37
votes
How do I prevent dangerous kickback on a table saw?
Riving knife! That's the best method. I've heard it said that it's impossible to have kickback with a riving knife.
(Image Source)
Other things to consider:
Having a fence parallel to the blade. ...
- 4,176
32
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to resaw on a table saw?
Is this considered safe?
It can be done safely. A tall fence, featherboards, and good push stick make a big difference. Not everyone takes the time to set all that up, though, so it's worth pointing ...
- 8,911
23
votes
How do I prevent dangerous kickback on a table saw?
Kickback can occur when the back of the blade gets pinched in the kerf, when a piece of wood is pinched between the blade and fence, or when a piece of wood is lifted off the table.
Anti-kickback ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
23
votes
Is a climbing cut on a table-saw ever justified?
A "climb cut" is called such because the workpiece wants to "climb" over the blade--or, if the workpiece is fixed, the blade wants to "climb" over the workpiece. Where do you think Galoob got the ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
20
votes
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What is the recommended height of the blade on a table saw while operating?
If you call up Freud and ask, they'll tell you that you want one full tooth to clear the top of the wood, but no more.
There are a couple of reasons for that recommendation- first is safety. A tooth ...
- 4,382
20
votes
Why a zero clearance insert?
To prevent small pieces from falling into the gap.
To serve as a backing to minimize chipout on the back side of the cut.
I can't think of a time when you wouldn't be better off using one. However, ...
- 2,396
20
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Perfect miters every time
There's two ways that immediately pop to mind- one involves spending a significant amount of money, the other a significant amount of time.
You can buy replacement miter gauges for most table saws (e....
- 4,382
17
votes
How do I prevent dangerous kickback on a table saw?
As a secondary safety measure to @dfife's excellent riving knife suggestion, anti-kickback pawls are another option.
Generally they install on the riving knife itself, and are spring loaded to stay ...
- 4,338
17
votes
Accepted
What is a crosscut sled used for?
Let's tackle the second part of your question first.
when/why would I want to use [a crosscut sled] over the fence on a saw?
It is extremely unsafe to use your table saw's fence for crosscuts ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
16
votes
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Can I make a dado blade set out of multiple regular blades?
There's another factor you're not considering: torque requirements. There's a reason the majority of dado sets are 6" or 8" in diameter. Most table saws won't have the power to run a 10" set. A 10" ...
- 4,338
16
votes
Considerations for using smaller diameter blades on table saw?
I use 7.25" and 8" blades on a 10" table saw all the time, with no problem. You will have less depth of cut, of course, and also a reduction of rim speed,which will slightly increase chances of ...
- 160
15
votes
Why a zero clearance insert?
A zero clearance insert is an insert which exactly matches the width of the blade. You can make one by slowly raising the blade through an un-cut insert.
The advantage is as aaron says, they prevent ...
- 5,384
14
votes
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Are there any alternatives to a SawStop?
No, SawStop is the only table saw currently available for purchase (as of Apr 2015) which features a flesh-triggered active safety device.
However, on March 16, 2015, Bosch announced a jobsite table ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
14
votes
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How do I know it's time to replace my circular saw blade?
Your blade will start to show signs of dullness. These include:
Binding
Excessive force required to advance cut
Excessive tearing/chipout
Burning the wood
It helps if you can remember the "feel" of ...
- 4,338
14
votes
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What am I doing wrong when making lap joints with my stacked dado set?
The chippers in the stack may vary in height. You can test for that by making a single pass and see if it is smooth. If the chippers are ok, then it is likely technique.
Make sure you are holding ...
- 8,036
13
votes
Accepted
Is this table saw lathe jig safe?
I think the word 'safe' here might be relative. Just like modern cars are safe, when driven on the road, and obeying traffic laws. I think in this case the answer is a profound NO.
Table saws are '...
- 1,762
13
votes
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How can I enclose the top of my contractor table saw for better dust collection?
If you feel it must be sealed up, some nicely placed HVAC aluminum tape will do the trick. A careful application at the edge of the table and bring it to the sides with a little turn-down to seal it ...
- 848
13
votes
Accepted
What's a good way to cut a board parallel to its face?
The operation you want to do is called resawing, and is best done on a bandsaw.
Ideally, your bandsaw should be equipped with a 1/2" or wider, 2-4 TPI blade and a resaw guide or high fence that can ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
13
votes
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What kind of wax will keep a crosscut sled sliding well?
"Paste wax" is the go-to wax for your purpose and for waxing tool surfaces.
Avoid buying a wax that contains silicone, because the silicone can directly or indirectly get transferred onto your wood ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
13
votes
What is the hook angle on a saw blade?
The hook angle refers to the angle at which the teeth will engage the material being cut. A high or positive hook angle means the outermost tip of each tooth will engage very aggressively, whereas a ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
13
votes
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Is it better to let the tool run or stop in-between cuts?
Generally, that is the right thing to do. Obviously you wouldn't let a power tool run all day when you don't need it, or even walk away and let it run unattended. But keeping it running in between ...
- 3,835
13
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How can I make precise corner or notch cuts on the edge of a board?
I presume it's obvious but I'll say it anyway, accurate layout and marking on the wood is an all-important first step.
I have used my jigsaw or chisel for similar cuts on other projects. While I ...
- 61.8k
13
votes
Considerations for using smaller diameter blades on table saw?
It's common to use 8" dado sets on 10" table saws.
The main disadvantage of a smaller blade is simply that your maximum cut depth is reduced.
There is also going to be a reduction in the speed at ...
- 9,111
12
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What is the difference between a riving knife and a splitter on a table saw?
A riving knife goes up and down with the blade, so it's always the same distance from the back of the blade.
One person on the Fine Woodworking forums made a nice illustration:
(image source)
A ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
12
votes
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What types of table saw cuts cannot be made with a riving knife installed?
Although there are many instances in which you need to remove a standard or modular table saw blade guard, most cuts can be made with a riving knife installed. However, there are a few operations for ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
12
votes
How to cut Plexiglas on a table saw?
Plexiglass works well with a craft knife too. If you score it a couple of times with a straight rule, it should snap cleanly along the break.
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12
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Do I need to clean my miter and table saw after each use?
I think this falls under the "it's true, but doesn't matter" category. Motors will operate at their peak efficiency when clean, but it takes a lot of dust build up before the performance or longevity ...
- 8,036
11
votes
Accepted
How can I bring an old, disused table saw back into active and safe use?
If the table saw has been properly stored, you may not have to do much before you can start using it. Find out if there's a reason why it hasn't been used other than a loss of interest or lack of time-...
rob♦
- 18.6k
11
votes
How do I know it's time to replace my circular saw blade?
Sometimes when people believe their saw is dull, what it really needs is a cleaning. The resins from the wood build up in the teeth over time and gum up the cutting edge. Soaking the blade in simple ...
- 4,015
11
votes
How can I enclose the top of my contractor table saw for better dust collection?
I wouldn't worry about it unless you hook everything up and find that you aren't getting good enough suction. In fact, you don't want to completely seal up the saw, or else there won't be enough air ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
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