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Parallel Guide for K3 Slider
Mike
Kreinhop posted
a superior parallel guide for his SCM Minimax SC2 Classic using
the Incra LS-25 positioner ...
Fantastic
- I would love to have this - but the Incra positioner in Australia
costs well over $1000. So not just yet.
About a month or so
ago I posted a few pictures of my simple version, which was made from
laminated Merbau strips (cheaper and better than any ply locally),
clamped to the wagon, and featuring an adjustable fence ...
This
fixture is 1200mm long and 300mm wide (the size of the wagon in front
of the crosscut fence). My only complaint is that it lies on top and
this removes 18mm (3/4") from the depth of cut available (the
blade is 305mm/12"). An advantage of Mike's parallel guide is
that it lies flat on the wagon. My version works so well, however,
that I am able to suppress the desire to build another one .... well,
that is what I tell myself for now
Why
not make it wider? Or longer?
Well, I really do not need
anything wider. I only work with solid wood, never sheet goods. This
can rip 12" wide boards.
I do at times rip longer than
1250, but that is not needed for this fixture - if I need to rip
long, then one just uses the rip fence, which has JessEm Clearcut
Guides. Most of the time I dock rough sawn boards to approximate
length before dimensioning them.
The
purpose of this fixture is to rip shorter lengths, especially safely
rip very narrow sections, as well as taper legs accurately and
repeatedly to the same dimensions.
In
a recent build I used a Fritz & Franz jig to first square one
side of a rough sawn Hard Maple board ....
...
and then rip this for legs ...
Note:
sawing to a specific width can be done in two ways: either use the
rip fence as a depth stop, or use a set of stops on the crosscut
fences (F&F) or the parallel guide as a stop.
I
could see that there is the potential for the parallel guide fixture
to combine all the best features of the F&F, and do it even
better!
What has changed in the updated
version?
Firstly,
the hold down knobs are gone and the fixture is secured to the
T-track with recessed hex bolts. This increases the
capacity.
Secondly, there are now scales at each end to set
the fences quickly and accurately ...
As
before, the aluminium angle fence has non-slip on the front. The
centre recess allows the clamp to hold shallower boards
...
Below
is an example in ripping a leg: first to desired width, and then it
is possible to incline the parallel guide to saw a taper ...
This
is an example of safely ripping a 25mm/1" wide board
...
Note
in the last two example, the crosscut fence acts as a zero clearance
insert. Taken from an older version ...
Lastly,
for crosscutting, one can either remove the parallel guide, or simply
leave it in position as there is 100mm/4" clearance. This is
sufficient for most joinery ...
Regards
from Perth
Derek
December 2020