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About This Project
Cutting boards lengthwise, called ripping, is the task a table saw does best. But ripping on a table saw is so simple that it’s easy to become complacent and forget that a table saw is one of the most dangerous tools in the shop. Fortunately there are techniques and safety equipment that can eliminate most table saw injuries. In this article, we’ll show you the safe way to make a variety of rip cuts including long rips, skinny rips and even rips to straighten a crooked board.Install The Blade Guard That Came With Your Saw
A blade guard assembly that includes a splitter and an anti-kickback pawl is standard equipment with every table saw. If you’ve set yours aside, now’s the time to dust it off, dig out your instruction manual and reinstall it. Keeping this safety equipment on your saw and in good working condition is crucial for safe cutting. The plastic guard keeps your fingers away from the blade and deflects flying debris. The splitter keeps the board from pinching the blade and kicking back at you. Kickback danger is further reduced by the anti-kickback pawl, which has little teeth that grab the board and prevent it from hurtling toward you if the blade pinches or binds during the cut.
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