Accessory suggestions for first table saw

For my Rigid 4512 I purchased a Freud D10-50x thin kerf blade and a Freud D10-80x cross cut blade and I’m happy with both.For a dado blade I purchased the Delta 7670 which produces pretty good flat bottoms and comes in a nice case.Then I added ZCI’s from Leecraft which really helped in producing cleaner cuts.You have to make a table saw sled for added safety and repeated accuracy when combined with a stop block…And welcome to LJ’S…This is a great site with so much info and great people…

-- Jeff,Tucson,Az.

Congrats on the new babies (both)!

A good quality saw blade and accurate alignment are among the best things you can do to help the performance of your saw. Your saw should benefit from good 3/32” thin kerf blades. Tips for picking saw blades A good miter gauge and stiff inserts are also good suggestions….I’d avoid the cheaper inserts made from UHMW plastic, because they’ll flex…..steel, phenolic, ply, hardwood, etc., are better materials for inserts.

Safety devices like feather boards and push sticks are also good acquisitions. There are a couple of good table saw books that you might consider too….”Table Saw Magic” by Jim Tolpin, and Kelly Mehler’s table saw book.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

This is a cool tool that I use often on the table saw…..........................

-- mike...............

I really appreciate all of the advice! I am heading out today to get some things like the blades, miter gauge, and inserts. I will check out that magnetic featherboard also, thanks mike. Jeff, I am going to scour lumber jocks here for a solid table saw sled design. I will definitely be picking up that book. It seems there is really no way around laying down over half the cost of the saw on accessories. Looks like I will be sneaking these into the basement

dear lumberjocker…...keep yourself humble enogh for sometime to learn about using the machine, there is not need of anything for now…..spending money and getting gadjets are not going to make you a better woodworker, maybe just improving your negotiation skills.

-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright

Forget the fancy miter gauges, they are a waste of money in my opinion, and sleds can be dangerous. I say buy or build an outfeed table.

An accurate miter gauge is one of the best investments for a table saw. They make precise and repeatable crosscuts easy. Coupled with well tuned crosscut sleds, your new saw will allow you to build some great projects. Keep reading about the different sled designs. I have several sleds that I use for miters, bevels, and squaring panels. They really expand the capabilities of the saw.

Instead of wasting money on an outfeed table, get an adjustable roller.

-- Friends don't let friends use right tilt contractor saws......

I do not know of any professional trim carpenters that do the majority of their crosscuts with a table saw. Adjustable rollers stands are ok, but an outfeed table is far better.

An out feed table will triple the usefulness of the saw. I did buy an extension for my miter gauge to help hold longer pieces and to make it easier to mount a back up board to get rid of tear out. I do not use a full sled, instead I made a sled to hold panels. The best accessory I purchased for my table saw was a 12” sliding compound miter saw. I do almost all of crosscuts on it. For longer pieces it is the safest way to go. I still use the table saw to make dado’s in a crosscut fashion, though I am using my router for more of that work.

Other than the above a thin kerf rip blade, good stacked 8” dado set and good feather boards.

(I know the CSR saw is not a real table saw accessory but I sure use at as one. I am sorry I waited so long to buy one, damn budgets.)

-- Chris K

”I do not know of any professional trim carpenters that do the majority of their crosscuts with a table saw.”

Umm, I don’t either Chuckie. What’s that got to do with this topic?

-- Friends don't let friends use right tilt contractor saws......

@Sawsucker – Professional trim carpenters use caulk…for a reason.

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

Wixey angle readout…
I check my angle of the blade constantly. You have stops for the zeroing the blade in your arbor assembly, but saw dust can build up and make it inacurrate. It takes 15 seconds to check it and it may save you some day. They are not much, there are two models, I got mine before the “fancy one” came out and it is just perfect. It uses a watch battery, stop at a battery place and oick up a two pack, just in case you forget to turn it off! Don’t ask me how I know this….

Buy a big pack of pencils and a cheap eletric sharpener, and keep a good point on them fro accuracy and put them EVERYWHERE in your shop.
Have fun wioth your new saw….

+1 on the Wixey. I use mine daily!

-- Friends don't let friends use right tilt contractor saws......

Congrats on the new baby. The human one that is. I;m in almost the same situation. Ours is 8-weeks old today. Still deciding on the table saw though.

I’ll echo what’s been said above, an outfeed table and a good blade.

Starrett combination square and Incra Miter5000 crosscut sled.