TABLE SAW INFORMATION SHEET

TABLE SAW ACCESSORY INFORMATION SHEET

TABLE SAW BLADES:
 There are three common types of blades used for table saws. The cross-cut blade, the
ripping blade, and the combo blade.

 Cross-cut Blade: Cross-cut blades are designed to produce smooth cut across the
grain of the wood, without splintering or tearing. These blades have more teeth
than a rip blade, which reduces the load put on each tooth of the blade. The
blade teeth also alternate between left, and right-hand. This way, there are 2
knife edges for the material to contact. Cross cut blades have low hook angles to
prevent overly fast feed rates.

 Rip Blade: Rip blades use fewer teeth with larger gullets that is meant to rip (cut)
a piece of wood with the grain. The larger gullets are due to the faster feed rate
and larger chip removal. Rip blades have a flat top pattern to their teeth for
efficiently cutting wood. There is less chip out and splintering when ripping
wood, and therefore the long and flat top tooth is adequate for improving speed
and maintaining good cuts. Rip blades have high hook angles to provide an
aggressive cut and fast feed rates.
 Cross-cut Sled: Cross-cut sleds are used to assist an operator when making cross
cuts. A sled is a piece of safety equipment as it is extremely dangerous to be
attempting cross cuts against a rip fence. If the material contacting a rip fence is
small, it will catch, bind and kick back. A cross-cut sled has a backing fence to
support the edge and under the material when pushing it through a saw and
there is a zero-clearance kerf. Using a cross-cut sled minimizes the chances of
negative feedback or kick back from a table saw.

 Miter-Gauge: A miter gauge is another piece of safety equipment which can be

used on table saws, band saws or belt sanders. It fits into the milled slot on most
of the machines, and allows the operator to make cuts at an angle or keep
material square to the cut. Be aware when using a miter gauge as material is
typically pushed through saws by hand, but the gauge is not as large as a cross-
cut sled would be for you to grip. Auxiliary fences may be attached to the gauge.
 TABLE SAW SAFETY SHEET

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

 Eye protection must be always worn
 Closed toes shoes are mandatory and steel toes are preferred
 Hearing protection is strongly recommended

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BEFORE OPERATION:
 Anything loose must be tied back or removed (hair, jewellery, sleeves or hoodie strings)
 Double check that you have are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment
 Ask for permission and show the teacher you are ready to operate the machine
 Ensure all guards are in good condition, including the anti-kick back fingers and splitter
 Ensure there are no obstructions around you or the machine
 Always disconnect the power before changing the blade or performing any other
maintenance operations
 Never set blade height more than ¼” (roughly 1 tooth) above the stock
 Ensure you are following sizing rules and use all appropriate tools to avoid and prevent
kickbacks

DURING OPERATION:
 Never look away or try to multitask when using a table saw – 100% undivided attention
 Feed material through the blade at an appropriate rate – Never force a cut
 Ensure the use of push sticks and keep light pressure against the fence
 Never try to make any free hand cuts on the table saw
 Always stand to the left of the blade and never reach across blades to retrieve wood
 If there are any problems, hit the emergency stop and seek a teacher immediately

AFTER OPERATION:
 Turn off the table saw and wait until it comes to a complete stop. Never use an object,
especially your hands, to try to stop the machine faster.
 Remove wood chips and saw dust with a brush and only after a machine is off and has
come to a complete stop – Never use your hands
 TABLE SAW OPERATION RULES AND PROCEDURES

GENERAL TABLE SAW RULES:

 Ensure there is nothing obstructing the guards or throat plate when tilting the blade
(changing the angle)
 Listen for sounds coming from the table saw. If it sounds wrong, it probably is wrong.
Shut off the machine and seek assistance from a teacher immediately.
 Any special set up (with teacher permission) must be removed after operation

RIPPING CUTS
 A ripping cut is when you cut wood, with, or along the grain direction
 Always use the rip fence to guide the wood when making a cut
 Ensure your material is a minimum of 12 inches in length
 Ensure the use of a push stick for smaller stock. Ask a teacher if you are unsure.
 Confirm you have a reference edge and that it is touching the rip fence when cutting
 Check that the fence is locked and square before turning machine on
 Always push material all the way through the blade, never leave material between the
blade and the fence
 Confirm the length of the wood along the rip fence is greater than the distance between
the blade and the fence

CROSS CUTS
 A cross cut is when you cut wood, across the grain direction
 Always use a miter gauge or cross-cut sled to guide the wood for cross cuts
 Ensure your fingers are a minimum of 4 inches away from the blade
 Never “double fence” – Keep the rip fence clear from work area when cross cutting
 Confirm your set up (with teacher permission) when angling blades and ensure your
cross-cut sled or miter gauge is square
 Always hold material firmly against miter gauge or cross-cut sled fence
 Ask the teacher to check set up if a stop block is used to maintain length for similar cuts