Ummmm.........is there any helping this?

[Fastbird]

Found out why I kept getting crooked miter cuts on my HF CSM Saw.

Right side of the fence:



Left side of the fence:



Left side, flush with fence:



Now if I just let the wood touch the fence and hold it FIRMLY against the base, I get nice straight cuts. But seriously, WTF. How could I go about correcting this?

*yes yes, I know it's HF, expect this. It was free, a present from a very good friend. Dang skippy I'm gonna use it. Just wondering if there's a way to correct the fence angle or not.

 

[Filson]

You'll probably get a much more knowledgeable person to chime in here after I do, but to me I can't really think of any (cost effective) way to do it. It's supposed to be doing some pretty precise stuff, and when it's off that much, it'd be dang hard, I'd imagine, to make it right again.

 

[MFolks]

Maybe some shims, to get the fences to 90 degrees.

 

[454ragtop]

Need a pic a little further out to see how it's made, but in the one pic it looks like the fence bolts on? If that is the case, you could remove it, and carefully file or sand the bottom till it bolts down square. Have to go slow, and keep checking it till you get it perfect.
HTH, Jim

 

[fivespdcat]

Looks like there are retaining nuts holding the fence down. I would start there, disassemble and check for any debris, if there are clean and reassemble. If there are not place shims on the back side before tightening down to "tip" the fence forward. Check for square and be done with it.

 

[larry_g]

Remove the fence and check if the face and the mounting surface are at 90*. If they are then dig further. If they are not then hand file them into spec. Figure out what surfaces have to be co-planer and which ones are to be perpendicular. Also confirm that the square your checking with is really at 90*.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[DamnYankee]

That was my thought - I'd start with the square and make sure it's truly square. If it is, I'd look into returning/exchanging the saw.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

That was my thought - I'd start with the square and make sure it's truly square. If it is, I'd look into returning/exchanging the saw.

Yea...i've had plenty of non-90 squares...repurpose or trash, otherwise build a leaning tower.

 

[Fastbird]

The square was the #1 thing I checked after seeing that. Used a little adjustable degree marked tool set at 90* and the square is......well.....square, lol.

The fence definitely unbolts. I'll have to pop it off and see what I find. Admittedly didn't think about filing it down, but it's worth a shot.

 

[gungatim]

I would think you could shim it pretty easily. if not, make a new fence out of MDF...

 

[Kevin54]

Fastbird......Do you have a mill like a Bridgeport, or do you know anyone with a mill? If you do, they could take a cut off of the bottom to square it up. It's a simple repair.

If you don't have a mill or know of someone who had a mill, I can do it for you for free. All it would cost you is the shipping. If interested, send me a PM

Kevin

 

[larry_g]

Fastbird......Do you have a mill like a Bridgeport, or do you know anyone with a mill? If you do, they could take a cut off of the bottom to square it up. It's a simple repair.

If you don't have a mill or know of someone who had a mill, I can do it for you for free. All it would cost you is the shipping. If interested, send me a PM

Kevin

Kevin, your denighing the man an opportunity to learn.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[pepi]

I check all my cutting machines before I use them for true all the time, goes hand and hand, when new especially.

Did you also check the blade to deck for 90?

 

[drivesitfar]

Kevin that was more than a generous offer and you probably are correct. in the meantime fastbird post a few more pictures that are not quite so close up so maybe we could see if the unbolting and adjusting cleaning idea might be the fix?

or is it fixed now?

 

[coyotejake]

+1 on finding a machinist to mill it square. A fairly easy fix.

 

[Provincial]

Milling the fence will only help if the main frame is square. Check that before spending any time or money on machine work. If the main frame is warped or mis-machined, you have a bigger job ahead. Hand work may be the best option.

 

[Fastbird]

Sorry guys, been out running around. Got to take care of a few things that have priority right now. Will try to get better pics this evening at some point.

Kevin54, thank you very much for the offer. Depending on the outcome I may take you up on it.

 

[Milton Shaw]

What is the material of the fence. Steel or cast iron, if its steel you might be able to gently persuade it back to square. It looks like it is different on each side is why I am thinking its steel and got bent in shipping/mfg. Steel probably doesn't have enough mass to allow the machining of it before it gets to thin to keep it from happening again.

 

[EJM02]

Hammer.


jk, mostly.

 

[dledinger]

.... if not, make a new fence out of MDF...

I would do like this. Make a sacraficial fence of MDF, or since it's not out by much - 1/4" masonite would work.

 

[larry_g]

I highly suspect that is cast aluminum so no bending or beating.

lg
no neat sig line