How accurate do you need to be in woodworking?
For the most part I think a sixteenth of an inch is acceptable for most wood projects and a 32nd would be considered precision enough for all except a few rare occasions. In my shop I strive for +/- 0.005″. I have all digital measurement devices so it makes it feasable.
What is wood blowout?
Blowout (sometimes called “tearout”) is the name for the ugly result when chunks or fibers of wood are torn out behind a saw blade. It can happen with any kind of cut, on a table saw or a miter saw, or even a router or drill.
Why are wood measurements not accurate?
Maybe you’ve noticed that lumber sizes are often misleading. The “nominal” cross-section dimensions of a piece of lumber, such as 2 X 4 or 1 X 6, are always somewhat larger than the actual, or dressed, dimensions. The reason is that dressed lumber has been surfaced or planed smooth on four sides (called S4S).
How accurate should a table saw be?
For most cutting on the table saw the accuracy read by a tape measure for the size of cut needed should be fine enough. The saw should be set to be pretty accurate when cutting multiple parts such as segments for a segmented bowl. If the cuts are off they will just compound itself when all the parts are assembled.
Why 2×4 is not 2×4?
DIMENSIONAL LUMBER: In the past, when a timber was called a 2×4 [or “two-by-four”], it actually measured 2 inches by 4 inches. Because of this extra milling, a 2×4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches. Instead, a 2×4 is really only 1 1/2″ by 3 1/2″. The same is true of pine.
Why is lumber 1/2 inch smaller?
Through the drying process, the boards naturally shrink, as moisture leaves the beams. Without the rough edges, what went in as a 2-by-4 planks of rough-sawn wood is now a tongue-tripping 1.5-by-3.5, having lost approximately ¼-inch on all sides to the planer and drying processes.
Should table saw fence be parallel to blade?
Rob Johnstone: For regular ripping operations, table saw fences should be perfectly straight and perfectly aligned — parallel — with the saw blade. (No toe-in or toe-out.)