How to Use a Table Saw and Table Saw Operation

A table saw is one of the most central tools in any woodworker’s arsenal for its ability to produce clean and quick lumber cuts. That’s why we’ve created this guide to cover all aspects of table saw operation to help you use the power tool safely. 

Now, the name "table saw" creates a clear picture of what the tool is: a table with a saw on it. 

Typically, table saws, like the contractor saws, include an electric motor-powered circular saw blade that is mounted on a mandril or arbor. The blade sits in the middle of the table, with a fraction of it peeking above the table for cutting wood or other material. 

That said, there is a clear distinction to be made between table saws and other saw types like track saws, miter saws, and circular saws. A track saw is the closest to table saws, with the difference being that it includes a track for steadying the material for straight cuts. 

As for miter saws and circular saws, they operate completely differently from table saws, utilizing different mechanisms entirely. A miter saw makes use of a blade mounted in a miter box for precise cuts, whereas a circular saw includes a circular blade in a handheld frame. 

Making the cuts

Woodworkers often rely on various tools and special cutting techniques like dado cuts and compound angles to get started on an elaborate project. And while these special cutting techniques are quite useful, none are as prevalent and useful in the woodworking world as the three basic ones. These cutting techniques are known as ripping, crosscuts, and angled cuts. 

Let’s examine each of these in detail and find out how you can use them to make your woodworking job much simpler. 

1. How to rip

Ripping is one of the easiest to make cuts of all the cutting techniques, being a simple straight cut made along the wood grain. And it is also the type of cut that every saw type can make without issues.

Typically, woodworkers use the fence set on a table saw as a guide to measure the desired width of the lumber. This keeps the cut perfectly straight and free of any resistance or issues when the lumber is pushed into the blade.

3 Steps to rip a piece of wood

Step 1: Prepare the table saw

First, adjust the table saw to make rip cuts on your desired material. A good starting point is to choose the correct saw blade for ripping lumber.

Typically, the saw blades used for ripping have fewer teeth than those used for crosscuts to keep the results as smooth as possible. A 10-inch diameter ripping saw blade will have about 24-30 teeth.

Once you have chosen the right saw blade, set the blade depth and angle to prepare the table saw for ripping. It’s always a good practice to have the blade depth be around ⅛th of an inch more than the width of the material. That way, the teeth of the blade will always be visible to you, reducing the chances of an accident.

To finish preparing, make markings on the material according to the desired measurements, after which you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Adjust the table saw fence

Place the material on the tabletop and close to the saw blade in a manner that its teeth only barely touch the lumber. Ensure that the table saw miter gauge can firmly hold the material tightly, snap the miter lock, and make adjustments as necessary before starting the table saw.

Note that you must continue to adjust the position of your material while cutting. Table saws tend to shift the material they come in contact with by a small degree, which is usually close to the width of the blade. 

Step 3: Begin making the rip cut

Before powering up the table saw, it’s important to don safety goggles, ear protection, and gloves. Make one final check to ensure that every element of the table saw, such as the power feed, lumber position, fence, etc., is in order.

Next, turn on the table saw and begin pushing the workpiece through the saw blade slowly. Keep applying light pressure on the fence and ensure that the blade cuts through the piece in one smooth motion. It’s imperative that you don’t vary the pressure much, or else the cut may end up being jagged or misaligned.

As you reach the end of the workpiece, use a push stick to finish making the cut. That way, your right or left hand will stay out of any danger of being harmed.

After completing the cut, power the table saw down and wait until the spinning blade has stopped completely. Be sure to unplug it as well to avoid any unfortunate accidents.

2. How to crosscut

Crosscuts, or crosscutting, is a type of cut that involves making a clean cut across the wood grain. Being at a 90-degree angle to the wood grain, these types of cuts are typically more taxing on the saw blade as their teeth encounter more resistance. And because of this higher resistance, cross-cutting saw blades need to have more teeth to make clean and straight cuts.

While the most commonly used tool for crosscutting is a miter saw, most table saws can perform the task perfectly well.

3 Steps to make a crosscut

Making crosscuts is functionally identical to ripping, except for the angle of the plywood you will be sawing. That said, there are some key differences that you should be mindful of, as detailed in the steps listed below.

Step 1: Prepare the table saw for crosscuts

As with ripping, the first step to making cross-cuts is to prepare the table saw for the task. Start by inserting the correct saw blade for crosscutting the material.

Typically, a crosscut saw blade will have between 60 and 80 teeth for the cleanest possible finish. You can choose a blade with up to 80 teeth of a cleaner finish, but that is not strictly necessary.

