One of the best pieces of equipment a carpenter can have is a table saw. However, not all carpenters are using table saws in a proper or safe manner. So, if you’re concerned about how to safely use a table saw, don’t be; you can start using it properly now as you have come to the right place.
We’ve included everything you need to know about using a table saw safely while working with wood in the following article. Even if you’re a novice or an experienced woodworker rediscovering the craft, you’ll find everything to be simple to learn because it has all been broken down and simplified.
What is a Table Saw?
When first used, the term “table saw” can be a little unclear, especially if you’re familiar with other types of saws like the band saw, which also have a kind of flat plane around the blade.
At least that is how I justify a table saw getting the title of “real table saw” since it typically employs a more table-like setup.
Therefore, what precisely is a table saw?
In the most basic of definitions, a table saw is simply a circular saw mounted beneath a table surface with a portion of the blade exposed and capable of cutting wood above the table.
Due to the saw’s exposed portion, the table saw is able to provide a continuous cutting mechanism that enables users to feed pieces of metal into the blade in a more deliberate, methodical, and precise manner.
A variety of tools for measuring the cut and setting various angles and other things are included in the table portion.
The saw assembly is fixed to an arbor, which secures it in place and enables the user to change the cutting depths and angles. The workpiece’s feeding to the saw blade is controlled by the table.
A table saw, despite being very basic in design, has a huge variety of applications in the woodworking industry and offers a great deal of consistency and convenience. Freehand cutting is completely at odds with this.
A table saw, when operated correctly, can be counted on to deliver robot-like accuracy on a variety of cuts, regardless of how many work parts you have lined up that need cutting.
In addition, while many models are designed to be transported to and from jobs, as well as stored away, having a table saw set up in your shop gives you a quick, easy, and convenient way to make quick and accurate cuts when needed, without having to wait for everything to be completely set up.
Table Saw Anatomy
Knowing all of a table saw’s components and what each one does will help you comprehend the device better.
Table
Naturally, this is where the table saw gets its name, and this is also where the majority of its features and essential capabilities are.
The table can be made of a variety of materials, but for obvious reasons, metal is almost always used. A large percentage of table saws typically come in cast iron or heavy-duty steel.
The table supports the workpiece as it is directed into the saw cutter and is where it is laid out before cutting. The table typically has slots for tools like the rip fence and miter gauge and is clearly marked with units of measurement on the sides.
How large metal can be handled and cut precisely depends greatly on the size of the table. The size of wood that a table can hold increases with its size. Some models include foldable or retractable table extenders.
Saw
The actual cutting takes place here. The circular saw portion of the assembly is mounted on an arbor, which gives the saw the right angle and positioning while maintaining its complete firmness and steadiness.
Despite the fact that bigger cabinet models can have blades as large as 12 inches, these circular saws typically have 10-inch blade sizes and are very powerful.
Most designs also enable the blade to be turned to one spot for bevel cuts, frequently up to 45 degrees. The saw can typically be moved upward and downward to reveal a larger or smaller blade for that specific sawing task
Blade Plate
The region all-around slot in which the saw blade extends upward and over the table is known as the blade plate. The plate adds some extra support while shielding the table and saw blade. All basic cuts can be made with a standard blade plate, but dado cuts might need to use a dado plate instead.
Blade Cover
A blade cover is used, as its name suggests, to shield the user from the cutting edge while making cuts. The cover is curved to fit the shape of the saw blade and fits over it directly.
The cover is raised and stays on top of the workpiece as it is fed into the saw, offering some additional protection against kickback. To allow the user to see the exact location of the blade while cutting, the blade cover is typically transparent.
Anti-Kickback
Regarding table saw safety, kickback is a big problem. The movement of the blade can catch the timber and send it flying off in any direction when a metal is not secured properly or an accident occurs while feeding the timber to the saw. This poses a risk to the user and damages the metal or nearby equipment.
Anti-kickback claws are attached to the backside of the blade cover and resemble spiked claws that rest on the workpiece as it is fed through, acting somewhat like tiny fingers to delicately hold the workpiece down.
The claws are just hardly capable of rising above the cutting capacity height of the saw in the event of any kickback, catching the workpiece and preventing it from flinging into the air.
RIP Fence
When making rip cuts, the rip fence is used to help direct the workpieces. The fence is intended to be stable, acting as a fixed guide to keep the workpiece in the proper position.
