Miter slot spacing: The max distance between the miter slots is 14' center-to-center. The minimum distance from the blade to the center of the miter slots is 3'. For clean, burn-free table saw cuts, the blade and fence must be parallel to the miter slots. To ensure that, measure the distance between the slot and the front of the blade using a precision measuring device like the specialized dial-indicator gauge shown above. Then measure the distance between the slot and the back of the blade. The slot in the base is the distance from the left face of the blade to the edge of the miter slot on that side. This is for a table saw that tilts left. You can choose to have a fixed guide bar for a saw that tilts to the right, since it tilts away from the sled.
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Make a wine glass rack with two pieces of hardwood. It's a basic design consisting of one horizontal board attached to another board at 90 degrees. The centered piece has slots that receive the stems of the wine glasses. The round platform base supports the glass upside down in the slots. If you can operate a table saw, you can make this simple rack and install it almost anywhere. Impress your friends with your ingenuity and worldly knowledge of wine.
1
Draw perpendicular lines across the grain of the 3/4-by-10-by-20 inch piece of hardwood. Use a square to make the lines evenly spaced at 4 inches apart. Draw another line 4 inches from the edge, parallel with the grain along the length using a straightedge.
2
Install a 3/4-inch dado blade on a table saw. Raise the blade to 1 inch in height. Place the miter gauge on the table saw using the miter gauge slot on the left side of the blade.
3
Place the piece of 3/4-by-10-by-20-inch hardwood on the table saw behind the blade, with the edge tight against the miter gauge. The grain of the wood should be perpendicular to the blade. The parallel line should be nearest your body. Center the blade on the first line on the right-hand side. Turn on the table saw.
4
Push the miter gauge and hardwood forward into the blade while holding the hardwood tight against the fence on the miter gauge. When the blade reaches the parallel mark stop. Pull the miter gauge and hardwood back toward your body and stop when the hardwood is at least 6 inches from the blade.
5
Slide the hardwood to the right side. Center the blade on the next perpendicular mark. Repeat Step 4. Move the miter gauge to the slot on the right side of the blade. Repeat cutting 3/4-inch wide slots at the next two marks.
6
Sand both pieces of hardwood smooth by hand using 100-grit sandpaper. Sand the channels smooth on the inside to remove saw marks. Round and blunt all the corners and edges.
7
Apply glue to the edge of the 3/4-by-4-by-20-inch piece of hardwood. Center it along the length of the channeled piece at 90 degrees. Shoot 1-1/4 inch pin nails through the back of the 4-inch piece, to attach it to the edge of the 20-inch piece.
8
Drill four 3/16-inch holes, evenly spaced, using a drill/driver 3/4 inch from the edge of the 4-inch piece along the top. Use the screw holes to mount the wine glass holder to any flat surface with 3-inch screws.
Things You Will Need
- 1 piece hardwood, 3/4-by-10-by-20 inches
- Square
- 3/4-inch dado blade
- Table saw with miter gauge
- 100-grit sandpaper
- Glue
- Pin nailer
- 1-1/4 inch pin nails
- Drill/driver
- 3/16-inch drill bit
- 3-inch screws
Miter Slot Bars
Tip
- There will be a slight arch where the saw blade will not cut square at the end of the channels or slots. Place it upright as a design statement, or place it on the bottom where you can't see it.
Warning
- Use caution when operating a table saw with a dado blade. Wear eye protection.
Blades For Miter Saw
About the Author
Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008.
Photo Credits
- Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images