After rereading @WoodturningVern post from Tuesday

On 4/21/2026 at 2:55 PM, WoodturningVern said:

1. Since my blade is not running in the center of the table hole (it's off to the right by 1/16" or more) I tried adjusting the bottom blade mount to the left until I could cleanly install my insert plate. That took quite a bit of turning. Just looking at it from the front it appeared to be off vertical.

I'm thinking at this point you would leave the blade to left and adjust the table 90 degrees to the blade as shown https://www.manualslib.com/manual/37658/Delta-40-680.html?page=14#manual

steps #3,4, loosen the lock nut and adjusting the leveling screw. Then do the test cut @Wichman3 described.

Edited April 23Apr 23 by DuckSoup

46 minutes ago, DuckSoup said:

Thanks @Wichman3 I totally missed the model number. @John Morris or @lew could you please remove my picture ladened post above, they are the wrong model saw, thanks.

Done

No worries @John Morris . I knew that since the guy I bought the saw from purchased it new that we must have had a model number mix-up in your post. My manual does show the quick release clamps top and bottom so everything matches up there. Delta also confused the issue by actually building two different versions of the model 40-680 saw.

Here's where I am right now. I'm not going to adjust the bottom of the blade over to the left to try and center the blade. I did that once and it creates quite a significant blade angle. To then rotate the table to create a perpendicular relationship between the saw and the blade would cause me to always be cutting on a table rotated clockwise from horizontal by a significant amount.

I ordered a variety of new Olson blades yesterday. They'll arrive in a few days. I'll install a new blade and see what we look like.

Right now the table is removed and I did measure for four cuts on the top side of the trunnion mounts where the hold-down screws are located. There is room to cut a section out around each screw but that comes with its own problems.

I'm waiting for a response from Delta, but frankly I doubt I'll even hear back from them. Companies generally don't want to talk about discontinued tools. If I hear anything it will be about selling me a new currently in production saw.

I have also tried to get registered on the Scroll Saw Village forum, but something is wrong there and the site won't allow me to complete the registration. I've reached out to their contact address three times with no response. I'd love to get a membership there, but for now that seems to be impossible.

Everything else checks out in terms of alignment, no damage, and the saw runs very smooth. I'm thinking that my best course of action is to use my Zero Clearance Insert (ZCI) and just slice it for the actual off-center blade position. I can widen that cut slightly to allow for table rotation. That way I can use the saw with the table horizontal or angled and it should run just fine. I hate to modify the trunnion mounts as that might introduce a loss of support strength under the table. The last thing I need to do is cause a trunnion mount to break. I can only imagine how difficult or costly it might be to find a replacement.

Thanks to everyone that has attempted to lend a hand. I really appreciate all the ideas.

Vern

I'm sorry, I meant @DuckSoup not @John Morris . Please forgive me.

I noticed the scroll saw site had a few extra scripts loaded. Are you using any popup/script blocker software that might be preventing your information from being sent to their site?

My wife uses DucuDuckGo and sometimes it interferes with filling out registrations on line.

@lew ,

Not that I am aware of. I use Chrome as my browser. I'll look at the settings to see if I can figure anything out. Probably also a good time to clear my history and cache as well.

Thanks

19 hours ago, WoodturningVern said:

Here's where I am right now. I'm not going to adjust the bottom of the blade over to the left to try and center the blade. I did that once and it creates quite a significant blade angle. To then rotate the table to create a perpendicular relationship between the saw and the blade would cause me to always be cutting on a table rotated clockwise from horizontal by a significant amount.

@WoodturningVern I think there a little confusion. On page 14 of the Delta manual for this saw Fig.31 shows items C&D which is a lock nut & a leveling screw. The table can tilt left or right, and this screw allows you to fine tune the table to 90 degrees in relation to the blade. If you move you blade to the left just enough to install the red insert, stop there. Turn the leveling screw clockwise which causes the table to tilt to the right, this should open the gap between the blade and the insert. Setting a small square against the blade lets you zero in the table to 90 degrees.

@DuckSoup ,

I think I understand completely what has been proposed in terms of blade bottom adjustment followed by table adjustment. The stop bolts under the table are ancillary issues. I have attached three quick sketches numbered 1 to 3 that show what's been suggested.

In Figure 1 I've shown my saw's current condition, i.e. the blade when vertical is offset to the right of the center of the table insert slot when viewed from the front of the saw. In this case the blade is perfectly vertical and the tabletop is perfectly horizontal. The table and the blade are in a perpendicular relationship.

In Figure 2 I show the suggestion that the bottom end of the blade is adjusted to the left until the blade where it passes through the table is in the insert slot. Remember the top blade has no horizontal aadjustment. As you can see that results in a significant blade angle (approximately 10-15 degrees) off vertical and is very near the end of the bottom adjustment range. Also note that the blade is also 10-15 degrees offset from the horizontal table.

In Figure 3 I show the table rotated to the right until it is perpendicular to the blade.

So what has that accomplished and left me with?

1. Yes, the blade is now perpendicular to the table.

2. Yes, the existing insert can be inserted into the recess on the table top.

3. Yes, the stop bolts on the underside of the table can be adjusted to create in effect a new 0 degree plane that is off true horizontal.

4. However, I will always be cutting with the table rotated to the right 10-15 degrees from horizontal. Not really how I want to routinely be cutting. Table rotation would normally be used for a special situation.

So, I'm still thinking the only path for me is to the cut a zero clearance insert offset to the right to where the blade position is now located such that the blade is horizontal and the table is horizontal. Once I do that everything works perfectly except the blade is not in the center of the insert. I think I'll get used to that.

Thanks

Vern

Sketch Fig. 1.tif Sketch Fig. 2.tif Sketch Fig. 3.tif

Nice find! The insert definitely shouldn't be pushing the blade to one side, so I'd guess it's either the wrong insert or slightly off. For the ZCI, I'd install it and let the blade cut its own slot so everything stays aligned. As for blades, Olson and Flying Dutchman are both solid choices for plain-end scroll saw blades.