How to Use a Table Saw

A table saw is exactly what it sounds like it is: a table with a round saw blade sticking up out of it. You guide the piece of wood you wish to cut against the blade, and it cuts it appropriately. With a table saw, you can make a simple cut across a piece of wood (much like you would with a chop saw or the more portable circular saw). You can also make longer cuts across an entire board, and rest assured that the cut is straight the whole length. You can cut the end of a board at a specified angle. You can even tilt the blade and cut a bevel.

As with all saw use, safety is first with table saws. Let me tell you a brief story about my dad. My dad has worked with wood his entire life. He was the son of a cabinet-maker, and self-acclaimed safety fanatic when it came to working with saws. For over 40 years, he always waited until the saw blade was at a complete stop before putting his fingers near it. He always used a piece of wood to push scrap out of the way. Then one weekend, while he was constructing the 9-foot tall windmill that sits in our back yard now, he reached over the running saw blade for something and shaved and inch off two of his fingers. This is what's called "Complacency." A study by New Woodworker.com LLC found that respondents with 18 years or more of experience were sustaining injuries at a much higher rate than novices. My suggestion is this: Treat every time at the saw like it's your first time.

Always use push devices when using a table saw. A push device is something you use to push the material that, should something go awry, will impact the blade before your fingers, and give you a chance not to end up like my dad. These range from the simple (and not all that safe) stick, to the commercially available push handle or push block. A good push device puts a lot of distance between you and the table saw blade and also gives you a good grip on the wood.

Another good device to use is called a featherboard. A feather board, a board with several cuts to make a "feathery" looking end, is placed before the blade. When using a table saw, the featherboard holds the board you're cutting against the table and the fence. The featherboard helps prevent kickback, although it should not replace the table saw's included anti-kickback features and assemblies.

There are a few different theories about how high the saw blade should be while you're working with a table saw. Some prefer it to be just higher than the height of the board you plan to cut; some believe that it's safe for the blade to be up to 1 ½ inches higher. All agree that a blade that is up too high poses a greater safety risk.

Feed rate is a tricky technique with the table saw that you mostly learn from your own experience. The proper rate depends on the size of the saw, the material you're working with, the type of cut you're making and even your own experience and confidence with the table saw. If you feed to quickly, you may overwhelm the table saw, and risk a sloppy cut of the wood at best and a sloppy cut of your hand at worst. But slower is not always better, as a slow feed rate builds up heat that can burn both saw and wood.

If you are new to using a table saw, I highly suggest you read the operator's manual. For more detailed information online, I suggest these two websites: New Wood Worker.com has fantastic photos and videos of techniques. Also, this table saw article is humorous and helpful with the details.