RIPPING
Ripping is the operation of making a lengthwise cut through a board, as shown in Fig. 123, and the rip fence
(A)is used to position and guide the work. One edge of the work rides against the rip fence while the flat side of the board rests on the table. Since the work is pushed along the fence, it must have a straight edge and make solid contact with the table. The saw guard must be used. The guard has
Start the motor and advance the work holding it down and against the fence. Never stand in the line of the saw cut when ripping. Hold the work with both hands and push it along the fence and into the saw blade as shown in Fig. 123. The work can then be fed through the saw blade with one or two hands. After the work is beyond the saw blade and
If the ripped work is less than 4 inches wide, a push stick should always be used to complete the feed, as shown in Fig. 124. The push stick can easily be made from scrap material as explained in the section “CONSTRUCTING A
PUSH STICK.”
When ripping material under 2 inches in width, a flat pushboard is a valuable accessory since ordinary type sticks may interfere with the blade guard. That flat pushboard can be made as shown in Fig. 124A.
USING AUXILIARY WOOD FACING ON BIESEMEYER RIP FENCE
It is necessary when performing special operations such as moulding to add wood facing (A) Fig. 124B, to one or both sides of the rip fence, as shown. The wood facing is attached to the fence with two clamps (B). 3/4 inch stock is suitable for most work although an occasional job may require 1 inch facing.
A wood facing should be used when ripping thin material such as paneling to prevent the material from catching between the bottom of the rip fence and the saw table surface.
A
Fig. 123
Fig. 124
Fig. 124A
B
A
Fig. 124B
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