SawStop 3 HP PCS Unpacking/Review: Part 3 - Adjustments

With the saw actually functional and assembled the next step was to do some tests and, if necessary, some adjustments to make sure everything was as precise as possible. I also intended to use the SawStop fence to line up the cutout for my router lift in the extension wing (more to come) so it was critical that the fence be exactly where I wanted it before I got started.

The Super Bar

I picked up a Super Bar at Rockler last time I was in (which happened to be during their Brown Bag sale).

I have to say the saw was almost right on out of the box. I measured from the miter slot to the blade and to the fence, and the variation was minimal. The blade in particular was dead on. I did have to make some adjustments to the fence, and that took a little bit of fiddling to get it just where I wanted it.

On that note, when you setup the fence rails you can tell pretty quickly that they will take a little bit of adjusting to get right. There are about 8 bolts across the front rail that hold it in place, but the holes do allow for some play for fine adjustments. I found it worked best to get it close free hand, tighten them just enough to keep things in place, then take some measurements. You can move one side or the other just enough to get your measurements to change in the right direction. This takes a few times to get right, and once or twice I got the measurements where I wanted them on the table but then the fence didn't slide freely anymore.