Tip #72
How to Crosscut Stock to Equal Lengths
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Operations

1. Adjust saw blade to proper height.

2. Rip out a piece of stock 3/4" by 3" by 30".

3. Plan on cutting four pieces 5-1/2" long.

4. Put rip fence in place.

5. Take a piece of scrap stock 3/4" by 2-1/2" by 3". This is called a clearance block.

6. Clamp it on the rip fence with a C-clamp so that the block is 1" behind last tooth of saw blade, or bolt it to the fence through the hole provided for this purpose.

7. Measure 6-1/4" from rip fence to inner point of saw blade tooth.

Fig. 2 Click on image for larger view.

8. Put miter gauge in place.

9. With a piece of scrap stock at least 16" long, make a cut by holding stock against miter gauge and butted against the clearance block.

10. Turn off saw and let it come to the complete stop.

11. Measure for accuracy of 5-1/2" block.

12. If correct, proceed to cut off 3 pieces in the same manner as cutting scrap stock. Use stock ripped out in Step 1.

Fig. 3 Click on image for larger view.

13. To cut the fourth piece, measure the length on the remaining piece and square line across edge.

14. Adjust stock so the outer tooth of saw blade coincides with pencil mark with the 5-1/2" length against miter gauge.

15. Make cut.

16. You should now have four pieces 5-1/2" long.

Note: To cut longer pieces of equal length, place the rip fence on the extension table and adjust the headstock of the MARK V for proper distance on the ways and proceed as before.

Also, an extension face on the miter gauge aids the operator in controlling long pieces. And, if long enough, a stop block may be clamped on this extension at desired distances and the stock butted up to it for equal length cutting. A miter gauge stop rot performs the same function.

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