Disc Sanding
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Truing Miters & Bevels

Because it's difficult to accurately measure and cut mitered or beveled boards to precisely the same length, it's best to saw them slightly oversize; then sand them to the desired length. Sanded miter and bevel joints fit better.

Figure 17-13. To sand a miter or bevel, use the same setup you used to saw it: (A) miter gauge angled or (B) worktable tilted. On the Model 510 the disc is mounted through the insert.

To smooth an angled cut, don't change the tilt of the worktable or the angle of the miter gauge once you finish sawing. Instead, “borrow” the angles from the sawing setup. Raise the worktable and remove the saw blade and upper saw guard. On the Model 500 remove the lower saw guard also. On the Model 510, exchange the table saw insert for the disc sander insert. Mount a sanding disc; then readjust the table height and position the worktable for sanding. Clamp the workpiece in the miter gauge (Figure 17-13), and sand it at the same angle you cut it. The rip fence can also be used to back up the workpiece (Figure 17-14).

Figure 17-14. The rip fence can also be used to back up the workpiece.

Figure 17-15. When sanding compund miters, keep the miter gauge and the worktable tilt at the same angles used when making the saw cut.

The procedure does not change if you are sanding a compound angle cut. Just keep the miter gauge and the worktable tilt at the same angles used to make the original saw cut (Figure 17-15).

Use the sanding-to-width technique when you need to sand a beveled edge (Figure 17-16). Remember that the fence is offset enough to provide clearance for the workpiece in the area indicated by the small arrow in the photograph.

Figure 17-16. Boards can be sanded to width using this setup. In this case the worktable is tilted to sand a bevel. The large arrow indicates feed direction; the small one indicates the gap needed between the workpiece and the "rear" half of the disc.

When sanding bevels and miters, and especially if the angle is extreme, position the worktable and power plant at the right end of the machine. Length-of-work capacity will then be from the disc to the floor.

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