Square the Blade to the Table

by kelly — October 13, 2025

Before you jump into your next project like a fretwork witch window ornament, it is important to make sure your blade is perpendicular to the saw table. The saw blade is perpendicular or “square to the table” if the two components meet at 90˚. This is critical for any project requiring vertical cuts. To check for square, set the saw table to zero, tension the blade, and then place a 2″ (5.1cm) engineer’s square next to it. If perpendicular, the blade and square will be parallel. You can also use a digital angle gauge. Zero it out on the saw table, and then place it against the blade to see if it reads 90˚. If your blade and table are out of square, these tips should help solve the problem:

A. For saws with clamps using both setscrews and thumbscrews, make sure that the blade is centered
in both upper and lower clamps. Vibration can cause a setscrew to loosen. When the thumbscrew
is tightened to compensate, the blade is pushed
out of square (see photos at right).

B. For saws with tilting tables, check frequently to ensure that the knob that secures the table’s position is tight. If not, vibration or pressure on one side can put the table out of square (see photo at right).

C. For saws with tilting arms, normal use may cause the arm to move out of alignment over time. See the saw’s manual for instructions on moving the arm to realign the blade so it sits square to the table.