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How to Use a Table Saw Safely?

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How to Use a Table Saw Safely

Most of the woodworking shops keep the table saw in the center of their tools. This tool is a tremendously helpful and most people love using it. If you set the tool accurately, it will help in cutting a wide range of things. Typically, a table saw is able to rip boards to width smoothly and cuts them to a specific length.

In truth, it is able to provide a wide range of angled cuts. In fact, you can cut joinery as well. If you add a dado set (an adjustable stack of blades) to a table saw, you can cut dadoes, rabbets, and box joints easily.

However, if you do not use the table saw accurately, you can face many accidents. This is why you should read this piece of writing carefully because we have compiled a list of safety measures for using a table saw. So, let us move forward and read out them quickly.

Important Things to Consider Before Using a Table Saw

Before start using Table Saw, you should consider the following things:

  1. First, do not wear any kind of loose fitting clothing and always roll long sleeves up beyond your elbows.
  2. Another thing that you should not wear is that non-skid shoes. Also, keep shirt pockets free of any items.
  3. Protect your eyes and ears with goggles and ear protection.
  4. Conduct a visual check of the machine when it is unplugged and ensure that portable table saws are fastened to stand properly.
  5. Make sure that the power switch is off before you plugged in the saw.
  6. Examine the blade guard and anti-kickback pawls for accurate operation. Besides, you should look at the alignment of the splitter
  7. Do not forget to check the blade to ensure that they remain compact

General Guidelines for Using a Table Saw

Here are some of the general guidelines for using a table saw accurately – When you are using a table saw, keep a splitter or riving knife to stop any kickbacks.

  1. You should set the blade height beforehand to prevent the top of the teeth going beyond the surface of the workpiece (height – 3/8 inches). Besides, you should use a table saw guard while using the tool.
  2. Keep additional outfeed support at the back end of the saw table and do not pile up the workpiece while cutting.
  3. When you are working with a table saw, do not keep your hands or fingers in the path of the table saw. Besides, always stay in front of the blade and pull the stock.
  4. Release the workpiece when it has passed way the back end of the table saw blade.
  5. Before picking up the stock or scrap, you should turn the table saw off. After that, just unplug the saw while changing the blade.
  6. If you see that the motor of the table saw is slow, you will slow the feed rate. Always remember not to back a board out of a cut.

READ: How To Shop For The Right Safety Shoes And Boots

How to Crosscut and Rip Using a Table Saw?

In order to crosscut and rip, you need to use the table saw in the following way:

  1. First, you will not use the miter gauge and rip fence simultaneously. Use them separately such as – miter gauge for all crosscutting task and the rip fence for ripping only.
  2. If you are crosscutting a long workpiece, you should select a long miter gauge fence or sled. Then support the remote end of the board, which is hanging off the table.
  3. For wider work pieces, instead of using a miter gauge, you will use a sled. Other than this, don’t try to rip twisted, warped wood. Make at least one joint between one face and one edge.
  4. Then you will run the flat face on the table as well as the straight edge against the rip fence.
  5. When you are making rip cuts, you will be standing to the left side of the blade. It depends on the location of the blade. Keep in mind that you need to stand out of the way of the path of the blade.
  6. Besides, you will utilize a push stick to make rip cuts with less than 6 inches in width. Also, apply feed force on the workpiece (between blade and fence). Finally, when you are cutting a bevel, always place the rip fence on the opposite side of the bevel cut.

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