Table Saw Safety Rules for Woodworking and Your Woodshop
- Adjust the saw blade between 1/8”-1/4” above the thickness of the wood to be cut.
- Avoid wearing gloves, loose fitting clothing, shirts with long sleeves, ties, jewelry, etc. while operating a table saw.
- Use the fence for all ripping operations.
- Use the miter gauge for all cross cutting operations.
- Never use the fence and miter gauge in combination. Doing this could cause the wood to bind and kick back, causing serious injury.
- Never cut wood stock free hand.
- Use the guard and splitter whenever possible. Only a few operations may require the guard to be removed.
- Always use a push stick for ripping operations, especially when ripping narrow strips. Always push the cut stock beyond the blade before removing the push stick.
- lways stand to one side. Never stand directly behind the wood stock being cut if possible.
- All stock should be surfaced and jointed on one edge before cutting to size on the table saw.
- Never allow wood scraps to accumulate on the saw table. Turn off saw and wait until the blade has come to a complete stop before removing them. It is best to remove the scraps with a push stick or a brush.
- Make all adjustments to the saw, miter gauge, or fence when the saw is off.
- Always disconnect the power before changing the blade.
- Be sure the wood stock is not touching the blade when the saw is turned on.
- Be sure the saw is turning at full speed before attempting to cut.
- Never, ever reach over the saw to pick up a piece of wood while the saw is still on.
- When ripping long pieces of lumber, ask someone to assist you. The assistant’s job is to hold the cut ends of the lumber level with the saw. They should never attempt to pull the lumber through. The person operating the saw should always control the speed of the cut. A roller support can be used when no one is available to help.
- Always use a sharp blade. Dull blades will cause the blade to heat up and leave burn marks on the wood.
- When finished using the saw turn it off, lower the blade below the table surface, and adjust the blade angle to “0” degrees. Zero degrees means that the saw blade is perpendicular to the saw table.
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