First time using a table saw today

[tymbo]

I have looked at them in person and yes they are well built saws. I would not ever buy one however while that jackass would make any money from me. If it means workers at one company benefit while others suffer, well all I can really do is apologize about that. In the price range of a real cabinet saw, I would probably buy a used one anyway. I have been making due with a portable all these years so far anyway.

I am not saying Dewalt, TTI, Ridgid, Steel City, etc are any better. I am not saying anybody turned him down for any noble reason. What I am saying is that guy will not get any of my money because of his business practices and general ***-hole-ness.

OK, the guy is a douche bag. We can agree on that- after all, he is a lawyer!
I can certainly appreciate you standing up for your principals, but how many fingers are you willing to lose for your principals? Me personally, I would rather swallow my pride and pay the man, and sleep well with all my fingers.

 

[t4runner]

Without a doubt power tools of any kind can cause serious injury even death. However so can riding in a car or using a firearm. I did a quick search of injuries and fatalities stats and its a scary world. But we dont stop doing what we like because of a chance of injury. We learn the proper way to use our tools and remain cautious when doing so.

 

[BikerDad]

If it means workers at one company benefit while others suffer, well all I can really do is apologize about that.

Why apologize? Seriously? When you go to McDonalds for lunch, the workers at Burger King suffer, unless you're a real a'holay. Buy a Snap-On wrench, and the Mac guy suffers. Heck, according to the United States Supreme Court, when you grow your own corn on your land to feed your chickens (also on your land), you are making some random faceless farmer three states over suffer because of your non-participation in interstate commerce. As a result, the Federal government has the authority, under the interstate commerce clause, to tell you how much corn you can grow, and if you grow more than they allow, they have the authority to come and destroy your corn, grown on your land, for your chickens.

Now, if that sounds insane to you, then don't apologize for making a choice. Every choice in the marketplace means somebody "suffers". Big deal. (If it does not sound insane to you, why the hell are you frosted at Sawstop dude?)

Oh, and always remember, when you have the opportunity to walk REEEEEAAAAL sloooooowwwwww in front of a lawyer who's in a hurry, do so.

 

[KaHuNaZ]

that pic is sick. who want's to see that ****?

 

[PCO6]

that pic is sick. who want's to see that ****?

Agree. I think we can all "get the picture" without seeing it.

 

[cheechi]

Why apologize? Seriously?

That comment was more in reference to the fact that it is a well built saw. Hard working people should not have to suffer because their CEO makes ****** decisions, for any company or industry.

 

[bulletpruf]

I don't have one and I'm scared sh*tless of them. My grandfather was missing four fingers on his left hand - took them at an angle - lost all of his pinky and only about 1/4 of his nose-picking finger) from a saw incident. He built conveyors and other equipment for potato processing/harvesting in a shop downstairs in his house in New Brunswick.

 

[cheechi]

This is a good blog in general, but this particular video is very relevant to the OP.

 

[Plombob]

The #1 rule for tablesaws:

Make certain your fence is perfectly parallel to the blade. If the back side nudges in and pinches the stock between the fence and rear, upward-moving part of the blade you're going to have a dangerous kickback.

That's how people get hurt. Measure twice and make sure that fence doesn't pinch.

That happened to me. I was cutting a piece of 3/4" ply. It hit me in the stomach so hard I blacked out. I heard the wood bouncing around the shop and it knocked over a trash can holding metal scrap.

Ended up with a fractured thumb.

The crazy thing was, I never got a bruise on my stomach.

Treat the table saw as if it hated you.

 

[monomach]

OK, the guy is a douche bag. We can agree on that- after all, he is a lawyer!
I can certainly appreciate you standing up for your principals, but how many fingers are you willing to lose for your principals? Me personally, I would rather swallow my pride and pay the man, and sleep well with all my fingers.

It's not an either/or proposition. All it takes to keep your fingers is not being an idiot. It's not like everyone who owned a table saw before that invention is missing fingers.

A table saw may kick a piece of wood at you even if you're doing everything right, but it's not cutting off fingers unless you decide to put them in a position for that to happen.

 

[rhtx]

I think my biggest concern, being new at the saw, is also what to do when you realize you cant reach to push the part all the way through. You can't let go...

Reach down & turn it off, hold the wood still until the blade comes to a stop.
NEXT time, always keep a push stick handy, like on the rh side of the fence.
NEVER cut through a big knot, that's just asking for a missile right between the eyes.

 

[Tucko]

A few secrets to using a table saw.

