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Sawing very narrow strips on a table saw.

Hi, in the current thread "making your own picks" there was some discussion regarding the cutting of thin strips of timber, and some of the concerns some members had.

I don't want to highjack that thread by adding to that topic there, so ill expand on my comments made there in a separate thread.

I mentioned that putting the bulk of the timber being cut between the fence and the saw blade and have the thin piece needed come off the outside of the saw, as shown in my photos here. Comment was made that one could lose the freshly cut strip down between the saw and the slot in the table, if it were not a zero clearance slot, and this is true.

As its a pain to change my insert I do it the way I've pictured here.

I'm using an Incra Jig, I don't know if they are available still, I've had this one since 1991. Pictures should tell the story. It has a measuring devise that is two long plastic strips both with grooves in them that interlock and as moved along give pre set 1mm increments of spacing. Its main use is for cutting reoccurring spaced cuts like finger joints or dovetails, in box sides for instance.

Anyway, for what its worth.........

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on May 27, 2019 at 2:35am

Thanks Taffy.

Every tip on safe use of sharp things is appreciated.

I had my table saw now for over 30 years and have gotten my investment out of it many times. Over the years I built all sorts of jigs and fixtures to get more out of the saw. Some are complex and some are quite simple. When cutting thin strips on the saw I usually use a few layers of common masking tape to close the opening between the blade and insert to zero. Not sophisticated, but it usually last long enough to cut all my strips and keep them from slipping through the insert slot.

I've never seen the incra jig in this country, but it sure looks like a time saver. I'll google around and see if it's available. Thanks for the tip.

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Permalink Reply by François on May 27, 2019 at 4:29am

Any good tip is welcome. Especially when using the table saw.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on May 27, 2019 at 11:38am

Hi, yes Im happy if any one gets something out of my posts.

I have spent the majority of my working life in the disability field working with people experiencing intellectual and behaviour difficulties and worked in a woodwork shop doing this. My goal was to have these folks doing all the tasks involved in preparing and assembling the wood products they made.

Safety was always at the forefront of machine use, so many many different jigs and aids were developed to enable there use indendantly by the opporator.

In 15 years I'm proud of the fact that I had zero accidents in the workshop by workers with a disability. But with staff.....that's another story.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Sweet Crooks on June 3, 2019 at 1:55pm

You seen this one?

GRR-RIPPER from Micro Jig

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037MEJ2I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_t...

It can cut 1/8th x 1/8th (3mm x 3mm) strips no problem.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on June 4, 2019 at 1:05pm

Hi Sweet crooks, thanks for showing that jig, I was not aware of it.

Tom T, it was manufactured in the USA and came with the handbook pictured here. The templates in the book are self adhesive and stick into the Incra jig as needed to give accurate spacings for the joints shown.

I just adapted it for this slicing task as I already had it. Great for box and case making, but I do that rarely nowadays.