The table saw is one of the most commonly used stationary power
tools in any woodworking shop. Safe usage requires that it be hand-
led with care and specific procedures be followed to prevent accidents.
Read and understand the warnings and instructions on the saw and in
the owner/operators manual.

Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shield comp-
lying with current national standard, and a full face shield when needed.
Use a dust mask in dusty work conditions. Wear hearing protection
during extended periods of operation.

Do not wear gloves, loose clothing, jewelry or any dangling objects that
my catch in rotating parts or accessories. Tie back long hair.

Keep the saw table free of tool and debris.

Use an auxiliary work support when sawing long or wide workpieces to
assure firm control of the workpiece at all times.

A table saw should be equipped with a rip fence, miter gauge, blade guard,
spreader and anti-kickback device. The rip fence must be parallel to the line
of the saw blade to prevent binding and possible kickback (See "Preventing
Table Saw Kickback").

The blade should project only a minimal distance above the cut - 1/8" to
1/4" is plenty - check your owner/operators manual carefully.

Never reach over or behind the blade with the table saw operating.

Use the guard on all operations where the saw blade cuts through the thick-
ness of the workpiece.

When using the table saw for dadoing, grooving or shaping, use a push-
block to keep your hands and fingers well away from the saw blade in
case of kickback or other unexpected event.

Check often to assure that guards return to their normal position quickly. If
a guard seems slow to return or "hangs up," repair or adjust it immediately.

Do not cut freehand (cutting without the use of a miter gauge or rip fence).

When crosscutting, use the miter gauge to assure a straight cut, not the rip
fence. The cut off piece can bind between the fence and blade, causing
kickback and possible injury.

When ripping, always use the rip fence to assure a straight cut.

Make sure the blade and fence are parallel to each other. Pressure to feed
the workpiece (stock) should be against the direction of blade rotation and
between the blade and the fence. Use a pushstick to keep your fingers
away from the saw blade. For special operations (whenever the blade does
not cut through the thickness of the workpiece) such as dadoing and
rabbeting, consult your owner/operators manual.

Use a featherboard to firmly hold the workpiece against the fence and table
when ripping narrow stock.

Keep your tool blades sharp. Dull blades can cause binding, possible kick-
back and injury.

Use the correct blade for the job you are doing. Watch for overly heated or
vibrating blades. Correct the condition before continuing.

Make sure the blade is installed to rotate in the proper direction. Do not
use grinding wheels, wire brushes, or abrasive wheels on a table saw.

Onlookers should be kept out of the work areas. They distract the operator
and make him more accident prone. A kickback or a broken carbide tip
could send the stock or the tip flying with unpredictable results.

It is recommended that you turn the tool off after each completed
procedure.

The saw should always be turned off and unplugged before making
adjustments of any kind.

Turn off, unplug when possible, and lock the table saw after each use.
Remove and store the switch or lock key.

PREVENTING TABLE SAW KICKBACK
Kickback is the ejection of the workpiece from the saw back towards the
operator. Table saw kickback may be caused by:

When binding, pinching or wedging occur the motion of the saw blade tends
to lift the wood and may hurl it back toward the operator.

Specific safety precautions in preventing kickback when using table saws are
given below:

Always use the spreader (splitter) when it is functional. This prevents the kerf
from closing and pinching the blade. Make sure the spreader is properly
lined up behind the blade.

Always use the anti-kickback pawls (fingers). If a kickback should occur they are designed to grab the workpiece and prevent it from being thrown back toward the operator. Keep the teeth of the pawls (fingers) sharp.

Anti-kickback devices may not work when cutting smooth or hard surfaces.
Therefore always cut with the smooth, hard surface next to the table.

Always use the rip fence to guide the workpiece in a straight line when ripping.

Never freehand cut a workpiece. Freehanding causes crooked cuts and potential kickback. Crooked edges on the stock can also cause crooked cuts.

Make sure the fence is parallel to the blade. If the fence closes in toward the
rear of the blade it will tend to wedge the wood against the blade and may
cause kickback.

Never tilt the blade or saw table such that the workpiece is trapped in the
angle between the blade and the fence. This is a condition which has high
potential of causing kickback. Use the fence to the side of the blade that
results in an angle greater than 90 degrees between the blade and the table.

Keep the angle between the blade and fence open so that the workpiece is free to absorb any misalignments. (See owner's manual for cutting techniques).

Avoid standing directly behind the workpiece when making a rip cut.

Always use the miter gauge when crosscutting, and hold the workpiece firmly
against it to assure a straight cut.

Other precautions which should be taken to prevent kickback while using a
table saw:

A dull blade may cause a kickback. Keep blades sharp.

Make sure set tooth blades have adequate set. Tooth set provides clearance
between the plate of the blade and the workpiece, thus minimizing the
probability of binding. Some saw blades are hollow or taper ground to provide
clearance.

Keep saw blades clean. A buildup of pitch or sap on the surface of the saw blade increases the thickness of the blade and also increases friction on the blade surface. These conditions cause an increase in the potential of a kickback.

Do not cut wet wood. It produces higher friction against the blade. Also the blade tends to load up with wet sawdust, affecting a much greater probability of kickback.

Be very careful of stock which is pitchy, knotty or warped. These are more
likely to create pinching conditions and possible kickback.

Never use a bent, broken or warped saw blade. The probability of binding
and creating a kickback is greatly increased.

Overheating a saw blade can cause it to warp and create a kickback. Buildup
of sap on the blades, insufficient set, dullness, and unguided cuts can all
cause an overheated blade.

Do not use more blade height than is required to cut the workpiece - 1/8 in.
to 1/4 in. greater than the thickness of the stock is sufficient. This minimizes
the amount of saw blade exposed.

Never use miter gauge with the rip fence.