Yeah, I could have come up with a snappier title, but I was bit "down" when I wrote it.
I've spent many hours on this saw, trying to get it to cut (to be honest) above its pay grade. It was me that failed, not the freud.
While youve all been kindly suggesting stuff I have been working on it.
Definitely the fence. 100%. I shall see if I can post it back to Mickey mouse, he might need it. Problem is there is no room to make another to fit the rail. The entire table is only 250 mm x 300 mm. I clamped a straight piece of wood across the table and the cut improved quite a bit. but thats extremely fiddly trying to grip the cast alloy table with no straight edge and all the casting ribs underneath. It took me over a quarter hour to cut four strips that were almost the same thickness.
The teak is first class, at least 60 years since it was a tree, deep and straight. beautiful creamy colour.
I still found the wood was wandering away from the fence, despite using a straight edge to align it. And the teak even started to catch on the rising guard just as it reached the blade, again causing a sideways catch. The thin cut strip lodged under the guard, so I had to stop the machine each time to retrieve it.
i just have to accept this is a contractors saw, and as such will cut to its specification. Now though at least I know I have tried everything.
I cannot justify the £1000 price of a new saw and shipping, for just a small hobby use so thats it, I shall have to make do.
Ta again for all the help.