Table Saw
Most people are familiar with what a table saw is. A lot of times you will hear table saw used in terms meaning, any saw that is operated on top of a table. But when most of us refer to a table saw we are talking about the common saw that is a tabletop with a blade coming out of the table and a fence to keep our cuts straight. The most common of which is the 10" table saw. We're going to go over: what a table saw should be used for, parts or a basic saw, setting up for a cut, and most importantly safety tips. A Table saw is a very useful tool and very safe, if you follow the proper procedure from set up to storage.
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Proper Use
A table saw is mainly made for making rips, which is cutting long lengths off a board. You'll probably need to make rips if you are doing any laminate flooring or decking. If a rip is the same width throughout your piece, you will need to adjust your fence. once your fence its set properly, you can continuously make cut after cut, the exact same width.
The fence is the guide you will follow to keep your rip even. Most table saws have measurements on the front of the top of the table. This is for lining up your fence. The fence usually has a lever that attempts to square the fence to the front of the table. I never trust this, not the measurements or the squaring lever.
If your rip if at an angle, meaning your width from start to finish are different, you have to remove the fence and just use your eye to follow the line. Keep in mind circular blades need to go straight or it will put force on the side of the blade binding it. Setting the fence at an angle WILL NOT WORK. This will cause the blade to bind and your piece will kickback possibly causing serious injury. Another common way to injure yourself on a table saw is by trying to make miter cuts without a [miter block].
The fence is the guide you will follow to keep your rip even. Most table saws have measurements on the front of the top of the table. This is for lining up your fence. The fence usually has a lever that attempts to square the fence to the front of the table. I never trust this, not the measurements or the squaring lever.
If your rip if at an angle, meaning your width from start to finish are different, you have to remove the fence and just use your eye to follow the line. Keep in mind circular blades need to go straight or it will put force on the side of the blade binding it. Setting the fence at an angle WILL NOT WORK. This will cause the blade to bind and your piece will kickback possibly causing serious injury. Another common way to injure yourself on a table saw is by trying to make miter cuts without a [miter block].
Setting Up and Cutting Tips
Alright so you want to make a few rips on your table saw. First step is to set the fence. Disengage the fence lock that keeps it from pivoting or sliding during cuts. After deciding which side of the blade you want the fence on, raise the blade with the crank below the table, on the housing of your saw. To get the proper width, use a measuring tape to measure the gap from the inside of a tooth on the blade, to the fence. Make sure to do this at the front and back of the blade. This is extremely important. You're probably tired of hearing it, but if it's not even you will bind your blade and cause kickback.
For longer rips make sure to have some support. If you have an outward support make sure it is at an even level with your table. If you have a helper be sure they understand their job. Your helper needs to support the piece but not pivot it. The best way to do this is to have them NOT look at the blade. Look into the sky, stare at the piece, look you in the eyes creepily, just don't have them look at the blade or the two of you will be fighting against each other to keep it even.
While making any cuts on a table saw keep your eyes on the start of the fence. If you don't keep your material flush to this part of the fence you will, you guessed it, bind the blade and possibly cause serious injury.
People are often afraid of table saws which causes them to stand away and reach too much. Get as close to the front of the saw as possible standing off to the side, so your material can run past you. You should be looking straight down to see the fence and the blade. It might seem weird, but you're safer directly over the blade than tentatively standing back and overextending.
When you are cutting use one hand on the table to hold the material down and your hand closer to the material to push your piece. I like to be on the left side of the blade, as a right handed person. This means my left hand holds the material to the table, while my right pushes though the cut. My left hand stays stationary never moving towards the blade and (as much as possible) stays away from the blades path. Meanwhile, my right hand grabs my piece from the fence side or back end (if you can reach, don't overreach). Make sure you always are putting your force on the fence side. This keeps you from pivoting your material. While my right hand feeds I am never pushing directly at the blade, so if you slip you have a chance of recovering without cutting yourself. When you get close to the blade, grab your push stick to finish the cut, don't let up with your front hand until you have to or you can kick your material back at yourself. Finally when finishing your cut, Push all the way past the blade and allow your piece to fall away.
