Advanced Table Saw Techniques

Session 1: Introduction

This opening session simply gives you a brief overview of what you’ll see in the class, and the unique ways you can expand your table saw skills.

Session 2: Pattern Cutting

Want to make a couple duplicate parts? Or a couple hundred duplicate parts? With the addition of a simple jig you can use your table saw as a pattern cutter. This allows you to perfectly and precisely follow a template that has been fastened to your material. Follow this step with a flush trim router bit, and you can mass produce parts in no time.

Session 3: Cutting Steep Angles

When building a flag case, the bottom corners call for a very steep angle. There’s no way you can achieve this angle by simply angling the blade. You’ve got to add a jig that will let you safely hold the piece vertically. And, you’ve got to precisely set the angle. Don’t worry, we’ve got all the angles covered to help you get this right.

Session 4: Raised Panel Jig

Need raised panels for your next project? No need to invest in an expensive panel raising bit. You can create raised panels on your table saw. The jig used for this process is very simple and allows you to create two distinctly different styles of panels.

Session 5: Tapered Legs

Tapered legs on furniture have a much more delicate look than square legs. Learn the rules for laying out tapered legs, and how to transfer that geometry to a shop-made jig. With the jig in hand, along with a few rules for safe and accurate cutting, you’ll be able to easily and safely cut the tapers.

Session 6: Ripping Thin Strips

Making splines? Producing banding to cover plywood edges, or for Euro style cabinetry? Lots of operations require thin strips of wood. The jigs you’ll learn about in this session do not require you to remove the blade guard! They’re very simple to build, and to use. And they allow you to rip the thinnest of strips safely and accurately..

Session 7: Cove Cutting

This has to be one of the coolest things you can do on a table saw. By feeding your material at an angle across the blade you can produce a round bottomed cove. You might use this as a decorative element or, on the edge of a panel, to create a coved raised panel. Step by step set up, along with a couple shop-made jigs, make this amazing process easy to do.

Session 8: Cutting Circles

Circles? On a table saw? Who knew? The next time you need to cut a round table top, and you don’t want to freehand it with a jig saw or band saw, you’ll be thrilled to have this technique in your pocket. Hardwood, softwood or man-made material, the jig/table saw combo does a great job of producing perfect circles.