Table saw
A table saw is the most common piece of large wood working equipment. Because of its versitility, when only one piece of large wood working 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 or by belt or gears). The blade protrudes through the surface of a table, which provides support for the material (usually wood) being cut.
Important things to remember when using a table saw are:
- Read all warning labels and the owner's manual before operating the saw.
- When not in operation, it is good practice to lower the blade below the table.
- Be sure the power is disconnected before performing maintenance on the saw.
- Use a push stick when making cuts that would otherwise require fingers to be near the blade.
- Never operate the saw in a way that your fingers are advancing 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. Most experienced woodworkers know someone that has lost a finger.
- Keep the guards in place whenever possible.
- Wood being cut can be violently "kicked back". This can be due to advancing the wood in other than a straight line or because natural stresses in the wood cause the cut to close on the back of the saw blade. This can be strong enough to cause injury or embed the workpiece in the wall behind the operator. The use of the splitter that is part of the blade guard can reduce or eliminate this problem.
- Wear eye protection. It is good practice to also wear ear protection.
Modern Features
In modern table saws, the depth of the cut is varied by adjusting the amount of the blade that protrudes above the table surface: 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.
Types of Table Saws
There are three general classes of table saws: benchtop table saws, contractor saws and cabinet saws.
- Benchtop table saws are lightweight, without attached bases. They commonly have direct drive (no v-belt or pulleys) from an universal type motor. They can be lifted by one person and carried to the job location.
- Contractor saws are heavier, larger and have an attached stand or base, often with wheels. The motor hinges off the rear of the saw and drives the blade via a single belt using a 1 to 2 hp (750 to 1500 W) induction type motor. This is the type most often used by hobbyists and homeowners because standard electrical circuits are adequate and for this type of saw's relatively low cost.
- Cabinet saws are heavy (using large amounts of cast iron and steel) to minimize vibration and increase accuracy. A cabinet saw is characterized by having a closed (cabinet) base. Cabinet saws usually have induction motors in the 3 to 5 hp (2 to 4 kW) range. For home use, this type of motor typically requires that a heavy circuit be installed (in the US, this requires a 220V outlet). The motor is enclosed within the cabinet and drives the blade with three parallel v-belts.
Additional Accessories
Table saws nearly always have a fence (guide) running from the front of the table (the side nearest the operator) to the back, parallel to the cutting plane of the blade. The distance of the fence from the blade can be adjusted, which determines where on the workpiece the cut is made. The fence is commonly called a "rip fence," referring to its use in guiding the workpiece during the process of making a rip cut.
The table has one or two grooves running from front to back, also parallel to the cutting plane of the blade. These grooves are used to position and guide either a crosscut fence (also known as a miter gauge) or crosscut sled. The miter gauge is usually set to be at 90 degrees to the plane of the blade's cut, so as to cause the cut made in the workpiece to be made at a right angle. The miter gauge can also be adjusted to cause the cut to be made at a precisely controlled angle (a so-called miter cut). A crosscut sled is generally used to hold the workpiece at a fixed 90 degree angle to the blade, allowing precise repeatable cuts at the most commonly used angle.