The user can rest the workpiece precisely in which it needs to be as it is cut by the blade thanks to the fence, which runs alongside the blade and is movable to the left and right. Without the need for a rip fence, there is no real way for the user to guarantee that the piece will be cut in a straight line.
The rip capacity, or maximum size of a workpiece that can be correctly positioned against the fence and within the sawing area, is the maximum distance of the rip fence from the blade.
Miter Gauge
Like rip fences, miter gauges are a piece of equipment that sits against the workpiece as it is fed into the saw blade. The miter adjustment, however, permits the user to place the board at the preferred angular position for miter cuts rather than in a straight line.
Typically, the miter gauge slides up and down the table parallel to the saw blade area in its designated slot area. The gauge can be turned between 0 and 90 degrees.
Bevel Angle Gauge
There must be a method to see what angular position you have had the blade set to since the majority of table saws are capable of making bevel cuts. On the perpendicular end of the saw’s cage, directly below the table, bevel angle gauges are frequently placed.
You can see precisely what angular position you are tilting the saw blade to by using this gauge’s handle to adjust the bevel angle.
Blade Height Adjustment
Height is the last adjustment that needs to be made to the blade. The bevel angle adjuster handle is typically in the form of a hand crank, and it is almost always situated above or directly below the adjuster.
The saw blade will rise up out of the slot if you turn the handle in one direction, while it will fall back into the slot if you turn the handle in the other direction.
The cutting height of the saw must be adjusted in order to correspond with the workpiece being cut. If the cut is too low, it won’t be complete. If the cut is too high, there may be kickback as well as a potential for a less clean cut.
Stand
You’ll need a stand for saws that aren’t fixed to a work surface. Depending on the kind of table saw being used, the stands have varying purposes.
Table saws that are designed to be more mobile will have foldable stands that also have rollers or wheels, whereas cabinet versions and table saws that aren’t really intended for frequent transport will have more robust stands that are bolted or clamped to the saw.
Using a Table Saw: Safety Risks
A table saw is a powerful tool, but it can also be very dangerous and cause injuries. Some of the accidents to watch out for are as follows:
Kickback
This is the situation that can happen when using a table saw is the most dangerous. Kickback occurs when the material being cut becomes jammed between both the cutter and the adjustable rip fence, applying significant pressure to the material, causing it to turn abruptly and be thrown by the blade in the direction of the user.
The user runs the risk of suffering serious injuries from the blade’s high speed and hard material. It is best to use a riving knife, adjust the fence in a reasonable amount, and hold the material firmly to lower the risk of kickback.
Snags
Exactly how it sounds, this is. Snags occur when the user’s gloves or a piece of clothing catches on a blade’s tooth. We won’t go into details because you can already picture how horrifying this would end. Maintain a safe distance from the blade at all times while wearing comfortable clothing.
Cut lumber, splinters, the blade, and other small projectiles can also cause minor cuts. In order to avoid snares, do not remove the gloves.
Flying Particles
Sawdust, metal, and other small, solid objects may fly off into the air and land in your eyes, nose, or mouth. Even if you don’t have breathing issues, your body could still be harmed by these particles. So always wear a mask and goggles.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Using a Table Saw
It’s time to use your table saw now that you are familiar with the fundamentals. How to do it is as follows:
Step 1: Use the appropriate safety measures
Wear comfortable clothing, goggles, a respirator mask to protect you from the harmful dust, and gloves. Roll long sleeves up and away from the blade if you have long sleeves. Being extremely cautious with how you angle your lumber is important because the blade will be coming straight at you.
Step 2: Blade Adjustment
Check to see that the blade you’re using is sharp, dry, and clean. Never use any blades that have teeth that are missing, turned up, dull, or have parts that have rusted over. The motor will be overloaded, and the blade may even break while in use.
You need two wrenches in order to change the blade on the table saw. The arbor is held in place by one wrench, which is also used to turn the nut and remove the blade. Replace the nut after setting the blade of your choice with the teeth facing you.
The blade should be placed next to the desired piece of lumber, and the height and bevel settings should be changed so that the top of the blade only protrudes slightly over the surface of the material.
Step 3: Material Adjustment
In order to face the blade of the table saw, position your lumber so that it is flat on the table. Mark the area that needs to be reduced precisely. To avoid wedging the lumber, make sure to adjust the fence so that it provides side support.
Bear in mind that the “kickback zone” is the space between the blade and the fence. In order to prevent the lumber from turning and catapulting towards you, never push it in the direction of the blade but rather down and straight ahead.
