Table Saw Safety

Function:

To accurately perform crosscuts, rip cuts, dado's and rabbets on wood.

Why we use it:

The table saw is the most important tool in any woodworking shop. It can be used for many different types of cuts, and it is extremely accurate. In this class, we will use the table saw primarily for two different purposes:

-To accurately cut a board parallel with the grain. This is called a rip cut.

-To make wide grooves in wood. These grooves are called either rabbets or dados, depending on how they are located on the board.

We will rarely use the table saw to make crosscuts in this class. To make crosscuts, we will be using the miter saw. The miter saw is almost always a better tool for making crosscuts.

Without question, the table saw is the most dangerous tool in this shop. Most severe amputations, primarily lost fingers, happen on the table saw. Because of this, it is incredibly important to fully understand how this tool works, and how to use it safely.

There is also a serious risk for wood to kick back on the table saw. If wood kicks back, it can come towards you at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, which can injure, or kill you. Because of this it is very important to understand why kick back occurs, and how to avoid it. There will be two safety tests for the table saw. The first will cover the safe procedures for making rip cuts, and the second will cover the safe procedures for making rabbets and dados.

Safety Concerns:

-When using the table saw, the blade guard must always be in place whenever it is possible to do so. Some cuts, such as dado cuts, require that the guard be removed, but those cuts must be done exactly as the instructor tells you, and the riving knife must be installed.

-You must keep your fingers at least 4" from the blade at all times. If you can't make a cut without keeping your fingers at least 4" away from the blade, you must use a push stick. If you can't keep your fingers at least 4" from the blade even with a push stick, you may not use the table saw for that cut.

-The table saw blade should be adjusted so that it is 1/8” above the piece of wood you are cutting. If it is higher than this, it creates a greater risk.

-Make sure the saw has come to a complete stop before moving the blade guard, making an adjustment, or removing any scraps of wood from around the blade.

-Your piece of wood should be at least 12" long to safely cut on the table saw. If it is shorter than this, you may not use the table saw to make that cut.

-You may not cut a warped or twisted board on the table saw. Before cutting a board on the table saw you must make sure it is straight and flat. You will do this by using the jointer and the planer.

-You must never stand directly behind the blade or piece of wood you are cutting. Instead stand slightly to one side so that if a kickback should occur, the wood will be less likely to hit you.

-You must hold your material very firmly when using the table saw. If you don't it will be more likely to catch on the blade and kick back.

-Make sure the rip fence is securely locked before making a cut. If the rip fence moves as you are making your cut, many very bad things will occur!

Safety Concerns Specific to Rip Cuts:

-When ripping a board, the rip fence must be perfectly parallel to the blade. If it is not, the wood will bind between the rip fence and the blade and kick back will likely occur.

-Push your piece of wood all the way past the blade, letting it fall onto the floor. DO NOT leave a piece of wood on the table near the blade while the saw is still running.

-Do not reach over the blade to lift you board off of the table after making your cut. Instead, let the board fall off of the table onto the floor.

-The edge of your board which is in contact with the rip fence must be perfectly straight. This is done with the jointer.

Saftey Concerns for Dado's and Rabbets

Rabbet Dado

Rabbets are cuts which are basically notches at the end of a board. We make this cut using a table saw set up with a special blade which cuts a very wide path through the wood. Because the cut does not go all the way through the board, we can't use a typical safety guard when making these cuts. Instead, we use a block of wood mounted to the fence over the blade. This block, which we call the safety block, does two things:

-It helps to hold your board down on the table as you make your cut.

-It covers the blade so that if you slip, you are less likely to make contact with the spinning blade.

Dados are grooves cut in a piece of wood. We will usually make these cuts using the table saw with a regular blade, with the blade raised only slightly above the surface of the table. Once again, because the blade does not cut all the way through the board, a typical safety guard can not be used. When making a dado, you must use the saw set up exactly as the instructor shows you. The blade will be exposed, but it will be very close to the rip fence. You will use a push stick as needed to keep your fingers at least 4" from the moving blade.

Some specific rules to remember when cutting a rabbet:

-The safety block must be in place when making a rabbet.

-When cutting a rabbet, you must use the miter gauge to hold your board. Never try to make a rabbet using only the rip fence as your guide.

-After pushing your board across the blade, do not pull it back over the blade while the saw is still running.

Some specific rules to remember when cutting a dado:

-Even though the blade does not go all the way through the wood, never place your hand or your push stick directly over the blade.

-Make sure your pieces are firmly against the rip fence. If they are not, kickback can occur.

Understanding Kickback

Kick back on the table saw usually occurs for one of two reasons:

-If the blade and the rip fence are not parallel, the piece of wood will get pinched between them, and the pressure of the blade will force the wood back. This is why it is so important to be certain that the rip fence is adjusted correctly.

-If you leave a piece of wood on the table after you make a cut, it can catch on the back of the spinning saw blade. The wood will be lifted up by the blade, and then it will fall on top of the spinning blade. The teeth on the top of the spinning blade catch the wood and throw it, at a speed of approximately 110 miles per hour. This is obviously very dangerous, which is why you must push your board all the way off of the table.

Both types of kickback occur more easily with a lighter weight piece of wood, such as ¹/₄" plywood. Because it is so light, the wind from the blade will cause the wood to float up, after which it will move into the blade, and be thrown. Once air born, it flies very fast, and very far, slicing through whatever, or whoever, is in its way.

The main rules to remember to avoid kick back are:

-Hold the wood firmly.

-Make sure it stays in complete contact with both the table and rip fence at all times, especially after it passes the blade.

-Push your board all the way off the table.

-Make sure the rip fence is adjusted correctly.

-Don't stand directly behind the blade or wood.

Watch the following video to better understand kickback.