Avoiding Kickback on a Table Saw
Char Miller-KingDescription
When you’re using your table saw, you need to take every precaution to make sure you’re using the saw safely. One of the most prevalent table saw accidents comes from kickback.
Table saw blades spin at a high rpm that creates a rim speed—that is, how fast the teeth are traveling—in excess of 120 miles per hour. If the teeth are given the opportunity to grab a chunk of wood and throw it back, it comes out of the saw (and in your direction) REALLY fast. Probably faster than you can get out of the way. Imagine a hardwood airborne missile zinging your way. If it hits you, you’ll have have a nasty bruise at minimum. Worst-case scenario? Well, let’s not even go there.
An ounce of prevention…
Don’t panic and stop using your table saw. There are a number of things you can do to avoid kickback on the table saw and reduce the likelihood of anything bad happening.
– Body position: never stand in-line with the saw blade. You want to be out of the line of fire.
– Never stand between the miter slots. Stand to the left or right of them.
– Use a miter gauge for crosscuts.
– Use push sticks when necessary.
– Add feather boards to secure your work.
– Use a riving knife.
If you follow these rules of the road, you’ll keep yourself much safer in the shop and around your table saw. Here are more great tips for safely using a table saw.
A powerful table saw and a sharp blade will produce some of the finest cuts in your shop above all other tools, but it could also be one of the most dangerous in the form of kickback. But there are some great ways to prevent kickback, but let's talk about how it happens first. A long time ago when I first got my table saw, I was cutting a piece of knotty pine and it started to bind at the blade. And I experienced kickback for the first time. And let me tell you, it was not fun. The blade is spinning at between 3,000 and 4,000 RPMs, which means that material can shoot back at you at 120 miles per hour. But there are some important things that we can do on the front end to prevent kickback. But before I say that, there are actually a million reasons why kickback can occur. But as long as we do what we're supposed to do on the front side, maybe we can lessen the chances of it occurring. First, let's talk about where we stand. Should never stand in line with the blade. I'm right handed, so I'm gonna stand to the left of the blade at all times. That way, if kickback where to occur between the blade and the fence, it's gonna shoot right past me. And it usually happens quicker than you know without enough time to move back. So as long as you're standing in the right place, you're okay. That's not to say that it can occur this way, but chances are it's gonna be between the blade and the fence. If you're left handed, if you're comfortable standing on this side and using your left hand to guide the wood, alternatively you could replace the fence and move it to this side, whatever you're safest with. But keep in mind, these two miter saws right here are gonna be your danger zone. You do not while the saw's going one to stand here. You're either gonna stand to the left or to the right of the blade. What are some other ways that we can prevent kickback? One of them is having great shop helpers. So I have a miter gauge that I use for making crosscuts because you should never use your rip fits to make crosscuts. Also investing in a really good push stick is very important. You can also use feather boards, and never use twisted or warped wood because it could also bind at the curve. In newer table saws, a riving knife is installed, and that helps to prevent kickback. You always wanna make sure that you have your riving knife installed. The only time that should come out is of course if you're using a dado set. Some older saws weren't equipped with riving knives, but you can have a manufactured splitter put on your table saw, or a shop made splitter works just as well. I hope that you will take what I've learned from my personal experience to keep yourself safe in the shop and prevent kickback.
Good job! Glad to hear safety tips no matter how long you've been woodworking.
One concern,Im surprised that she placed her left hand on the off cut while using the push stick putting her fingers so close to the blade past the throat plate