Step 4: Start Cutting
The unit can be turned on after you have developed a clear plan for how you will make your cut. Think of a table saw as an upside-down circular saw sticking out of a table. Lock your fence to the desired length while keeping that in mind and start the cut.
With the blade only cutting through the marked area, carefully advance your lumber. If you’d like, you can employ a push stick. Push off and pull away from the lumber without coming into contact with the blade once the cut is complete.
Turn your lumber so that one side of it is against the miter gauge fence in order to make a cross-cut. Before turning on the blade, mark the readings with tape or a marker. In order for the blade to cut along the marked section, push the miter gauge. then carefully remove the cut sections.
Continue making straight cuts in the same manner until your results are satisfactory.
The Varieties of Cuts
A table saw is a one-man army that can cut almost any material, including wood, metal, plastic, and a variety of other materials, in any workshop. A table saw’s popularity among craftsmen and carpenters can be attributed to its versatility. A brief discussion of some of the most popular cuts a table saw can make will now be initiated.
- RIP Cuts
Ripping woodblocks are the one job that a table saw excels at better than any other power saw on the market. Nothing can match the level of precision that rip cuts produced by a table saw.
With the proper blade installed, they can easily break large blocks of wood due to their powerful motors and sturdy construction. They are also utilized for extensive ripping without sacrificing precision and quality.
- Cross-Cutting
For making crosscuts in wood, most people use a chop saw or miter saw. However, you might not be aware that table saws make great crosscutting tools that will guarantee your work is precise and accurate.
Given that both rip cuts and crosscuts slice through wood blanks in a straight line, they are somewhat comparable. Rip cuts, however, run perpendicular to the grain, whereas cross cuts do. Use a miter gauge along with your table saw if you’re crosscutting because it creates the ideal cutting angle.
- Cutting Kerf
When cutting through any workpiece, a kerf is the portion of the material that is removed. Because kerf cutting requires more precise balancing and adjustment than other cuts, it is typically difficult for beginners.
You will frequently see carpenters cutting kerfs with hand saws. However, table saws are more practical to use because you can adjust the workpiece with both hands.
- Dado Cuts
Dado cuts are necessary for interconnecting fittings and joints so that wood boards can add grooves. Making slots for the grooves with dado cuts requires proper technique and specialized blades, so you cannot just use any power saw for this task. Dado cuts are challenging.
With regard to through or stopped dado cuts, table saws meet all requirements. A standard table saw blade can be utilized for this task if you are an expert and have experience making dado cuts. The best option, however, for making precise slots, is to use dado blades.
- Cutting Bevel
When joining two wood pieces at a specific angle, you need to make a bevel cut. A power saw may not always be capable of making angled cuts perfectly because it can occasionally be challenging to set an exact angle while cutting. Table saws, on the other hand, can literally save your life in this industry since they can be at a 45-degree angle.
When cutting the workpiece, you can tilt the saw blade at the desired angle. Table saws typically have a range of 0 to 45/50 degrees for the angle that can be set. However, by making the necessary adjustments, some of them can tilt more than 50 degrees.
Blades
Table saw blades play a role in choosing the type of cuts that will be decided to take on a workpiece. Obviously, you can get by with just about any blade if your only concern is getting the smallest cut possible, but using blades designed for particular jobs yields much more pleasing outcomes.
Based on the design or grind of their teeth, there seem to be four basic types of blades. They are a triple-chip grind, alternate top bevel, combination, and flat top grind (TCG.) Although some larger models are capable of 12 inches or even larger blades, table saw blades are typically 10 inches long.
- FTG – Longer blade teeth are best for ripping and general sawing when smoothness is not important.
- ATB – Blade with an angled top edge that still functions as an all-purpose tool while enabling cleaner cuts.
- ATBR – Teeth made up of both FTG and ATB. produces a cut that is somewhat smooth while still being able to handle harder materials with ease.
- TCG – FTG teeth are sporadically spaced among smaller teeth. The first FTG tooth essentially cleans up the cut made by the chamfered tooth. Best for sawing solid, dense materials like Corian and laminated plastic, as well as non-ferrous metals like brass and aluminum.
Conclusion
You can see that using a table saw is not as challenging or risky as many carpenters may lead you to believe now that we have covered all the information we have on the subject. With a little practice, you’ll quickly become accustomed to cutting with table saws. So get your table saw out and start using it to hone your skills.