This ides is by Jodee from Inspire Woodcraft. It’s an experiment aimed at improving cut accuracy when working with extreme angles on a table saw—especially when the goal is to keep the workpiece clean and protect the miter gauge fence.
While the idea didn’t go quite as planned, it offers valuable insight into problem-solving in the shop and how creative thinking often leads to better technique refinement, even when the first attempt isn’t perfect.
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The Challenge with Extreme Angle Cuts
When cutting extreme angles on wide boards, predicting exactly where the blade will exit the workpiece can be tricky. Normally, woodworkers mark the edge of the wood to help line up the blade, but that isn’t always ideal.
Sometimes the edge is hard to mark, or the piece needs to stay clean for final presentation. And there’s always the risk of hitting the miter gauge fence with the blade, which can throw off future cuts or even damage the tool.
Jodee’s Creative Idea
To address these challenges, Jodee tried something unconventional: marking the blade’s position directly on the miter gauge fence using a Sharpie. This would allow for fast alignment without marking the workpiece.
The process began by removing the riving knife for better visibility and raising the saw blade. Using a straight edge aligned to the blade’s left edge, a line was drawn onto the miter gauge fence to mark exactly where the cut would occur.
Why the Left Side Matters
The decision to mark the left edge of the blade was intentional. Blade kerfs vary in width, so using the left edge as a reference point keeps the line reliable—even if the blade is swapped out for another with a different kerf.
This helps make the fence reference line more consistent and less dependent on the specific blade being used. It’s a small but thoughtful detail that could benefit woodworkers who change blades frequently.
Testing the Concept in the Shop
To test the method, Jodee set up a test cut using the new fence mark as the primary alignment guide. A piece of wood was placed so that the anticipated exit point matched the Sharpie line on the fence.
The results were close—the blade exited near the predicted mark. While not perfectly precise, the method showed enough promise to serve as a helpful visual guide for general alignment.
Benefits of the Method
Marking the miter gauge fence instead of the wood helps keep the workpiece clean. That’s particularly useful when working with pre-finished materials or high-visibility surfaces.
It also helps prevent accidental cuts into the fence itself, since the mark acts as a visual reminder of the blade’s position. And because it stays in place, the line provides a consistent reference even between cuts or blade changes.
Where It Fell Short
Despite its simplicity, the Sharpie line had drawbacks. The ink dried in a way that made it harder to remove than expected, which could be frustrating if the fence needs to be cleaned or reused for another project.
Also, the method lacked fine precision. For casual cuts, it worked well enough—but when extreme accuracy is required, this visual guide probably needs to be paired with traditional measuring or marking techniques.
Ways to Improve the Idea
Jodee suggests that using a more temporary marking material—like painter’s tape or a removable metal-safe marker—could offer the same alignment benefit without the cleanup hassle.
Another improvement could be creating a mechanical stop or indicator on the fence that aligns with the blade edge. This would allow for repeatable setups without relying on a visual mark.
Combining this approach with traditional edge marking on the wood could offer the best of both worlds: accuracy and cleanliness.
The Bigger Lesson
Even though this trick didn’t work perfectly, it’s a great reminder that experimentation is part of the woodworking process. Small adjustments, creative thinking, and trial runs often lead to better understanding—and sometimes even better methods.
Jodee’s willingness to test new ideas and share honest results is what makes his content so helpful. It encourages others to try things for themselves and not be afraid of the learning curve that comes with trying something new.
Support Jodee by visiting his online store here: https://inspirewoodcraft.com/collections/all.