Follow the table saw adjustment procedure as listed in the first step of the ripping process.

Step 2: Adjust the miter gauge

Position the workpiece close to the table saw miter gauge and lock it in place. Ensure that the piece does not move in an unexpected direction to prevent accidents from happening during the sawing process.

As with ripping, you will have to make minute adjustments to the position of the workpiece to prevent any cutting offsets. With crosscuts in particular, making a cut that deviates from the 90-degree angle can create jagged results and may even end up causing kickbacks. 

So, it’s important that you maintain that specific angle throughout the cutting process.

Step 3: Make the crosscut

With your safety gear on and all safety checks made, plug in the table saw and power it on. Begin pushing the material through the blade while keeping it as steady as possible while applying light pressure on the miter.

Continue pushing the material until you reach the end, where you should use a push stick to finish the crosscut. Try to make sure that the speed of feeding the workpiece into the blade remains roughly the same throughout the process.

Once the cut is complete, you can power the table saw down and collect your newly crosscut workpieces.

3. How to make angled cuts

Angled cuts are cuts made at a particular angle and are not necessarily aligned with or against the wood grain. These require a bit more finesse in comparison to rip cuts and crosscuts since positioning both the blade and workpiece correctly can be challenging.

These cuts are typically more difficult to make using a table saw due to their relative lack of mobility. Additionally, since the saw blade must be able to work at any angle, you will need to use a combination saw blade. Typically, a 10-inch combination saw blade comes with 50 teeth, which increase as the size of the blade increases.

That said, it is still fairly simple to make angled cuts using even the largest cabinet saws with one of two cutting methods.

2 Methods for making angled cuts

Method 1: Changing the saw blade angle

Usually, table and cabinet saws have a mechanism that allows you to change the saw blade angle up to 45 degrees at least. Some models may allow you to tilt the blade even further for particularly steep cuts.

To do so, use the handle on the crank system to move the blade freely. You can also check the saw angle on the indicator scale, which is typically located close to the crank. Of course, there is a chance of these indicators being a little off, so feel free to use a measuring instrument to check for errors.

After that, it’s just a matter of operating the table saw, as detailed in the previous sections. The overall cutting philosophy remains the same, save for the angle of the blade.

Method 2: Change the workpiece angle

The other method for making angled cuts is slightly more involved than changing the blade angle. But if you are more comfortable rotating the workpiece instead of the blade, you can make use of a miter gauge.

A miter gauge is a protractor that is affixed to the metal foot of a table saw. This foot can adjust the angle of the wood by sliding up and down, and it can be operated using a handle. Once you turn the wheel handle, the angle of a ledge will change to the precise degree that you desire.

Simply set the angle using the handle, place the wood against the ledger, and push it into the blade to make the angled cut. The overall saw operation, like in the first method, remains the same.

Setting the blade height

Setting the blade height is, arguably, one of the most important steps of operating a table saw. In essence, there are two ways one can try to set the blade height.

The first approach suggests that the saw blade should be positioned so that only about ⅛-th of an inch is above the workpiece. This is a safer approach as it prevents a large portion of the blade from being exposed but may result in fraying or tearing out at the bottom of the workpiece.

And that is where the second approach is often considered, which involves positioning the blade significantly above the workpiece. While this eliminates the chances of fraying and tearing, it is also a much more dangerous procedure. Any slips or accidents are much more likely to cause major damage to the operator.

At the end of the day, the first approach is still preferable for safety reasons. Plus, in some cases, the fraying and tearing can be fixed using sandpaper and wood filler.

Fence adjustment

The table saw fence plays a critical role in making sure that the length of each cut remains accurate. Square fences are typically operated using the lever present at its front edge.

You can adjust the square table saw fence by lifting the lever and sliding it laterally. Additionally, you can also lift the saw blade for more accurate length measurements, after which you can return it to its original position. Consider using a tape measure to double-check the measurements.

It’s important to note that fences of certain sliding table saws when lifted as high as possible, may become misaligned with the blade. This can become problematic if it goes unnoticed, which is why you must ensure that all the measurements remain correct before operating the table saw.

You can solve the misalignment by using a combination square, a miter gauge, and a ruler, as detailed below:

• Place the combination square inside the miter gauge slot and align it with the edge
• Set the fence close to the ruler and lock it
• Slide the combination square along the tracks
• Pay attention to the position of the fence and make adjustments for deviations

Changing the blades and inserts

The table saw insert is a metal plate located close to the center of the table, which can be removed and replaced. It acts as a frame for the table saw blade, surrounding its edges to prevent the saw blade from touching the table.

