The essential guide to using your tablesaw safely

All the pro tricks and tips to set up your tablesaw for maximum safety

By Scott Hood

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Dress for success

Safety, not fashion, dictates what to wear in the shop. You must be comfortable while working; however, the wrong clothes can be just as dangerous as working without a guard system. The basic piece of safety gear is eye protection. You need to protect your eyes from flying debris and sawdust by wearing impact-resistant goggles or safety glasses with side shields. Because most tablesaws operate at more than 90 decibels, hearing protection is also a must. Long sleeves must be rolled up over the elbow–even better, wear short sleeves. Remove all rings, watches, bracelets or other jewelry that may get caught while cutting. To prevent slips and falls, wear shoes with rubber soles.

Dust collecting

Most saws don’t have a built-in dust collection system. If there is a way to connect a dust collector, use it and make sure that the collector is equipped with a filter capable of collecting the small particles that pose the greatest health hazard. If dust collection is not possible at the saw, then consider a room filtering system. These units filter the ambient air in your shop. The problem with these units is that they still allow exposure to dust, so wear a dust mask while cutting.

Blade care

When making a cut, you should never need to force the wood. If a lot of pressure is required to make the cut, it may be time to have your blade sharpened. Aside from dull blades, the most common cause of resistance is a dirty table surface or fence edge. Typically, an accumulation of pitch builds up on the cutting surfaces and they become sticky. There are a number of cleaners available to solve this problem, many of which are citrus-based and environmentally friendly. Check with your owner’s manual to see what is recommended. If there is no reference to a cleaning product, check your cleaner to ensure that it is compatible with the steel or aluminum of the saw’s table and fence. The last thing you want is a cleaner that causes the saw’s surface to become pitted by corrosion, causing gouges to be created as your lumber passes through the saw.

 

 

 

 

 



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