Miter Saw Accuracy; Check Your Pivot Point - SawGear SGTAB04 Manual

SawGear is an accurate measuring tool, but when cutting angles using a miter saw,
•Miter saws rotate around a center called the 'pivot
point.'
•The pivot point must be in exact alignment with the
saw's back fence.
•Some miter saws have an adjustable back fence;
others do not.
•If the pivot point is not in correct alignment and the
fence cannot be adjusted, accuracy can be maintained
by adjusting the length entered into SawGear by the
amount of offset observed.
When the pivot point is in exact alignment, all your cut lengths, straight, inside
and outside miters, will be exactly equal.

Check Your Pivot Point

This example assumes that SawGear is on the right of the saw, and that the observed
pivot point is on the right side of the saw blade.
You can check for accuracy by comparing the
straight cut and the left and right miter
cuts:
1. End trim a sample board so it has a clean,
square right end.
2. Using a tape measure mark 8" from the right end
with a pencil and square.
3. Line up the pencil mark with the right side of the
saw kerf, and clamp the sample board flat up against the back fence, keeping the clamp
away from the path of the saw blade.
4. With the saw set at 0° make a partial cut into the sample board. This is the straight cut.
5. With the saw set at -45° make another partial cut into the sample. This is the outside corner
miter cut.
6. With the saw set at 45° make another partial cut into the sample. This is the inside corner
miter cut.

Miter Saw Accuracy

the saw must be accurate too.
Don't settle for less than perfect! Dial in your saw!
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