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Table Saw Maintenance
By Eric Knudsen
The table saw is the workhorse of the home workshop; it's an integral piece of equipment, one of which no serious woodworking shop could do without.
Most woodworkers today would probably agree that many of their projects would be difficult (if not impossible) to accomplish without the use of a table saw.
Going back in time a century or two, early woodworking artisans didn't have the luxury of using table saws, yet they still were able to create excellent work. If you were to look at, say, an antique oak table made in the 17th Century, you would likely notice a good degree of smoothness and uniformity that its creator was able to accomplish.
The first steam-driven saws basically evolved into the form of what we use today; high-quality electrically-powered table saws; and modern table saws can do some amazing things. But proper table saw maintenance is one of those all-important chores that is often neglected. In fact, regular maintenance is imperative, in order for the unit to function properly. Safety is yet another issue in this regard. All woodworkers should know that table saws can actually become rather dangerous to use, if they're not cleaned, lubricated, and checked periodically.
If you own a newer model table saw, be certain of how to operate it correctly. All new saws come with detailed operating instructions, safety tips, and maintenance literature, all of which should be read by the owner, and followed to the letter. On the other hand, if you happen to own an older model, or acquired your saw in used condition, try looking for the same type of information on the Internet. Pay a visit to the manufacturer's website, and enter the model number. Never “guess” as to how your equipment should work.
Now, here's a list of guidelines for general table saw usage. These twelve tips will help you work safely in the workshop, while keeping your table saw in tip-top working order:
Tip #1) Post a shop tools maintenance “reminder board” in checklist fashion, someplace handy in your workshop – someplace where you will actually see it. This will help you keep a regular maintenance schedule for all your shop tools.
Tip #2) First and foremost; always put on protective eye glasses or goggles before you start cutting. The best rule to follow, is to always put “on” your glasses before turning “on” the table saw's power switch.
Tip #3) Remember this simple rule; a clean work space is a safe workspace. Keep the area around the table saw free of clutter and debris. Get rid of small scraps and loose hardware nearby, or anything that could potentially fall onto the table saw deck.
Tip #4) Before pushing lumber through the saw, be sure to keep out of the direct path of the saw blade, just in case the board gets kicked back. Don't stand directly behind the blade; simply stand in an offset position.
Tip #5) Use a push-stick to push lumber through the blade, especially when ripping down smaller dimensions of lumber, like boards that are 4 inches or less in width. Also, never try to run wet lumber through your saw. The wood shavings will only bind up the saw.
Tip #6) Make sure your table saw blade guard is functioning freely and properly. Be extra careful when making special cuts, in situations where you must remove the blade guard. Oil any parts necessary, as specified by the saw manufacturer.
Tip #7) You know that a dull knife is a dangerous knife; the same can be said for saw blades. The best safeguard is to check each carbide tip daily, before using. Unplug the saw, rotate the blade slowly, and checking each tang for chipped or missing teeth.
Of course, this may seem a bit arduous to do before each and every use, but look at the flip-side; a missing saw tooth could easily cause kick-back, and a chipped saw tooth could easily become dislodged, fly through the air, and potentially cause serious harm. Always have saw blades sharpened professionally. Replace blades that are worn out.
Tip #8) Double-check the table saw fence, to make sure it's locked into position before beginning your cuts. This will ensure precise cuts, and help avoid dreaded kick-backs.
Always let the tool do the work. Never force lumber through the saw blade. This will only bog down the motor. If you have to exert too much force, there's something else awry. Check the fence again. Make sure that the fence adjustments aren't loose.
Be certain that the fence is set perfectly parallel to the blade. If it's off just a little bit, your boards won't run through the blade correctly, and even worse, the dimensions of your finished will be off.
Tip #9) Get in the habit of using lumber feeders with rollers. Any time you have more than a few feet of lumber hanging over the backside of the saw, there's potential for trouble. Rollers should spin easily. If they don't, give 'em a few shots of lubricating oil.
Tip #10) Maintain consistent, even pressure on boards as you run them against the fence and through the saw blade. This can be tricky to do when boards are even slightly crowned or warped. Some individuals find that an extra set of helpers' hands makes this much easier to do. However, you should feel perfectly comfortable with your helper, and know their abilities and weaknesses. Never enlist helpers who are totally “green” — they may panic if the saw blade starts to bind or bog down, and injury could result.
Tip #11) Raise the saw blade just a 1/4 inch or so above the thickness of the board being cut. If you're ripping down 3/4 inch boards, raise the blade about 1/8 of an inch higher.
Tip #12) If you're not quite familiar with some of the other features on your table saw, like the blade tilt, the sliding miter gage, or fence clamps, practice cutting on scraps first.
