Shimming TS extension wings

[Breaddrink]

Guys, as you know my saw isn't up and running yet, so I thought I'd tinker with the extension wings and get them absolutely spot on.

Steven mentioned he used shim stock tape for this, but as they had none at Home Depot and I didn't feel in the mood to buy any online, I bought a spare set of feeler guages and some metal snips.
I thought this way I'd know the exact amounts I'm using and it might ease the process somehow.

The only problem I can forsee with this is that it won't stick to the edge of the TS top while I'm bolting it.

Before I start hacking up returnable tools from Home Depot, is this just a bad idea from the start?

I've heard people using tin foil (*Edit* aluminum foil in merrycar isn't it :)), and even scotch tape to shim with.
Any advice would be good...

Rob.

[Limey]

Rob,
A smear of Vaseline or light grease on the shims should keep them aligned while you bolt up.
Don,t know whether this would work in your situation but hope the suggestion helps.

I would have held that techie hostage until he got that puppy running to within a few thou accuracy!!
It's a truism that we Brits don't know how to successfully complain and I can feel your anguish....But what we do know is that the memories settle deep and we only make the same mistake once huh?


Limey

Brass is the common shim stock but nothing wrong with Alumin(i)um unless you need a Sh1tload.

[RustyBrooks]

I used paper to shim my table saw extension. I bolted the extension on, but didn't tighten it down. Pulled the extension a bit upwards of level, which opens a small gap at the bottom. Shoved it in. Left a tiny bit hanging out so I can get them out if I need to. The actual shims I used were strips of paper about 2cm long and 1cm wide. I basically folded them to try 1 thickness, 2 thicknesses or 3 thicknesses until I found the right one of a given bolt. In my case 1 thickness of paper would cause between 10 and 15 thousandths of movement at the edge of the extension.

You can use that feeler guage to test how out of level they are ;) I have a big steel straight edge that is thick enough to lay on edge. I put that across the table and used the feeler guage to see how much room there was between the straight edge and the table. Although, really, you can tell by looking when they're getting acceptable level. When I was done I could barely stick a piece of paper under the straightedge.

[Steven Wilson]

You can use feeler guage stock as shim material. You won't find shim stock at Home Depot, but you will be able to find it at tool stores that support metal working shops. You might be able to find it at an auto parts store. I bought a couple of rolls online from Travers Tool Company (they had a sale). Your right it won't stay stuck all by itself. I don't add the shim stock until the tables are already on and then just loosen up the bolts a bit and wedge it in there. As I said in an earlier post the backing of computer disk labels works well too, I propbably wouldn't use aluminum foil.

[Breaddrink]

They're both leaning just a tiny bit upwards so I supose I can try as you suggest, and just loosen them a tad and do it that way.

And no, you're right limey, I'm not much good at complaining, but I still wanted to setup the saw myself.
Frankly, I'm amazed when anyone even understands me.

Talking very very loudly seems to be the key. heh.

Rob.

[Cody Colston]

[font color = "red"] "Talking very very loudly seems to be the key. heh" [/font]

Rob,

That's cause you are living up there in Yankeeville. :o

Down here in the genteel South, we all have a soft drawl, say Grace, say Maa'm and you will constantly hear the statement, "you're from out of town, ain't you." :7

Welcome to America. :)

Cody

[ol]

The expert at anything was once a beginner...

[/ol]

[beagles]

Grizzly suggests masking tape. Seems to work just fine.

[Breaddrink]

The most unfortunate misunderstanding seems to be my name.

50 percent of people seem to think I'm saying "Robe".
Difficult one to explain in text, but as I don't make "a" sounds to make it "Raahb" it doesn't seem to come across.

Even first generation hispanic people in LA couldn't understand it, and they had no problem with the american accent :D

Rob.

[TDHofstetter]

Let us not forget playing cards - they're of a highly uniform thickness if you need multiples of 12 thousandths of an inch. I b'lieve Sonny discovered that Post-It notes were 1.5 thousandths thick, and ordinary printer paper was 5 thousandths even.

-- Tim --

I'm too young to feel this way,
But I'm too old to think this way.

[TDHofstetter]

Yet anotha' t'ot plopped into me wee noggin today, while the rain cascaded outdoors & the cats fought indoors.

If'n ya got ya a broken measuring tape - if'n ya ain't t'rowed it out yet but hung onta' it for (SOMETHING???), even if ya got only the broken guts 'cause it's such a SHAME to tosscan something 24'6" long just 'cause 6" is missing from the business end...

Well, whatcha' think? Mike the sunofagun & see if its thickness'd do ya!

Neat spring steel in a tape, and REALLY decent shim stock, too. You can even get the parts fairly close together & cram the tape shim between 'em & it'll stay 'cause it's bowed.

Jest a t'ot. :)

-- Tim --

I'm too young to feel this way,
But I'm too old to think this way.