Kerf

Why is this board shorter than I measured? Let's get after it. That's because your blade isn't infinitely thin. Every time you make a cut, your blade removes material. That width is called the kerf. So, when I mark 12 in, this line isn't where I want the center of my blade. This is the side I want to keep, and I put an X on the side I want to get rid of. Put the edge of my tooth on the waste side of the line. But, here's where things get interesting. Not every blade has the same kerf. Different blades can have different kerfs. Changing blades can change exactly how much material disappears. I take this 12-in piece and I want to divide it into three equal parts. These two pieces are sitting at 4 in, and my third piece is going to be at 3 and 1/4 because every one of these cuts has to eat a kerf. So, if I need a bunch of identical pieces, all set at the same length, I'm going to use a stop block. So, now every cut puts my blade on the waste side and gives me the correct finish side. And if I need something to be absolutely perfect, I'll keep it a 16th long cuz you can always take more off, but you can't add more. So, anytime you go to make a cut, make sure that you mark your waste side and always keep your blade on this side. Anyways, I got stuff to do. I'll catch you guys later. Peace.