Thread: Pals

Those of you with Contractor Tablesaws know what a pain in #$%^& it is to align the saw blade with the table. It is the only time I am aware of, that you use a whacker to "fine" adjust the alignment.

Now, I got told of a "Precision" alignment system for the Contractor type saw by a member here, "Expat", who resides over the pond in Canada. He happened to be returning to Australia and was kind enough to carry the PALS
Precision Alignment & Locking System and The Boot in his luggage and post them to me when he got here.

As usual with us Boofheads, I guessed the wrong size, thinking that it was 5/16, when a thirty second check told me that I should have got the 3/8 version.

What to do??????????

Well after a bit of navel gazing and liquid intelligence, I gave up on the idea of sending the wrong one back to Canada and all the kerfuffle that entails.

So what to do . . . 5/16 is not far from 3/8 . . . I do have a DP, good drills and a basic knowledge of what I need. Bugger it, wandered of to the local hardware shop around the corner, Hardex at Fairy Meadow and asked for the smallest length of 3/8 (10mm) allthread and some nylocks.I drilled out the brackets yesterday. It took two minutes each, with the set up taking longer than the actual drilling.

Today I was in a cleaning/ maintaining mood and moved the saw, took off one bolt and muddled my way through the installation . . . insert the allthread, put the bracket, washer and nylock on. Do everything finger tight then add the adjusting bolt. Geez three minutes. The other side took 2 minutes, as I knew what I was doing

Feeling quiet chuffed with myself I got out my Dial indicator, and spent about 15 minutes checking the blade in relation to the table. To me there was no variation at the back, middle or front of the blade. The true test will be a couple of test cuts, but as I was consulting with Dr Mud, I wait till next Sunday

So thanks to Mike and the staff at The SawShop in Canada.