Getting a shop-made table saw insert perfectly flush with the saw table can be a tedious process. Instead of repeatedly adding shims or adjusting the insert, you can create custom leveling pads with hot-melt glue and paste wax.
The trick is using the wax as a release agent so the glue sticks to the insert — but not the table saw.
Apply Paste Wax to the Support Tabs
Start by applying a coat of paste wax to the tabs that support the insert plate. Make sure the areas where the hot-melt glue will contact the saw are coated.
Heat up a hot-melt glue gun, then place a small dab of glue on each support tab where it will contact the underside of the insert.
Press the Insert Flush with the Table
While the glue is still soft, install the insert and press it down until its surface is perfectly flush with the table saw top.
Lay a straightedge across the saw table and insert to hold everything in alignment while the glue cools.
The paste wax keeps the hot-melt glue from bonding to the metal support tabs. Instead, the glue stays attached to the underside of the insert, forming small custom-fit pads that hold it at exactly the right height.
In just a few seconds, you have a flush, level table saw insert that can be removed and reinstalled without having to level it again.
Woodsmith Tip: The same basic idea — paste wax as a release agent — can be handy for other shop-made jigs and fixtures where you want glue to conform to a surface without permanently sticking to it.
CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE: 5 Smart Uses for Wax in the Woodworking Shop