For longer rips make sure to have some support. If you have an outward support make sure it is at an even level with your table. If you have a helper be sure they understand their job. Your helper needs to support the piece but not pivot it. The best way to do this is to have them NOT look at the blade. Look into the sky, stare at the piece, look you in the eyes creepily, just don't have them look at the blade or the two of you will be fighting against each other to keep it even.
While making any cuts on a table saw keep your eyes on the start of the fence. If you don't keep your material flush to this part of the fence you will, you guessed it, bind the blade and possibly cause serious injury.
People are often afraid of table saws which causes them to stand away and reach too much. Get as close to the front of the saw as possible standing off to the side, so your material can run past you. You should be looking straight down to see the fence and the blade. It might seem weird, but you're safer directly over the blade than tentatively standing back and overextending.
When you are cutting use one hand on the table to hold the material down and your hand closer to the material to push your piece. I like to be on the left side of the blade, as a right handed person. This means my left hand holds the material to the table, while my right pushes though the cut. My left hand stays stationary never moving towards the blade and (as much as possible) stays away from the blades path. Meanwhile, my right hand grabs my piece from the fence side or back end (if you can reach, don't overreach). Make sure you always are putting your force on the fence side. This keeps you from pivoting your material. While my right hand feeds I am never pushing directly at the blade, so if you slip you have a chance of recovering without cutting yourself. When you get close to the blade, grab your push stick to finish the cut, don't let up with your front hand until you have to or you can kick your material back at yourself. Finally when finishing your cut, Push all the way past the blade and allow your piece to fall away.
Safety Tips
Table saws are one of the leading causes of injury by saws. Mainly people get too comfortable using their table saw and end up making careless mistakes. Remember, no matter how many cuts you've made, or how long you've been successful on a table saw, you can just as easily cut off a finger.
As a general rule use a [push stick] whenever you have less than a foot between the blade and fence. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to power tools. I know people that are very experienced carpenters that are missing fingers due to table saw accidents far into their career.
Ever saw has a "danger zone" depending on the rotation of the blade. A table saw's danger zone is directly behind the piece. If there are any rogue nails or staples they will exit this direction in a hurry. I've seen nails shoot out the back of table saw and embed themselves in a wall 10 feet behind the person cutting. It's no joke. Always wear safety goggles and closed toe shoes. Also make sure if you have long hair you tie it back. And last but not least do not wear baggy clothes when using a table saw. you don't want to get stuck in the blade.
Last thing. Don't forget to lower your blade and move the fence back on top of the opening every time you put away your saw. Not only will this keep the blade pristine, but it will decrease your chance of injury. Just because the blade is stationary doesn't mean falling on it, or unexpectedly leaning on it wont hurt.
Just keep in mind this is not a toy and no matter how much experience you have you can still get careless and hurt yourself. As long as you have safety on the front of your mind you'll be fine. Remember, more people are hospitalized annually from ladder injuries than table saw injuries.
Tool Basics
As a general rule use a [push stick] whenever you have less than a foot between the blade and fence. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to power tools. I know people that are very experienced carpenters that are missing fingers due to table saw accidents far into their career.
Ever saw has a "danger zone" depending on the rotation of the blade. A table saw's danger zone is directly behind the piece. If there are any rogue nails or staples they will exit this direction in a hurry. I've seen nails shoot out the back of table saw and embed themselves in a wall 10 feet behind the person cutting. It's no joke. Always wear safety goggles and closed toe shoes. Also make sure if you have long hair you tie it back. And last but not least do not wear baggy clothes when using a table saw. you don't want to get stuck in the blade.
Last thing. Don't forget to lower your blade and move the fence back on top of the opening every time you put away your saw. Not only will this keep the blade pristine, but it will decrease your chance of injury. Just because the blade is stationary doesn't mean falling on it, or unexpectedly leaning on it wont hurt.
Just keep in mind this is not a toy and no matter how much experience you have you can still get careless and hurt yourself. As long as you have safety on the front of your mind you'll be fine. Remember, more people are hospitalized annually from ladder injuries than table saw injuries.
Tool Basics