Glossary of Terms

Anti-Kickback Pawls (Fingers)

Device which, when properly installed and maintained, is designed to stop the workpiece from being kicked back toward the front of the saw during a ripping operation.

Arbor

The shaft on which a blade or cutting tool is mounted.

Bevel Cut

A cutting operation made with an angled blade.

Compound Cut

A cut with both a miter angle and a bevel angle.

Crosscut

A cutting or shaping operation made across the grain of the workpiece.

Dado

A non-through cut which produces a square sided notch or trough in the workpiece.

Featherboard

A device used to help control the workpiece by guiding it securely against the table or fence during any rip cut operation.

Freehand

Performing a cut without using a fence, miter gauge, fixture, hold down clamp, or other proper device to keep the workpiece from twisting during the cut.

Gum

A sticky, sap based residue from wood products.

Heel

Misalignment of the blade.

Kerf

The amount of material removed by the blade in a through cut or the slot produced by the blade in a non-through or partial cut.

Kickback

An uncontrolled grabbing and throwing of the workpiece back toward the front of the saw. Associated with the workpiece closing the kerf and pinching the blade or otherwise placing tension on the blade.

Leading End

The end of the workpiece which, during a rip type operation, is pushed into the cutting tool first.

Miter Cut

A cutting operation made with the wood at any angle other than 90 degrees.

Molding

A cut which produces a special shape in the workpiece, used for joining or decoration.

Non-Through Cuts

Any cutting operation where the blade does not extend completely through the thickness of the workpiece.

Push Block

A device used to feed the workpiece through the saw, except during narrow ripping type operations where a push stick should be used. It also helps keep the operator's hands well away from the blade.

Push Stick

A device used to feed the workpiece through the saw to help keep the operator's hands well away from the blade.

Rabbet

A notch in the edge of a workpiece.

Resin

A sticky, sap base substance that has hardened.

Ripping Or Rip Cut

A cutting or shaping operation made along the length or with the grain of the workpiece.

Riving Knife

Also known as a spreader or splitter. A metal piece, slightly thinner than the saw blade which helps keep the kerf open and prevent kickback.

Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)

The number of turns completed by a spinning object in one minute.

Saw Blade Path

The area over, under, behind, or in front of the blade. As it applies to the workpiece, that area which will be, or has been, cut by the blade.

Set

The distance that the tip of the saw blade tooth is bent (or set) outward from the face of the blade.

Throw-Back

Throwing of a workpiece in a manner similar to a kickback. Usually associated with a cause other than the kerf closing, such as a workpiece being dropped onto the blade or being placed inadvertently in contact with the blade.

Through Sawing

Any cutting operation where the blade extends completely through the thickness of the workpiece.

Trailing End

The workpiece end last cut by the blade in a ripping operation.

Workpiece

The item on which the cutting operation is being done. The surfaces of a workpiece are commonly referred to as faces, ends, and edges.

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