-
-
A table saw can be a dangerous tool if not used properly and with the utmost precaution. Everything from using a stable base to watching how you position your fingers is incredibly important while operating a table saw, to ensure that you don't injure yourself or others. Read on to learn more about how to use a table saw.
-
-
A table saw can be a dangerous tool if not used properly and with the utmost precaution. Everything from using a stable base to watching how you position your fingers is incredibly important while operating a table saw, to ensure that you don't injure yourself or others. Read on to learn more about how to use a table saw.
-
Introduction
- Table saws are often used to cut wood, both in household and professional projects. Even if you've been around power tools all your life, it is essential to bear in mind that they are dangerous when not handled properly. When handled safely and properly, you can use a table saw to rip lumber and sheets of plywood and drywall, for example.
Step 1: General Safety
- While it may seem that many of the following rules seem like common sense, it is important to keep them in mind, no matter what your skill level and experience are.
- Never operate a table saw while wearing gloves.
- Keep the floor in front of the saw free of debris.
- Always wear goggles and hearing protection.
- Avoid long sleeves, loose fitting clothing, long hair, ties, dangling jewelry
- Wear non-slip soled shoes.
- Use push-sticks to cut pieces six inches or less to avoid cutting your hand.
- Do not position your body in line with the blade.
- Don't reach behind the saw unless the blade is not turning.
- Disconnect from power sources before changing your blade or doing maintenance on the machine.
- Never adjust the saw unless the blade has stopped turning.
Step 2: Kickback Precautions
- There are a few things about table saws that can make operation incredibly dangerous. For example, kickback, when the object you are sawing becomes stuck and is forcefully pushed back at you. Kickback is caused by a number of different things, including:
- Underpowered saw: slowdown of the blade will grab the object and force it backward
- Blade height: when the blade is too low, it means more teeth are involved in the operation, causing a greater drag on the wood.
- Backside Kickback: caused by catching the rear teeth and pushing what you are working with forward at high velocity
- You will also want to make sure that while you are working with your table saw, you never let go of the piece as it's going through the saw.
Step 3: Choosing the Right Blade
- There are several different blades for each different operation you wish to perform. The following is a list of blade types and the operations they perform:
- True ripping blades: for ripping solid lumber
- Crosscut blades: crosscuting edges, crosscutting lumber core plywood
- Combination blades: general crosscutting, cutting mdf core hardwood plywood, crosscutting surface veneer, melamine sheet products, ripping lumber core plywood
- Top bevel blades: crosscutting mdf core hardwood plywood
- Veneer blades: melamine sheets
Step 4: Types of Cuts
- Aside from ripping long pieces of lumber, there are specific types of cuts, each with their own special purpose.
- Crosscut: a common operation that allows you to make horizontal cuts
- Miter cuts: an angled cut
- Bevel cuts: angled cut for joining pieces together
Step 5: Using a Push Stick
- A push stick is a piece designed to help you feed thinner pieces through the saw without having to actually get your fingers close to the blade. This is highly recommended, as you want to keep your fingers as far from the blade as possible to avoid an accident.
Conclusion
- Because table saws have a high risk potential, especially if you allow yourself to get too comfortable around them, it is important to know how your tool operates. You will also want to take every safety precaution to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else while operating a table saw. Understand and be prepared for kickback, doing everything in your power to avoid it. Know what type of job you plan to do before you choose a blade, and pick the right one for that job. If you're planning to work with short or thin pieces of wood, it is highly recommended to use a push stick to feed the wood through. Exercise extreme caution at all times
About this page
-
Page Views0
No one is currently managing this page.
This page currently has no vertical manager.
Featured Pages
