Mitre saw problem

[Wormwood]

Hello.

I'm a rank amateur and newcomer to woodworking (having been forced to do something since the beloved took up knitting), without even the basic skills of 'O' level woodwork.

I've been blessed with a tiny workbench in the cellar, a few old tools, and a shiney new Fox router table.

One of the tools I have is an old B&Q mitre saw that, although appears to be fine, refuses to cut at 90 degrees. Instead, it always cuts a few degrees to the right (so the start of the cut is to the left of the bottom of the cut).

My set square says that the saw is fine (i.e. perpendicular to the horizontal), but the results say otherwise.

So - am I being hopelessly cackhanded, or is the saw duff and it's time for a new one?

All help gratefully recieved.

 

[DaveL]

Hi Wormwood,

Welcome to the forum.

The mitre saw, is it a power saw or is it a guided hand saw? Both types live under the same name and the answer to your question will be very different depending on the type.

 

[Wormwood]

It's a guided hand saw.

 

[DaveL]

It's a guided hand saw.

OK then you need to check that the vertical movement on the guides is vertical, you could have the situation where the blade is vertical but the guides are lent over and so the cut follows the guides and come out wrong.

 

[9fingers]

Hi Wormwood,

Welcome to the Asylum or I should say forum!!

This is one of the most helpful forums that I have found on the web and I hope you will find the same.

In addition to Tony's words, if everything still seems OK but the cut remains off, check that your blade is in good condition and well tensioned. If it is blunt on one side more than the other and/or the set (tooth offset) is uneven then it might cut to one side.

To do a test for this, take the blade out and swap it end for end. It will now cut on the pull stroke so feel different, but if the cut now drifts to the other side this time, it is the blade causing the problem.

hth

Bob

 

[Wormwood]

To do a test for this, take the blade out and swap it end for end. It will now cut on the pull stroke so feel different, but if the cut now drifts to the other side this time, it is the blade causing the problem.

Just tried it, and that's exactly what happens.

Now for the tricky bit: get a replacement blade or get a shiny (if somewhat cheap) power saw such as this one.

I'm limited for space, but I like power tools... Decisions decisions...

 

[DaveL]

OK then there is more set on the side of the blade that the cut drifts to, lay the blade on the bench with that side up and run an oil stone along it a couple of times to take a little of the set of. Put the saw back together and test it, you may need to do this a few times until it is right, er on the side of small amounts taken off, you don't want to go to far it drifts the other way. :roll:

 

[Out int shed]

hello,

i would suggest making a mitre block to practice your sawing skills. you can buy beech or plastic ones but its more rewarding and beneficial to make your own, just for the practice if nothing else.