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Adding wings to your tablesaw

Tips from the Wood Magazine Shop to dial-in your machine for flawless performances.

  • Tablesaw tune-up tips

    Go beyond what's covered in your owner's manual for easy assembly and spot-on accuracy.

  • Install the wings flush to the tabletop

    Clamp two straight boards about 3' long to one of the cast-iron extension wings. Extend the boards over the main tabletop.

  • Start with a pair of straight boards

    Holding the wing loosely aligned front to back with the table edges, clamp the boards tightly to the main tabletop.

  • Align the mounting holes

    Perfect the edge alignment by tapping the wing laterally with a rubber mallet until the mounting holes align.

  • Scrap stock for leverage

    Insert the mounting bolts and hand-tighten them. If you need to raise the wing slightly, use a scrap board on your leg for leverage.

  • Align then tighten

    Clamping securely across the seam holds the tops flush. Tighten the bolts when the wing aligns perfectly flush with the main table.

  • Micro-adjust the wing height

    To remove sagging, changing a clamp to spreader mode lets you microadjust the wing height. Parallel-jaw clamps work great for this.

  • If your saw has one, add the extension table and level it with the top

    To save bending down, assemble the extension table, support legs, and frame on your saw's tabletop.

  • Clamps aid in alignment

    Align the mating table surfaces by clamping directly on the seam or using a board with a straightedge and clamps. Bolt them together. Some extension tables bolt only to the fence rails, not the extension wing. For those, install the fence rails first, and then mount the extension table.

  • Adjust the feet for perfect alignment

    Finally, using a long straightedge that reaches from the extension table corners to the cast-iron top, raise or lower the adjustable feet to level the table surface. Tighten the table-mounting nuts when the two surfaces are level.

  • Align long, beefy rip-fence rails easily with a couple of tricks

    Use two adjustable-height work supports to hold a rail in position while you insert bolts and set the correct height using the template that came with the saw.

  • Add the rails as you go

    If you don't have adjustable work supports, simply let one rail end rest on the floor while you loosely secure the other with a bolt; then do the other end.

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