18
Operations (NOTE: The following Figures may or may not
show your specific saw, but the procedures are
the same.)
Table Saws
Familiarize yo urself with the loc ation and
operation of all controls and adjustments and the
use of accessories such as the miter gauge and
rip fence.
Kickbacks
Serious injury can result from kickbacks which
occur when a work piece binds on the saw blade
or binds between the saw blade and rip f e nce or
other fixed object. This binding can cause the
work piece to lift up and be thrown toward the
operator.
Listed below are conditions, which can cause
kickbacks:
!
Confining the cutoff piece when crosscutting or
ripping.
!
Releasing the work piece before completing the
operation or not pushing the work piece all the
way past the saw blade.
!
Not using the splitter when ripping or not
maintaining alignment of the splitter with the
saw blade.
!
Using a dull saw blade.
!
Not maintaining alignment of the rip fence so
that it tends to angle toward rather than away
from the saw blade front to back.
!
Applying feed force when ripping to the cutoff
(free) section of the work piece instead of the
section between the saw blade and fence.
!
Ripping wood that is twisted (not flat), or does
not have a straight edge, or a twisted grain.
To minimize or prevent injury from kickbacks:
!
Avoid conditions listed above.
!
Wear a safety face shield, goggles, or glasses.
!
Do not use the miter gauge and rip fence in the
same operation unless provision is made by
use of a facing board on the fence so as to
allow the cutoff section of the workpiece to
come free before the next cut is started (See
Figure 31).
!
As the machine receives use, the operation of
the anti-kickback pawls should be checked
periodically (Figure 23). If the pawls do not stop
the reverse motion of a workpiece, resharpen
all the points.
!
Where possible, keep your face and body out of
line with potential kickbacks including when
starting or stopping the machine.
Figure 23
Dull, badly set, improper, or improperly f iled
cutting tools and cutting tools with gum or resin
adhering to them can cause accidents. Never
use a cracked saw blade. The use of a sharp,
well maintained, and correct cutting tool for the
operation will help to avoid injuries.
Support the work properly and hold it firmly
against the gauge or fence. Use a push stick or
push block when ripping short, narrow (6" w idth
or less), or thin work. Use a push block or miter
gauge holddown when dadoing or molding.
For increased safety in crosscutting, use an
auxiliary wood facing (Figure 24) attac hed to the
miter gauge using the holes provided in the
gauge.
Figure 24
Never use the fence as a length stop w hen
crosscutting. Do not hold or touch the free end
or cutoff section of a workpiece. On through-
sawing operations, the cutoff section must NOT
be confined.
Always keep your hands out of the l ine of the
saw blade and never reach back of the cutting
blade with either hand to hold the workpiece.
Bevel ripping cuts should always be made wit h
the fence on the right side of the saw blade so
that the blade tilts away from the fence and
minimizes t he p ossibility of t he work bindi ng and
the resulting kickback.