Reference from the mitre slot, not the blade
The blade can be adjusted; the mitre slot cannot. So the slot is the reference, and both blade and fence are aligned to it.
- Unplug the saw. Everything below happens with no power to the machine.
- Mark one tooth on the blade with a pen.
- Measure from the mitre slot to that tooth at the front of the table, then rotate the blade and measure to the same tooth at the back. Any difference is blade misalignment — correct it at the trunnions before touching the fence.
- Lock the fence somewhere useful and measure from the slot to the fence at both ends of the rail. Adjust until they match.
The fence that cannot be fixed this way
If your fence clamps only at the operator’s end, it can be parallel when locked and pivot the moment you lean on it. That is a design limit rather than a setting, and the workaround is a straight batten clamped to the fence at both ends.
This does not replace your machine’s manual. Guards, riving knives and safe working procedures differ between machines, and the manufacturer’s instructions for yours take precedence over anything written here.
What comes up most often
Should the fence be exactly parallel or slightly open at the back?
Exactly parallel is the safe default. Some people set the back a few hundredths open to reduce burning; anything that closes towards the back pinches the offcut and is how kickback starts.
Last reviewed 2026-08-12
