go to work
confident you will have a gap free project.
Example #2:
21 Sided Top for 7 Sided Jewelry Box
Now let’s assume you are going to put a very fancy top on the 7 sided
jewelry box. You are using 3 different woods on each side to create a
burst of color, which creates 21 segments.
The angle you need for 21 segments is 8.57 deg. Each segment is 12”
wide. Micro-adjusting the 7/100 deg. will eliminate a gap of 0.015” on
each joint. This calculation assumes each joint will have an equal gap.
In real life, the gaps will be much larger. When you clamp the seg-
ments together, the clamps will usually push two sides tightly togeth-
er, leaving twice the gap on the next joint. That is a gap of .0.29”. You
can put six sheets of paper into a gap that large. Six sheets of paper is
a gap that will definitely show.
Many woodworkers will try to fill gaps like this with glue or putty. But
if you can build pieces that fit together tightly, people will definitely
notice the difference!
Summary
Take the time to set the micro-adjust on wide boards, especially if you
need to add 3/100 deg. or more. Don’t bother on thin pieces or if you
only need to add 1/100 deg.
How the Micro-Adjust Works
The micro-adjust mechanism works by changing the spacing between
the fence and the miter gauge. For every 0.001” of space you add,
you increase the angle 1/100 deg. You add the space by turning a
nylon screw that pushes the fence away from the miter gauge.
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