Most woodworkers today would probably agree that many of their projects would be difficult (if not impossible) to accomplish without the use of a table saw.
Going back in time a century or two, early woodworking artisans didn't have the luxury of using table saws, yet they still were able to create excellent work. If you were to look at, say, an antique oak table made in the 17th Century, you would likely notice a good degree of smoothness and uniformity that its creator was able to accomplish.
The first steam-driven saws basically evolved into the form of what we use today; high-quality electrically-powered table saws; and modern table saws can do some amazing things. But proper table saw maintenance is one of those all-important chores that is often neglected. In fact, regular maintenance is imperative, in order for the unit to function properly. Safety is yet another issue in this regard. All woodworkers should know that table saws can actually become rather dangerous to use, if they're not cleaned, lubricated, and checked periodically.
If you own a newer model table saw, be certain of how to operate it correctly. All new saws come with detailed operating instructions, safety tips, and maintenance literature, all of which should be read by the owner, and followed to the letter. On the other hand, if you happen to own an older model, or acquired your saw in used condition, try looking for the same type of information on the Internet. Pay a visit to the manufacturer's website, and enter the model number. Never “guess” as to how your equipment should work.
Now, here's a list of guidelines for general table saw usage. These twelve tips will help you work safely in the workshop, while keeping your table saw in tip-top working order:
Tip #1) Post a shop tools maintenance “reminder board” in checklist fashion, someplace handy in your workshop – someplace where you will actually see it. This will help you keep a regular maintenance schedule for all your shop tools.
Tip #2) First and foremost; always put on protective eye glasses or goggles before you start cutting. The best rule to follow, is to always put “on” your glasses before turning “on” the table saw's power switch.
Tip #3) Remember this simple rule; a clean work space is a safe workspace. Keep the area around the table saw free of clutter and debris. Get rid of small scraps and loose hardware nearby, or anything that could potentially fall onto the table saw deck.
Tip #4) Before pushing lumber through the saw, be sure to keep out of the direct path of the saw blade, just in case the board gets kicked back. Don't stand directly behind the blade; simply stand in an offset position.
Tip #5) Use a push-stick to push lumber through the blade, especially when ripping down smaller dimensions of lumber, like boards that are 4 inches or less in width. Also, never try to run wet lumber through your saw. The wood shavings will only bind up the saw.
Tip #6) Make sure your table saw blade guard is functioning freely and properly. Be extra careful when making special cuts, in situations where you must remove the blade guard. Oil any parts necessary, as specified by the saw manufacturer.
Tip #7) You know that a dull knife is a dangerous knife; the same can be said for saw blades. The best safeguard is to check each carbide tip daily, before using. Unplug the saw, rotate the blade slowly, and checking each tang for chipped or missing teeth.
Of course, this may seem a bit arduous to do before each and every use, but look at the flip-side; a missing saw tooth could easily cause kick-back, and a chipped saw tooth could easily become dislodged, fly through the air, and potentially cause serious harm. Always have saw blades sharpened professionally. Replace blades that are worn out.
Tip #8) Double-check the table saw fence, to make sure it's locked into position before beginning your cuts. This will ensure precise cuts, and help avoid dreaded kick-backs.
Always let the tool do the work. Never force lumber through the saw blade. This will only bog down the motor. If you have to exert too much force, there's something else awry. Check the fence again. Make sure that the fence adjustments aren't loose.
Be certain that the fence is set perfectly parallel to the blade. If it's off just a little bit, your boards won't run through the blade correctly, and even worse, the dimensions of your finished will be off.
Tip #9) Get in the habit of using lumber feeders with rollers. Any time you have more than a few feet of lumber hanging over the backside of the saw, there's potential for trouble. Rollers should spin easily. If they don't, give 'em a few shots of lubricating oil.
Tip #10) Maintain consistent, even pressure on boards as you run them against the fence and through the saw blade. This can be tricky to do when boards are even slightly crowned or warped. Some individuals find that an extra set of helpers' hands makes this much easier to do. However, you should feel perfectly comfortable with your helper, and know their abilities and weaknesses. Never enlist helpers who are totally “green” — they may panic if the saw blade starts to bind or bog down, and injury could result.
Tip #11) Raise the saw blade just a 1/4 inch or so above the thickness of the board being cut. If you're ripping down 3/4 inch boards, raise the blade about 1/8 of an inch higher.
Tip #12) If you're not quite familiar with some of the other features on your table saw, like the blade tilt, the sliding miter gage, or fence clamps, practice cutting on scraps first.
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Eric Knudsen is a freelance writer and former
restoration contractor from Upstate New York.
