9 Things You Should Never Do While Using A Table Saw

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Table saws are one of the most important woodworking tools ever. There are so many things you can do on a table saw, from making long rip cuts to making dado cuts, long bevels and so on. There’s so much you can do on this important machine.

But it’s not just a simple machine you ever want to be reckless around. A table saw is a very powerful machine and can cause a whole lot of damage within fractions of a second if you’re not careful..

That’s why there are some things that are an absolute no no, when operating it. There are things you never want to do when operating a table saw.

You don’t want to even think about attempting them at all. Else you run the risk of an accident. And you can do your research, according to the Nation Institute of Health (NIH), more than 30,000 table saw accidents happen every year, that results in lose of fingers, thumbs tendon, nerve, and vascular damage or amputation.

So, you want to take this seriously. Here are 7 things you should never ever do while operating a table saw.

1. Reaching Over The Blade

One of the worst things you can do while using a table saw is to reach over the blade. That’s an absolute no no, especially if the blade guard is not in place. You should always have a blade guard, but some people remove it for convenience.

Whether you have a blade guard or not, never reach over the blade of a table saw. You can trip and fall on it, or the blade can grab something attached to you and pull you to it. So, you never ever want to reach over it.

2. Engage The Blade Before Switching On The Saw

You never ever want to get the workpiece or wood in contact with the blade before turning on the saw. The blade needs to be turning at it’s maximum speed before engaging it with the material.

Engaging the blade with the material before turning on the table saw can result in kick-back which is very dangerous for you.

3. Use Your Hand To Push Materials Through The Blade

You want to always use a push stick to push the material into the blade especially when cutting smaller wood pieces.

That will ensure that if you make any mistake and an accident happens, it’s the push stick that gets cut, instead of you.

There are different types of push sticks you can use. Some are for pushing large boards through the table saw, and these ones are called push block. They’re larger like a block.

While the push stick is mainly for pushing smaller materials through saw, and making tiny cuts, the push block is mainly for applying downward pressure on larger boards and pushing them through the saw.

4. Wear Loose Clothing While Operating The Saw

You never want to have any part of your body come in contact with the blade while using your table saw.

When you wear loose clothing, it can get caught in the saw blade and pull you into the saw, which is something you don’t want to happen.

So, always wear something appropriate when using the saw. Something fitting, no loose parts and no hanging jewellery that can get caught in the blade.

5. Divide Your Attention – Multitask

Every cut you make on a table saw requires your undivided attention. You don’t want to be talking with someone and making a cut. You don’t.

Yeah, talking with someone while making a cut may sound like nothing, but it divides your attention. Talking requires thinking, which means some of your attention is on what you’re talking about, and while you’re making a cut, you don’t want your attention divided.

Make the cut, turn off the table saw, and then you can do whatever else you want to do. A table saw is a very powerful machine with no conscience, and it will not forgive your mistake.

6. Operate The Saw On Loose Footing

Before pushing any material through the saw blade, you want to ensure you’re on proper footing. Make sure you’re standing properly with both your fit planted on the ground firmly.

Table saws are very powerful machines. You never ever want to underestimate them. Accidents happen when you start underestimating power tools and machines, and not paying them much attention when operating them.

Make sure you’re on proper footing, with all your attention on what you’re about to do. Make sure you material is properly secured, and only then should you engage it with the blade and push it through.

7. Never Force The Material Through The Blade

If it ever happens that you’re trying to force the material you’re cutting through the blade, then something is not right.

Table saws should cut freely. Make sure you’re using a sharp blade. If the blade is sharp and the saw is still not cutting properly, maybe you’re not positioning the material correctly.

Never ever try to force the material through the blade. That can cause it to pinch the blade and result in a violent kickback.

So, if it happens that it’s taking too much effort to push the material through the blade, stop the cut, and make sure everything is properly positioned, ensure the blade is sharp, before making the cut again.

7. Fail To Wear Eye And Ear Protection

You always want to be safety conscious when operating a table saw. Always wear eye protection to protect your eyes in case the table saw sends anything flying towards your face.

They can also be very loud especially when the material is engaged and you’re pushing it through the blade. So wear ear protection as well to protect your hearing.

8. Operating The Saw Without A Safety Paddle Switch

This is a must. A table saw safety paddle switch is a type of switch designed to shut down the table saw quickly in case of an emergency.

The safety paddle switch comes with a large, red emergency Stop paddle you can mount on any convenient surface, preferable somewhere you can easily access with your leg, your knee or feet to quickly turn off the table saw without using your hand.

Some table saws come with this additional accessory. But if yours doesn’t come with it, you can easily get one and install it on your table saw.

It’s one of the most important accessory you can get to make your table saw safer to use.

9. Using The Miter Gauge and Table Saw Fence Simultaneously

The miter gauge and the table saw fence are meant to be used separately, not together. The miter gauge is mostly used for making cross cuts, while the fence is ideal for making long rip cuts.

If you’re using one, you have to remove the other one, or you have to make sure the other doesn’t come in contact with the work piece, else it can pinch the material and cause kickback.

So, never use both simultaneously.