How to Bevel on a Table Saw

Beveled Rip Cut

• 1

  Turn the handle that controls the blade angle. On some table saws, you must move a small locking lever on the handle to the "off" position before adjusting the blade angle. Notice the pointer moving on the blade angle gauge on the front of the saw.

• 2

  Adjust the blade angle to any angle between zero and 45 degrees indicated by the blade angle gauge. Move the locking lever back to the "lock" position, if your saw is equipped with one.

• 3

  Turn the blade height adjustment knob to raise the blade 1-3/4 inches above the table surface. This leaves 1/4 inch of the blade exposed as the 2-by-4 passes through it. Use the steel rule to measure the height of the blade and make adjustments.

• 4

  Position the fence so the blade tilts away from it -- the top of the blade is further from the fence than the point it emerges from the table. Place the fence 3 inches from the blade, measuring from where the blade emerges from the table.

• 5

  Place the 2-by-4 on the table with one edge against the fence and the face flat on the table. Guide the 2-by-4 forward until it is about 1 inch from the blade. Have the push sticks within easy reach.

• 6

  Turn the saw on. Keep the 2-by-4 against the fence and guide it smoothly into the blade. Keep the lumber moving through the blade. As the end of the 2-by-4 reaches the table edge, use the push sticks to guide the lumber instead of your hands. Keep a push stick on the 2-by-4 between the blade and the fence and continue guiding the 2-by-4 through the blade until it reaches the other side of the table.

Beveled Cross Cut

• 7

  Set the blade height to 1-3/4 inches and the blade angle to any angle between zero and 45 degrees. Remove the fence from the table saw and install the miter gauge in the table slot.

• 8

  Mark the location of the cut on the 2-by-4. Place the 2-by-4 face down on the table saw with one edge against the miter gauge. Guide the 2-by-4 forward until it nearly touches blade.

• 9

  Align the mark on the 2-by-4 with the blade and hold it firmly against the miter gauge. Slide the miter gauge back an inch, along with the 2-by-4

• 10

  Turn the saw on. Guide the 2-by-4 through the blade using the miter gauge until the 2-by-4 is cut off. Turn the saw off and wait for the blade to stop spinning before removing the pieces.