1 - Plant your feet firmly. Don't work on an uneven. slippery, or cluttered floor.
2 - Always maintain your balance. Don't over reach to the point that you have to use your hands to recover.
3 - Never stand directly behind the workpiece. (just in case it binds)
4 - When having to move to feed the material into the machine, never cross your steps. Always use more of a shuffling motion to move forward.
5 - Always use a push-stick when passing the end by the blade.
6 - Never force the material through the machine. Go slow and steady at the machines pace.
7 - Set up an out-feed support before you start.

And lastly - Always think through your steps before you start.

8. No loose fitting clothing, watches, rings, etc. Always wear eye protection (but you know that already).

 

[Tucko]

Cross cutting does seem to be the biggest issue I see with new people using the table. You can use the fence when cross cutting but you have to be really aware of what's going on, what size scrap are you making, etc. whatever you do, don't have anything between the fence and the work piece. Doesn't matter how straight or square your piece of scrap is, it's not stationary and it will sucker punch you (best case scenario) since you only have 2 hands and you need them both (via push sticks, etc) on your work piece.

If the piece is too long it can raise up and wedge diagonally between the fence and blade. or slide along the top of the fence and fly anywhere, including at you.

If it's too small it can wedge anywhere, jam the belt, blade, insert, miter gage groove, etc. or fly anywhere, including at you.

Both of the above situations should be done on the miter saw if at all possible. If it's not, that's fine not every cut can be. But considering your best case scenario is going to be square, no miter or bevel cutting. Adding miter, bevel, or both to the mix increases the likelihood the above two things would go wrong, and how much more wrong and dangerous they can get.

You really want to have some fun? Do all your crosscuts on a radial arm saw....

 

[JMartel]

Use a crosscut sled for all crosscuts, and never push the wood directly with your hands. Always use a push block and featherboards to hold it against the fence.

Don't crosscut with the fence unless you use a spacer. No exceptions. Keep a splitter/riving knife installed at all times, unless using a dado stack (which makes it impossible to use a splitter/riving knife)

 

[cheechi]

You really want to have some fun? Do all your crosscuts on a radial arm saw....

I was really lucky, I was taught to use a RAS first for a lot of cuts. I was also lucky in that we had LOTS of specialty clamps at the RAS station so basically any type of cut, you could clamp both pieces at least once, usually more. So the only thing flying at you would be splinters.

The crosscut sled is also great for clamping. I've seen guys that make spacers and wedge blocks for common sizes in the sled, I prefer clamping whenever possible myself.

 

[Tucko]

I was really lucky, I was taught to use a RAS first for a lot of cuts. I was also lucky in that we had LOTS of specialty clamps at the RAS station so basically any type of cut, you could clamp both pieces at least once, usually more. So the only thing flying at you would be splinters.

The crosscut sled is also great for clamping. I've seen guys that make spacers and wedge blocks for common sizes in the sled, I prefer clamping whenever possible myself.

Ok, my ignorance is showing. What's a cross cut sled?

 

[bisley45]

Ok, my ignorance is showing. What's a cross cut sled?

here ya go

 

[cheechi]

and in that photo, you see how he could have an F clamp on either side of that work piece clamped to the sled's back fence, and just push from the top of the sled with his hands even more safer-er.

The video i linked a bit up the page shows how to make a really good one. That photo, see the front fence how it has the cutout to allow bevel cuts? I wouldn't recommend that on the sled because you'd have a wider than necessary throat on it and less stability if you need to clamp on that fence. If you find you need a crosscut sled that also needs a bevel cut, i know this sounds like a table saw snob talking, but i'd make a sled for that, or one for bevel cuts in general that you know is going to have a bigger throat cut in it and therefore you can use it whenever any bevel is needed.

Or just use the miter/ras if you need a bevel cross cut.

 

[McFarmer]

I have never been able to make a cross cut sled accurate enough for my taste. On various days they all cut a little different.

I finally just put a piece of temper board between my miter gauge and runner, then a good extension on the miter gauge. The temper board bottom gives you the main advantage of the sled and you still have the adjustability.

 

[allinon72]

Never a saw thread without the mention of Sawstop

 

[BikerDad]

It's not an either/or proposition. All it takes to keep your fingers is not being an idiot. It's not like everyone who owned a table saw before that invention is missing fingers.

No, all it takes is not being an idiot when your luck runs out.

If you can refrain from being an idiot 100% of the time, then you're the next step in human evolution.

 

[BikerDad]

Never a saw thread without the mention of Sawstop

Only because you don't haunt the Neanderbubba threads.