In this article, I will go over the 8 types of Table Saw accessories that you need in your workshop. Additionally, I will go over how to use them, their effectiveness, and if it is right for you.
- Angle gauge
- Feather board
- Outfeed table
- Zero clearance insert
- Joinery jigs
- Jointer jigs
- Thin-Piece jigs
- Miter gauge extension
Angle Gauge
An angle gauge is a nice accessory that can be used with a table saw to adjust the bevel of the blade. Angle gauges are especially useful for job site and benchtop table saws because they often do not come with positive stops for common bevels.
Positive stops are exact angles and adjusting bevels without positive stops are very difficult. Here is a picture of the bevel gauge for my table saw. As you can see, it is very difficult to adjust the angle to a specific degree.
To use an angle gauge, you will zero the gauge on the tabletop and then calculate the angle by putting the gauge on the blade.
Angle gauges are very effective and can get precise measurements. The level of precision is however dependent on the type of angle gauge you purchase.
Feather board
Table saw feather boards slide in the miter gauge slot and keeps the wood pressed against the rip fence. Feather boards ensure straight cuts and prevent kickback resulting from wood binding.
Feather boards are effective at keeping the wood pressed against the rip fence. However, not all feather boards are created equal. Featherboards that are more flexible and made from brittle materials can warp and break over time. Additionally, very rigid feather boards may not have the best holding capabilities.
Outfeed table
Outfeed tables are used with table saws to keep the wood level as it passes through the saw. Outfeed tables are a safety feature because an uneven weight distribution can cause the saw to tip, the wood to fall, or the user to slip.
You can purchase an outfeed table for a table saw or build one yourself. I built my workbench the same height as my table saw so that I can use it as an outfeed table.
An outfeed table is very effective in preventing the wood from tipping over. A sturdy outfeed table is needed because you do not want the table falling over with the wood. Other than that, Outfeed tables are effective and necessary.
Zero Clearance Insert
Most table saws have a large gap in the insert when the blade goes. Thin pieces of wood can fall into the table saw body or snag the end of the insert.
A zero-clearance insert will close the gap between the insert and the table saw blade, thus making it easier to cut thin pieces of wood.
Zero clearance inserts work and are effective, however, I do not consider them a necessity. Unlike the other accessories that we have gone over so far, this accessory doesn’t prevent injury or greatly alter the final product.
The zero clearance insert does prevent wood slices from falling into the blade compartment. But the worst thing that can happen is you need to turn the saw off and take the spline out. Now this it very tedious, which is why the zero-clearance insert is a good accessory, but it is not a necessity.
Joinery jigs
- Tenon jig
- Box cut jig
- Dovetail jig
One of the most amazing things about owning a table saw is the versatility and the ability to purchase and/or create joinery jigs. Some common table saw joinery jigs include tenon, box cut, dovetail, and dado jigs.
Some joinery methods like the box cut, dado, tenon, and half-lap joints may not require a jig. However, there are still specific jigs that make the joinery more precise, safer, quicker, and easier. Others do require a jig, like a dovetail and spline jigs.
There are a few universal jigs made by Kreg, Powertec, Rocker, Delta, and other companies. Additionally, like any other jig, you can create your own.
To create box cuts, dados, tenons, and half-lap joints, you can use the tenon jig. To learn how the tenon jig works and how to create it, you should check out my article here.
Additionally, to learn how to create the spline jig, you should check out my article here.
Jointer Jigs
- Taper Jig
- Leveler method
There are two main ways to flatten wood on a table saw, which include using the leveler method and the jointer/taper jig. To learn more about each method and its pros and cons, check out the “How to flatten wood” section of my Table Saw Tips and Tricks article.
The jointer jig for the table saw is very useful in flattening the side grain, or thickness, of the wood. It is not ideal to flatten the face grain, or the width, of the wood for wood thicker than 4 inches.
To learn how to create a jointer/taper jig, check out my article here.
Thin-Piece Jigs
- Thin piece jig
- Thin piece push stick
- Auxiliary fence with thin piece clamping
Cutting thin pieces with the table saw can be dangerous because your hand is too close to the blade, the push stick is too thick, kickback is more likely, and the blade is very close to the rip fence. All of these can cause severe injury to yourself and damage to the table saw.
To make cutting thin pieces safer with the table, the use of a thin-piece jig, thin-piece push stick, and/or auxiliary fence with thin-piece clamping can be used.
Below is a video demonstration of the thin-piece jig and auxiliary fence with thin-piece clamping.
To learn how to make the thin piece jig and auxiliary fence, check out these articles, “EDIY: How to Create a Thin-Piece Jig” and “EDIY: How to Create an Auxiliary Rip Fence”!
Miter gauge extension
Many miter gauges that are sold with the table saw are small. This makes it harder to keep the wood aligned as you create long cross-cuts. Miter gauge extensions give more surface area for the wood to contact the miter gauge. As a result, this reduces your risk of injury and increases your cut precision.
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