Table saw

From CosplayWiki

A table saw or sawbench is the most common piece of large woodworking equipment. Because of its versatility, when only one piece of large woodworking machinery is owned, it will often be a table saw. The saw consists of a circular saw blade, mounted on an arbor, that is driven by an electric motor (either directly, by belt, or by gears). The blade protrudes through the surface of a table, which provides support for the material (usually wood) being cut.

In modern table saws, the depth of the cut is varied by moving the blade up and down: the higher the blade protrudes above the table, the deeper the cut that is made in the material. In some early table saws, the blade and arbor were fixed, and the table was moved up and down to expose more or less of the blade. The angle of cut is controlled by adjusting the angle of blade. Some earlier saws angled the table to control the cut angle.

Safety

Important things to remember when using a table saw are:

• Read all warning labels and the owner's manual before operating the saw.
• When the saw is not in operation, it is a good habit to lower the blade below the table.
• Be sure the power is disconnected when performing maintenance or changing blades on the saw.
• Use a push stick or other such safety device when making cuts that would otherwise require fingers to be near the blade.
• Never operate the saw in a way that your fingers advance into the path of the blade. Always be fully present and alert, as this piece of equipment causes more serious injuries than anything else in the shop. Many experienced woodworkers know someone who has lost a finger.
• Keep the blade guard in place whenever possible. If you do not like the guard that came with the saw, it is possible to purchase aftermarket guards of various configurations. Note that one of the main functions of a typical blade guard is to act as a splitter, which helps prevent the cut in the wood from closing and pinching the back of the blade and kicking back. Sometimes the blade guard is more of a danger than a safety feature, most commonly during smaller cuts (less than 3 inches), and cuts with a push stick, and should be removed.
• Wood being cut can be violently "kicked back". This is due to advancing the wood in a sinous line or because natural stresses in the wood cause the cut to "pinch" the back of the saw blade. This can be strong enough to cause the material to jolt backwards and result in serious injury to the operator. The use of the splitter can reduce or eliminate this problem. See Avoiding Kickback
• Wear eye protection. Eye protection is paramount while operating all power tools. When operating a table saw, it is particularly important. The rotational mass of a spinning saw blade combined with a large electric motor can contribute to the violent and unexpected ejection of material. Safety glasses should fully encompass the eye area, including the front and sides of the eye. Good safety glasses should be comfortable so they are always worn when needed.
• Wear ear protection. Wear ear protection to prevent the steady loss of hearing that occurs when using power equipment without protection.
• Wear clothing that is not excessively loose-fitting and tie back long hair. Loose-fitting clothing and long hair can be extremely dangerous if it comes in contact with the blade. This not only applies to table saws, but all power tools, especially jointers and drill presses. Cuffs should always be buttoned when wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
• The table saw must be adjusted so the blade is perfectly parallel with the fence and the miter slots. If it is not parallel, the workpiece can easily become pinched between the blade and the fence, inducing violent kickback and causing injury. The manufacturer of the table saw will very likely send a manual free of charge.
• Always push the material past the saw when finishing a cut. Pieces not pushed far enough past the blade can get caught and violently drawn into the blade, resulting in kickback.
• Operate the saw defensively. This is probably the most dangerous piece of equipment that a woodworker will ever use. The nature of wood includes variations in structure and internal forces. It is not uncommon for natural stresses in a piece of wood to cause the blade to be pinched and thrown violently. Do not work in a way that such an event might result in injury. It is paramount to THINK carefully and operate cautiously.