I'm in the process of setting up a cabinet model tablesaw. When checking the table for flatness, I noticed that there was some variation across the table. The variations are less than the thickness of a piece of notebook paper. Is this acceptable? If not, can I even out the table using a fine grit waterstone or does it have to be re-machined?
-Cliff P.
Durham, NC
Cabinet Model Table Saw
Our Expert
The topic of table flatness is frequently addressed in magazine articles which review and compare tablesaws. It is certainly important; without a flat top how can you expect to make accurate cuts? And yet how flat must the top be to machine wood accurately?
Your question stirred my curiosity and so I contacted an friend who is an engineer at major power tool manufacturer. He told me that the top of a tablesaw is machined flat to within .010", with the wings added the top should be within .015". A piece of notebook paper is approximately .004" thickness so the top on your saw is certainly within tolerance.
Speaking of tolerances, Amana Tool has some of the tightest tolerances in the woodworking tool industry. For example, each of the steel plates for their sawblades have a maximum runout of .002". Their blades are also dynamically balanced. I personally use the Amana Prestige blades in my own shop and they are the smoothest cutting blades that I've ever used.