When ripping long boards, use a support at the front of the table, such as a roller stand, and a support or "tailman" at the rear as shown in Figure 33.
Have the blade extend about 1/8" above the top of the workpiece. Exposing the blade above this point can be hazardous.
Crosscutting should never be done freehand nor should the fence be used as an end stop unless an auxiliary block is clamped to the front of the blade area such that the cutoff piece comes free of the block before cutting starts (Figure 35).
Figure 33
Crosscutting
Crosscutting is where the workpiece (A, Fig. 34) is fed cross grain into the saw blade using the miter gauge (B, Fig. 34) to support and position the workpiece.
To improve the effectiveness of the miter gauge in crosscutting, mount an auxiliary wooden extension face (C, Fig, 34) with a
Figure 34
Figure 35
Length stops should not be used on the free end of the workpiece in the cutoff area.
Do not crosscut workpieces shorter than 6". Before starting a cut, be sure the miter gauge is securely clamped at the desired angle. Hold the workpiece firmly against the table and back against the miter gauge. Always use the saw guard and splitter and make sure the splitter is properly aligned.
For 90 degree crosscutting, most operators prefer to use the
When using the miter gauge, the workpiece must be held firmly and advanced smoothly at a slow rate. If the workpiece is not held firmly, it can vibrate causing it to bind on the blade and dull the saw teeth.
Provide auxiliary support for any workpiece extending beyond the table top with a tendency to sag and lift up off the table.
Have the blade extend about 1/8" above the top of the workpiece. Exposing the blade above this point can be hazardous.
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