What is the 5 Cut Method?

The 5 Cut Method is a precise technique used in woodworking to square the fence of a table saw crosscut sled. This method involves making five consecutive cuts on a piece of wood and measuring the resulting piece to determine how square the fence is to the saw blade. By using this method and a calculator, woodworkers can achieve extremely accurate results, often within thousandths of an inch.

How to Use the 5 Cut Method Calculator

Step 1: Prepare your workpiece

Cut a rectangular piece of wood or MDF, approximately 12 inches by 6 inches. The exact size isn’t critical, but ensure it’s large enough to make five cuts.

Step 2: Make the five cuts

Make four cuts around the perimeter of your workpiece, rotating it 90 degrees after each cut. For the fifth cut, remove about an inch from one end, labeling the far end as ‘A’ and the near end as ‘B’ before cutting.

Step 3: Measure the cut piece

Using precise measuring tools like calipers, measure the width of the cut piece at both ends (A and B) and its length from end to end.

Step 4: Measure the pivot distance

Measure the distance from the pivot screw on your sled’s fence to where you’ll make the correction.

Step 5: Enter measurements into the calculator

Input the measurements into the corresponding fields in the calculator. Select the side of the pivot point and your preferred units (inches or millimeters).

Step 6: Calculate and interpret results

Click the “Calculate” button. The calculator will display the correction amount and the direction to adjust your fence. If the correction is less than 0.001 inches (or 0.025 mm), your fence is considered square.