Tip #27
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Table Sawing (continued)
Click here for a printer friendly version of Tip-
Pg. 1-3, Pg 4-6, Pg 7-9, Pg 10-11

Crosscutting

Crosscutting is the act of cutting your workpiece across the grain of the wood - or “cutting to length”. Usually, it's best to crosscut your stock to length before ripping it to width. Why? Because it's easier to rip short pieces of stock than to rip long ones.

When making crosscuts, use a crosscut or combination saw blade and ALWAYS guide your stock through the cut with a Miter Gauge or similar work-holding device.

Mark your cut line clearly with a SHARP pencil. Use a square to draw your line across the surface and down the edge of the stock nearest the saw blade.

Place your stock firmly against the face of your Miter Gauge and hold it in position by squeezing the Gauge's Safety Grip.

Before turning-on your saw, move the stock forward until the tooth of your blade touches the cut line you drew down the edge of your wood. Be sure the width of your blade's teeth are on the SCRAP SIDE of your drawn line. Loosen your grip on the Safety Grip to make this adjustment...then grasp your stock firmly by squeezing the Grip.

Pull everything back away from the blade again before turning on your saw and be sure both ends of your stock will be adequately supported by your saw's table or other auxiliary support device...both before and after you make your cut.

Position your body on the same side of the machine as the Miter Gauge and NOT in alignment with the blade or the scrap portion of the stock.

Turn on your saw and use your Miter Gauge to guide your workpiece through the cut. If the machine bogs down, slow your feed rate. NEVER push against the scrap end of the stock with your free hand, as this could cause binding and a dangerous kick-back.

Turn off the saw and allow the blade to come to a complete stop before removing the workpiece or scrap.

Some important crosscutting aids:

Extension Face

When crosscutting long piece of stock, it's best to extend the length of the face on your Miter Gauge to provide additional workpiece support. A wooden Extension Face will provide about a foot of face for your stock to ride against.

Aluminum Extension Face

Another option is an Aluminum Extension Face. This device will provide a full TWO-FEET of Miter Gauge face for your stock to rest against during the cut. It even includes an adjustable stop that can be set to cut duplicate pieces of the same length.

Non-Skid Abrasive Material

If you don't have a Miter Gauge with a Safety Grip, you can apply a strip of abrasive material to your Miter Gauge Face to keep your stock from slipping during the cut.

Crosscut Sliding Table

For the maximum in crosscutting convenience - especially when working with extremely long or wide workpieces - consider using a Crosscut Sliding Table. Measuring about 32" wide by 16" deep, it works like a “sled” to guide cumbersome pieces of stock through the cut with extreme accuracy...and safety.

Auxiliary Table

Since this accessory raises the workpiece off the surface of the saw table during the cut, it's best to use an Auxiliary Table (of the same thickness as the Crosscut Sliding Table) on the opposite side of the main saw table to support the scrap stock and keep it from falling into the blade after your cut has been made.

Front Table Extension

If you have a Model 500 Shopsmith MARK V and you need to crosscut wider pieces of stock, a Front Table Extension will help provide added support at the front (infeed) edge of your Worktable.

Miter Gauge Stop Rod

When you need to crosscut a number of pieces to the same length, a Miter Gauge Stop Rod will help you set and control those cuts...as is the Aluminum Extension Face mentioned previously.

Aluminum Extension Face

If you're planning to make a number of very short (narrow) cut-offs for small projects, the opening in your Table Insert may be too wide to keep these cut-off pieces from falling through and getting caught in the blade and thrown - or sucked-up by your Dust Collector.

Plastic Insert

To avoid this, use a blank Plastic Insert to prevent this fall-through. Raise the worktable to its maximum height and slide the Carriage to the right, away from the Saw Blade. Unplug the machine and install the blade you plan to use. Replace your standard Table Insert with the Blank Insert. Slide the Carriage back to the left until the Insert is centered over the Blade. Tighten the Carriage. Plug your MARK V in and turn it on (fairly slow speed). Slowly lower the Table down onto the blank Insert, cutting a slot in the center of the Insert.

Continue to Ripping
Back to Setting-Up the table Saw