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Best Way to Set Table Saw Blade Angle for Precision Cuts

Setting your table saw blade angle with a digital angle gauge is easy, precise, eliminates guesswork and ensures precision cuts every time.

Setting your table saw blade angle with a digital angle gauge is easy, precise, eliminates guesswork and ensures precision cuts every time.
Do you know how to set your table saw blade angle? Do you typically use a speed square to set the angle? There’s a better way. A digital angle gauge is easier to use than a speed square and more precisely sets the table saw blade angle to ensure precision cuts.

You may also enjoy Table Saw Safety Rules and How to Buy the Best Table Saw for the Money.

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Over the past few months, we’ve focused on maximizing the performance of our table saws. First, we looked at how waxing our table saw reduces friction and oxidation.

Then we looked at how cleaning our saw blades improves the quality of our cuts, reduces the corrosion of our blades and how dirty blades can even be mistaken as dull.

We also looked at how we can turn our bench-top table saws into a cabinet style saw with a DIY table saw station which helps to maximize space in a small workshop.

Today we’re looking at how to precisely set our table saw blade angle. I used to set my table saw blade angle with a speed square just like the one I would use to set up my miter saw for accurate cuts. While the speed square worked well to set up the miter saw I never felt like the table saw blade was adjusted as precisely as it could be.

With the speed square, I had to be sure the square was flush against the table and that it wasn’t touching a tooth of the blade because that could interfere with properly setting the angle. Next, I had to use my aging youthful eyes to make sure the speed square was flush against the blade. And sure, I improved the lighting in my small workshop by replacing my old shop lights with bright LED lights, but it was still difficult to see.

While I was researching the why you should wax your table saw post and the why you should clean your saw blades post I stumbled on the Wixey Digital Angle Gauge. It received lots of positive reviews and it was relatively inexpensive. I added it to my cart and it arrived on my doorstep within two days. BAM! I was gonna have a precisely set table saw blade!

The Wixey Digital Angle Gauge makes setting our table saw blade angle sooo easy. Turn it on, zero it out, place it on the blade, adjust the angle… DONE! And because it’s digital it takes the guesswork out of setting the angle. And also because it’s digital our blades will be precisely set for any angle we choose. Why didn’t I buy one of these things sooner?!

How to Accurately Set Table Saw Blade Angle

Set Blade to 0-Degrees

Step 1. Unplug the Saw. Always think safety first and always unplug your saw before doing any maintenance.

Unplug the Saw. Always think safety first and always unplug your saw before doing any maintenance.

Step 2. Raise the Blade. We’ll need the blade at its highest point in order to check the angle.

Raise the Blade. We’ll need the blade at its highest point in order to check the angle.

Step 3. Loosen the 0-degree Adjustment Screw. The adjustment screw stops the blade at 0 degrees.

Loosen the 0-degree Adjustment Screw. The adjustment screw stops the blade at 0 degrees.

Step 4. Check the Angle. Place the Wixey Digital Angle Gauge on the table and turn the gauge on.

Check the Angle. Place the Wixey Digital Angle Gaugeon the table and turn the gauge on.

Then zero the gauge.

Then zero the gauge.

Place the gauge on the blade and check the angle.

Place the gauge on the blade and check the angle.

Use the bevel handle to adjust the angle to 90 degrees. Once the angle is 90 degrees lock the bevel handle in position.

 Use the bevel handle to adjust the angle to 90 degrees. Once the angle is 90 degrees lock the bevel handle in position.

Then tighten the adjustment screw.

Then tighten the adjustment screw.

Lastly, I adjusted the bevel indicator so it was set to zero.

I adjusted the bevel indicator so it was set to zero.

Set Blade to 45-Degrees

Step 1. Unplug the Saw. Always think safety first and always unplug your saw before doing any maintenance.

Unplug the Saw. Always think safety first and always unplug your saw before doing any maintenance.

Step 2. Raise the Blade. We’ll need the blade at its highest point in order to check the angle.

Raise the Blade. We’ll need the blade at its highest point in order to check the angle.

Step 3. Loosen the 45-degree Adjustment Screw and Remove the Throat Plate. The adjustment screw stops the blade at 45 degrees. The throat plate will need to be removed in order to adjust the angle to 45 degrees.

Loosen the 45-degree Adjustment Screw and Remove the Throat Plate. The adjustment screw stops the blade at 45 degrees. The throat plate will need to be removed in order to adjust the angle to 45 degrees.

Step 4. Check the Angle. Place the Wixey Digital Angle Gauge on the table, turn the gauge on, and zero the gauge. Then place the gauge on the blade and check the angle.

Check the Angle. Place the Wixey Digital Angle Gauge on the table, turn the gauge on, and zero the gauge. Then place the gauge on the blade and check the angle.

Step 5. Use the bevel handle to adjust the angle to 45 degrees. Once the angle is at 45 degrees lock the bevel handle in position.

Step 6. Tighten the adjustment screw.

Tighten the adjustment screw.

Lastly, cut some test pieces using scrap wood to be sure you’re pleased with the adjustments.


Video: How to Use a Digital Angle Gauge

Watch now and see quick and easy it is to set the table saw blade angle with a digital angle gauge.


Adjust a Miter Saw for Accurate Cuts

OK, so now that we worked on your table saw, our miter saw needs some attention too! Is your miter saw blade square to the table? Is your miter saw fence square to the blade? Skate over to How to Adjust a Miter Saw for Accurate Cuts to learn how to check and adjust.

And if you want to maximize the performance of your miter saw you’ll want to skate over to 7 Miter Saw Tricks Every DIYer Should Know! It’s packed with helpful tips and useful tricks for getting the most out of your miter saw. Check it out now!

Final Thoughts

Setting your table saw blade angle with a digital angle gauge is easy, precise, eliminates guesswork and ensures precision cuts every time. And the Wixey Digital Angle Gauge is a great option. It had lots of positive reviews and it was relatively inexpensive.

Thank you for stopping by. If you found this information helpful, would you please pin it to Pinterest? Other DIYers would appreciate it and I would too! Thank you – Scott


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