So I am building a box frame using box-joints.
I have my Incra 1000SE miter gauge setup with the stop block to cut the side pieces to length, and I’m all done with that.
Time to cut the box joints.
So I swap the blade on the table saw with my new (only used once before) Dado blade, I attach my homemade high fence for making box joints onto the Incra 1000 fence, and I’m ready to start cutting.
If you’ve followed the details up to this point – you might have noticed a problem… I didn’t.
I am always very wary as to where my hands are, and where my fingers are when working with the table saw, and it’s a good thing – the one thing I wasn’t aware of, and didn’t even think about was the fact that my miter gauge fence is setup for minimal distance from my 1/8” saw blade, but I now have a full width dado blade in the arbor…
as I cut through the side of the box and through the auxiliary high fence I feel unusual hot pieces hitting my arm… first thought that came through my head was that there is some burn-in in the wood, and it’s heating the sawdust up… second thought that came through my mind was – “um… holy crap, I just dadoed my miter fence…
good thing this was only a light aluminum fence and not some cast iron that my blade went through or the outcome might have been more significant. as it turns out – I no longer have an Incra 1000SE, but instead am missing some of the metal, and am left with an Incra 998SE – still functional, just slightly cosmetically annoying.
here you can see the first cut the dado made through the 1/4”bolt and into the aluminum fence, and next to it the “should have been” cut after I repositioned the fence to be further from the blade
And here is the patient: :(
This is my miter gauge, there are many like it, but this one is mine…(If you know the movie, you’d understand…lol)
Cheers, and Keep your fingers where you can see them – but also pay attention to everything else that’s going on.
-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...
9 comments so far
lazyfiremaninTN
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461 posts in 480 days
posted 94 days ago
I know the movie and I have not had the “pleasure” of anything of this magnatude, I recently shot a nail, via the table saw, into my right shoulder due to my inattention.
Like the keep your fingers where you can see them.
Stay safe.
-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"
sidestepmcgee
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61 posts in 252 days
posted 94 days ago
since your ok i can laugh, dont worry i have many tools that could only be mine.never can be to safe. thanks
-- eric post, tallahassee FL
Bigbuck
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1020 posts in 190 days
posted 94 days ago
Glad it wasn’t anything worse, I have put some screws in jigs and forgot about them as I ran them throught the saw luckily the results were about the same as yours.
-- Glenn, New Mexico
Lee A. Jesberger
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2891 posts in 507 days
posted 94 days ago
Hi Lev;
You didn’t mention how you like working with the Incra 998SE.
On of the fellows in my show for a while had a tendency to re-size parts that apparently were longer than they were supposed to be.
I’ve cut a few levels in half in my time. (and it’s ALWAYS a new onw).
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Chris
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1259 posts in 518 days
posted 94 days ago
:) I’m glad that I’m not the only one who’s done something like this!
-- Chris
Scott Bryan
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9724 posts in 349 days
posted 94 days ago
Thanks for the post. I have come close to doing this (switching between 45s and 90 degree cuts with my 1000SE. This is a problem that you don’t run into with the stock miter gauges since they are so short. But, since you were not hurt physically, this is one of these woodworking lessons from which both you and those of us who read this will ultimately get some benefit from.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
sIKE
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600 posts in 281 days
posted 94 days ago
Crud that sucks! I wonder if Incra sells replacement parts and even then if it would be worth it.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
PurpLev
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355 posts in 176 days
posted 94 days ago
Lee- working with the 998SE is very similar to working with the 1000SE, they both have the same accuracy, and what’s not.. the only major different I notice is that the 998SE is slightly lighter, and easier to carry around – but nothing too extreme.
Scott – it is true! working with stock miters is less likely to get something like this to happen, but it’s not really the miter gauge that is the issue – it’s the aluminum fence – which does have it’s benefits. it all comes down to paying attention when you’re changing setups. nothing more, nothing less.
sIKE – I actually tried looking for replacement part – just out of curiosity (although the fence works just fine, and doesn’t really call for any replacements) but wasnt able to locate any – you can find a brand new 1000SE for about $125 give of take a little, so Im not sure replacement parts would even be worth it as you mentioned.
-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...
Karson
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13159 posts in 928 days
posted 93 days ago
Incra sells replacement tubes and you can also get them longer.
They had a sale a year ago and I bought 6 – 36” tubes. I ordered 18” and they sent 36” instead. That I’ve used on Drill press etc.
But that off to the correct new length and then buy a 48 inch one as a swap replacement.
Love here on Incra. and click apposite the vase down the page. Optional Acessories.
And here is the page.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com