I am a new user of the TKS80 having just purchased it. Whilst checking that the fence was square and learning how to align it I noticed that the supplied metric strip on the fence was not in agreement with the measurement using a ruler between the blade, front and back, and the fence i.e 10 centimetres on the fence was 9.8 when checking with a ruler. Despite adjusting the metric strip which conveniently has several screws, the closest I can get to reliability is .5. I hoped that I could entrust the tool entirely having spent a lifetime measuring front and back of the saw blade to fence on cheaper saws. Is this a common failure with the TKS80? Any advice would be appreciated. Having said this it is a super tool and I am prepared to accept the issue because its virtues outweigh the fault. Perhaps there is something that I am missing.
TKS80
- Thread starter Attie
- Start date
I have never used the TKS80 and to be honest I had to do a google search to see what is was, but have you tried comparing the rules? Rules can and will vary especially between 2 different manufactures. I have even seen bad spots within a tape where most of the tape was good but in a section it was off and was good again 15-20" further down. Also measuring between the fence is ok for rough work but I would make a test cut on some scrap then measure the actual piece that was cut with my tape. Then adjust the saws rule to match what the piece is reading on your tape measure or measuring device being used.
Tom the Remodeler
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2007
- Messages
- 1,106
I’m a little unclear as to the condition you’re addressing. It sounds like you are setting the fence to 10cm, but the resulting board is 9.8cm? If that is the case, my memory is that the onboard scale is adjustable, if you moved the scale 0.2 cm away from the blade would that resolve your issue?
In terms of measuring front- and back- of blade, I assume that you are taking care that the near side of the blade is closer to the fence than the rear of the blade, I usually allow the thickness of a business card between the rear teeth and the fence. Getting the blade and fence perfectly parallel is just asking for trouble…..
In terms of measuring front- and back- of blade, I assume that you are taking care that the near side of the blade is closer to the fence than the rear of the blade, I usually allow the thickness of a business card between the rear teeth and the fence. Getting the blade and fence perfectly parallel is just asking for trouble…..
R
Rob Z
Guest
Hello Attie
Same as afish, I didn't know anything about the TKS80 and had to look at some pictures to see what this tool is. Now that I see the front scale, I do agree that you should get better agreement than down to only 0.5mm. Here is the picture I found that makes it clear what you have.
Are you getting your reading by sighting down the side of the fence, to read what is on the scale there? I could see a 0.5 mm "error" with that alone. Or, is there a reading in what looks like a sight window next to that microadjust knob? Is that what's used to dial in the final adjustment?
Same as afish, I didn't know anything about the TKS80 and had to look at some pictures to see what this tool is. Now that I see the front scale, I do agree that you should get better agreement than down to only 0.5mm. Here is the picture I found that makes it clear what you have.
Are you getting your reading by sighting down the side of the fence, to read what is on the scale there? I could see a 0.5 mm "error" with that alone. Or, is there a reading in what looks like a sight window next to that microadjust knob? Is that what's used to dial in the final adjustment?
R
Rob Z
Guest
Do you have a quality dial caliper? If so, try this. Set/adjust the scale on the saw as best you can and then rip a piece of lumber to some dimension that fits within the range of your caliper. For example, set the fence to 10.0 cm and rip the piece of lumber.
Check the result with the caliper, and you can assume the results of the caliper are more "correct" than your scale on the saw, your folding rule or tape measure. Readjust the fence scale (without moving the fence) to read whatever the result was on the caliper. I think this method might get you to the point of where you want to be.
Check the result with the caliper, and you can assume the results of the caliper are more "correct" than your scale on the saw, your folding rule or tape measure. Readjust the fence scale (without moving the fence) to read whatever the result was on the caliper. I think this method might get you to the point of where you want to be.