What is table saw kickback?

Kickback is the term for wood that suddenly and without warning is propelled back towards the operator at a high rate of speed. As wood is set against the fence and pushed across the table saw into the blade, it can begin to lose pressure against the fence.

Similarly, you may ask, why does my table saw kickback?

Reasons for kickback A common reason kickback occurs is tension in a board. As the wood is cut, the tension keeps the kerf from fully opening. This causes the end of the cut to pinch together trapping the blade (as in the sketch below) and the wood comes at you with incredible speed.

Beside above, does a riving knife prevent kickback? A riving knife is a great feature and will prevent most kickbacks, but you still need to use proper technique and not stand directly behind the blade because it can still happen.

Keeping this in consideration, how fast is a table saw kickback?

The circumference (perimeter) of a 10-inch saw blade is 31.4 inches. If the saw blade travels at 4,800 revolutions per minute (rpm), then the teeth are travelling at 150,720 inches per minute. To put that another way, that's 9,043,200 inches per hour, or 142.72 mph!

Which is better table saw or bandsaw?

One of the main differences between a table saw, and a band saw is that a table saw is going to be more dangerous to use. With a band saw, the blade cuts downward and pulls the wood into the table. A table saw is not going to be able to allow you to create curves or intricate work because it uses a fixed, round blade.

36 Related Question Answers Found

Are table saws dangerous?

Table saws are useful and most woodworkers couldn't work without them—but they can also be extremely dangerous. The problem of kickback is what causes most injuries and here's how to prevent it. The Journal of Trauma estimates that 31,400 people are treated in the ER each year from table saw injuries.

Are table saws safe?

Safe Ripping Procedure

Wear safety glasses, goggles or a face shield at all times while using the saw. If the cutting operation is dusty, wear a dust mask. Do not wear gloves while operating a table saw. Avoid long sleeves, ties, dangling jewelry or any other loose fitting clothing while operating a table saw.

What can you not do with a table saw?

Two Dozen Table Saw Safety Tips

Do not wear gloves while operating a table saw.
Keep the floor in front of the saw free of cut-offs and piled up sawdust.
Wear proper eye and hearing protection.
Wear short sleeves, leave the ties at the office, and junk your dangling jewelry.
Stand comfortably, with your feet far enough apart for good balance.

How dangerous is woodworking?

Machines used in woodworking are dangerous, particularly when used improperly or without proper safeguards. Workers can suffer injuries from minor lacerations to amputations and blindness. In addition, wood dust and the chemicals used in finishing are health hazards and can cause skin and respiratory diseases.

What are anti kickback pawls?

Anti-kickback pawls are saw attachments that reduce kickback while operating a saw. They reduce the risks of injury and equipment damage. They can be installed on table and radial arm saws.

Do table saws have guards?

Most newer table saws come with a blade guard assembly and kickback protection devices. Part of this assembly is to keep your fingers away from the blade, and part of it is to prevent kickback.

How do I make my table saw safer?

Follow These Commonsense Safety Rules

To avoid being hit by a board if it kicks back, stand to the side of the blade when you're cutting, not directly behind it.
Unplug the saw whenever you perform a blade change or adjustment that puts your fingers close to the blade.
Wear safety glasses and hearing protection.

What does ripping wood mean?

In woodworking, a rip-cut is a type of cut that severs or divides a piece of wood parallel to the grain. The other typical type of cut is a cross-cut, a cut perpendicular to the grain. Unlike cross-cutting, which shears the wood fibers, a rip saw works more like a series of chisels, lifting off small splinters of wood.

Why use a zero clearance table saw insert?

Zero Clearance Table Saw Inserts. The opening in the insert is cut on the table saw to the exact width of the saw blade's kerf, thereby preventing thin slices of wood from jamming in between the blade and the throat plate during a cut, and reducing the amount of tear-out that can happen with a standard insert.

What is a splitter on a table saw?

A splitter is a stationary blade of similar thickness to the rotating saw blade mounted behind it to prevent a board from pinching inward into the saw kerf and binding on the saw blade, potentially causing a dangerous kickback.

What is a table saw fence?

Table saws are precision tools for ripping lengths of wood, and to achieve this they a properly dialed-in fence to align the wood parallel to the blade for perfect cuts. In this video, YouTube woodworker John Heisz builds a table saw fence from pieces of 1/2-inch plywood and easy-to-find hardware items.

What does a riving knife do?

When you push a workpiece through the saw blade, the riving knife is designed to keep the two cut sections of the board from closing up, thus pinching the saw blade and causing dangerous kickback. Rip cuts are especially prone to kickbacks, and it is here that the riving knife is most important.

What is the difference between a splitter and a riving knife?

The difference between the two is that a riving knife moves up and down with the blade keeping the same distance from the blade, while a splitter mounted guard remains at a fixed height since it is mounted to the table trunnion so it can bevel with the blade.

Can you add a riving knife to a table saw?

But if your table saw doesn't come with one, fret not — with a little wherewithal you can add a riving knife to almost any table saw. Riving knives mitigate such catastrophes by preventing the stock from touching the blade as it rotates up out of the table.

How thick should a riving knife be?

A properly sized riving knife is thinner than the teeth, but thicker than the body, of the blade to which it's paired. If the 0.94" is the widest riving knife that Dewalt makes for that saw, then it should be OK to use with a 1/8" blade but I would double check the body thickness with a micrometer.

How common are table saw accidents?

Those kinds of injuries are all too common: Each year, more than 67,000 workers and do-it-yourselfers are injured by table saws, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (PDF), resulting in more than 33,000 emergency room visits and 4,000 amputations.

What is a non thru cut?

Non-Through Cuts. A non-through cut is a sawing operation where. the blade does not protrude above the top face of. the wood stock.