Depending on the type of cuts you make, you will need to change the blades and inserts of the table saw. And since woodworkers change these parts often, manufacturers typically make the swapping process fairly straightforward.

Changing the insert of a table saw and inserting a zero-clearance insert is fairly straightforward. Simply lift it up from the front or push it down near the back. Doing the latter will pop the front up, allowing you to remove the insert completely. Once that is done, position the rounded side of the new table insert facing upwards and slot it where the old one used to be.

As for swapping the table saw blade, follow the instructions listed below:

• Clear the debris off the existing saw blade and the surrounding area
• Remove the insert, blade guards, and miter gauge
• Adjust the height of the saw blade to access the arbor nut and remove it using a wrench
• Set the screw set and nuts aside and take the blade out completely
• Replace the old blade with a new one and ensure that its teeth are pointed towards you
• Replace the blade arbor nut and lower the saw blade back in its place
• Reinstall the insert, blade guards, and miter gauge

Note that this process can vary slightly based on the table saw model. So, consider reading through the instructions manual for standard model-specific directions to remove the table saw blade.

Table saw operation procedure

Operating a table saw can be a fairly involved process, considering the number of moving parts even a basic model has. That said, it can be simplified if tackled in a step-by-step manner, as detailed below.

• Before starting the table saw, put on protective gear
• The workpiece must have a machined surface against the table, miter gauge, and fence
• Adjust the fence and miter gauges as necessary
• Set up the workpiece between the fence and the blade
• Adjust the saw blade height to the desired height
• Keep push sticks at the ready for finishing the cut
• Be sure to have someone help you or use a table extension for long boards
• Set workpiece size using miter gauge or fence
• Clamp a spacer block to the fence to ensure it is about 1” back from the saw blade front
• Ensure that the safety guards, splitter (even those part of the blade guard), and kickback devices are in order
• Open the blast gate and turn the sawdust collection system on
• Power the table saw on and stand on either side of the blade
• Feed the workpiece into the blade while keeping your hands away from its teeth
• Ensure that the workpiece moves steadily and apply slight pressure to the fence
• Use a push stick to move the final edge of the workpiece into the blade
• Push the workpiece past the back of the saw blade to prevent kickback
• Stop the blade completely and brush off any leftover dust and scrap
• Repeat the process until your work is finished, after which power the table saw down
• Wait for the blade to come to a complete stop, and then lower the blade below the table
• Turn off the blast gate and dust collection systems
• Clean up the table and the surrounding area

Table saw safety

Professionals and carpentry hobbyists alike have faced injuries because of improper table saw operation. These injuries can be as minor as small cuts and nicks or as major as a severed digit or a lost eye. Needless to say, it’s important to keep safety in mind while operating dangerous tools like a table saw.

One of the most common reasons for injuries is kickback, the chances of which can be reduced by following these table saw safety practices:

• Refrain from starting the saw while the workpiece is touching the saw blade
• Use nothing but the table saw’s rip fence while ripping a workpiece
• Use nothing but the miter gauge for crosscuts
• Ensure that the material lies completely flat against the table while making the cut

Additionally, as mentioned in the table saw operation section, always have your safety gear on. Make sure you understand the manufacturer’s instructions as well to understand how the saw reacts in certain situations. 

Lastly, remember to unplug the table saw completely before accessing its internal workings, aligning the blade, or changing parts.

What are the types of cuts that a table saw is the most proficient at?

The types of cuts that a table saw is most proficient at include crosscuts, ripping cuts, and dado cuts. A crosscut is made across the grain of the wood, a ripping cut is made along the grain, and a dado cut involves creating a square-walled, flat-bottom groove across the grain using dado blades.

What are the three types of table saw blades?

The three types of table saw blades are ripping, crosscutting, and combination blades. Ripping and crosscutting blades are used to make their namesake cuts, whereas combination blades can be used to make either kind of cut.

These blades differ in the number of teeth, thickness of the kerf, and tip coating, which makes each blade more efficient at its respective task.

By tackling the operation of a table saw in a systematic manner, cutting small pieces of lumber, plastic, steel, etc., can be a simple undertaking.

Making a rip cut, crosscut, or angled cut is a simple task when using a table saw. Even so, it’s important to remember that these cuts require different blades and a slightly different operation method.

Additionally, be sure to keep the table saw safety guidelines in mind. Even professional woodworkers face unexpected situations with workpieces, which makes the role of safety gear even more critical in the safe operation of a table saw.

Thus, it’s important to take the process one step at a time and try to take every detail into account while operating a table saw.