Operating Instructions
Using the vise
The vise on the saw table has two jaws. The jaw closest to the right hand side of the table is the stationary jaw. This jaw is firmly secured to the table using its pivot and lock bolts. When making a straight cut the stationary jaw is at right angles to the saw blade. When making an angle cut, the stationary jaw is first loosened, then adjusted to the desired angle, then secured to the table, again.
Figure 1: Vise jaw nomenclature
The jaw closest to the left hand side of the table is the locking jaw. This jaw clamps the workpiece against the stationary jaw to hold it securely for cutting. The locking jaw can pivot to conform to the angle of the work piece which is held in the stationary jaw.
Before cutting can begin, the vise must be properly set and positioned. The procedures are different for right angle cutting and for angle cutting. Setting procedures are given in the following sections.
Locking vise jaw
The locking jaw is an assembly which includes the lead screw nut which encases the lead screw, the lead screw shaft (which screws into the lead screw nut,) the thrust shaft, spring, and quick release handle.
The thrust shaft moves up or down when the quick release handle moves up or down.
The thrust shaft has a nut under the quick release handle which adjusts the clamping pressure between the adjustable jaw and the table, itself. When this nut is too tight, the adjustable jaw cannot pivot. When this nut is too loose, the jaw can pivot, and also tilt upward. Therefore, this nut should be slightly loose. This will allow the jaw to pivot an conform to any angle at which the stationary jaw is set.
However, you should guard against excessive loosening of this nut. If too loose, the jaw can tilt when it contacts the workpiece and full clamping pressure cannot be effectively applied to the workpiece.
If the shaft is too tight to allow pivoting of the jaw, loosen the shaft slightly by turning the nut under the quick release handle counterclockwise. If the jaw tilts exces-
sively, use the nut under the quick release handle to tighten the shaft slightly so the jaw slides easily, but flat against the saw table.
The locking vise jaw is tightened or loosened against the workpiece being cut by using the lead screw handle. The handle is attached to a lead screw underneath the saw table. The lead screw has a series of grooves on its length. These grooves capture a thrust shaft on the lower side of the locking jaw. As the lead screw handle is turned, the grooves move to the left or right, and therefore the locking jaw is moved to the left or right to open or close the jaw against any workpiece on the table.
The thrust shaft on the locking vise jaw is a compo- nent part of the quick release handle on top of the locking jaw. This quick release handle is spring loaded to force the handle (and, therefore, the thrust shaft) downward.
When you pull up on the quick release handle, the thrust shaft is removed from its groove. This allows you to slide the jaw to a new position on the table. Releasing the handle pushes the thrust shaft against the lead screw shaft. When the lead screw handle is turned, a groove will
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