Tip #27
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Table Sawing (continued)
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Setting-Up the Table Saw

Unplug your saw. Always disconnect your Table Saw from the power while installing blades or making adjustments where your hands might be in harm's way. Once all settings have been made, you can plug your saw back in before proceeding with your cuts.

Steel Engineer's Square

Check all alignments. Be sure your saw is aligned properly. Is the table adjusted so the miter gauge slots are perpendicular to the face of your saw blade? Is the rip fence parallel to the saw blade face? If either of these are not set properly, your results will be inaccurate. There are some excellent tools available to help you make these settings precisely. A Steel Engineer's Square or set of Aluminum Triangles are great for setting your Miter Gauge at an exact 90-degree angle to your saw blade.

Aluminum Traingles

Protractor/Bevel

If you're making a miter cut, you'll need to use a Protractor/Bevel, special Angle Setter or similar device to verify that you've made these miter settings properly.

Angle Setter

Follow the guidelines in your saw's Owner's Manual for the proper procedures and remember that you can't make an accurate cut unless your tool is set-up correctly.

Adjust your work-guiding/holding devices. Set your Miter Gauge, Rip Fence or other work-guiding/holding device to make your cut. WARNING! NEVER attempt to make any kind of a “freehand” cut on a Table Saw. ALWAYS use a Miter Gauge, Rip Fence or special fixture to hold and guide your workpiece through the cut. Failure to use these devices will cause your workpiece to bind and kick-back at you, causing personal injury!

Stepped Gauge

Adjust your blade's depth-of-cut. Set your depth-of-cut so the blade protrudes no more than 1/4" to 3/8" above the top surface of your stock. This will help minimize splintering - and more importantly - the blade will do a lot less damage to you personally, in the event you do have an accident while working with your saw. You can make this setting by laying the edge of your stock against the blade - or by using a special Stepped Gauge designed specifically for this job.

Safety Devices

Install and use all safety devices. Always use upper and lower saw guards, Push Sticks (A), Push Blocks (B) Featherboards (C), or Fence Straddlers (D) and any other safety devices that may be applicable to the operation you're performing. Don't forget to wear eye protection.

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