5 Table Saw tips for Beginners | Izzy Swan

Five tips for new and old table saws. Sponsored by Rikon tools!


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Please watch: "Extreme woodworking with limited tools | Izzy Swan"
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[skymaster]

I'm 63 now, and have been using my table saws since I was a teenager. Great tips about the square and mental checklist. Oh, and yes, respect for the saw is number one to me. Thanks Izzy

[Jimboslice]

You might have mentioned it on the last point, but I have a sign in my shop that tells people coming in that if they hear a machine running and see an operator maning that machine, do not interrupt or startle the operator until the machine is off. My machines are set up to where I can see the main door of my shop so that if somebody does come in it won't startle me too much.

[stanbockoski]

I thread the plug wire of my table saw through closed ends of my table saw wrenches. Now there is no way I can get lazy and try to change the blade with out disconnecting the saw from it's power source. Stan Bockoski

[ysrdan]

Good reminder to keep the table waxed. I have told many in the past that the best way to sharpen your blade is to wax the table surface. I know that a dull blade needs sharpening/replaced, but the drag from feeding stock, especially sheet goods, can fool a novice into thinking they have a dull blade. As always, I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

[Chet]

If you use an orbital sander with an adhesive back, throw the used sandpaper on the floor in front of the saw. It's a cheap way to get some extra traction on the floor when you're pushing material through. There is nothing scarier than slipping on smooth concrete when your hand is near a spinning saw blade.

[mountaineerfox]

love the paste wax idea. I just tried it today and my cutting improved on a not so good saw. thanks for the tip. love the mental checklist idea as well. I work aircraft maintenance for a living and this is true in most of the blue collar hands on jobs. thanks again. now I'm looking for a magnetic machinist square.

[thetheo]

Do not run equipment when you are tired. If you come into the shop only to find out you are tired do some clean up. You can still get something done and when you are alert later the shop is cleaner and safer.

[Butterbottom]

Great tips. Especially the scribe trick to mark the blade edge. One thing I have found to be critical is to be sure the blade runs parallel to the fence. It can make a huge difference in the quality of the cut, and safety of the operation. Keep em comin' Izzy. You are a true pro and a great
teacher.

[johncolasanto]

Awesome tips Izzy... I learned about saw safety back in High School Tech Class... our instructor took us to the area that the table saw was in...had us turn in the other direction and showed us a hole through a cinder block wall that was made by a 2X4 that a student was ripping down the wrong way

[ZipKickGo]

One big tip for those who will cut long stock in excess of 10' or full 4x8 sheets is to mount a longer sacrificial fence to your existing fence. Most smaller saws will have a fence limited to the physical bed of the saw. When I crosscut sheets it can be sketchy and unnecessarily dangerous starting a crosscut with only 12" or 16" to start your infeed. I add a fence that gives me at least 2' to start my infeed and 4' to run my outfeed. This allows me the confidence to butt my stock to the fence and guide it square without that all too common fight with fence friction, table friction, and blade resistance. This modification also benefits for longer stock as a long board may not be truly straight over 16' and having the 2-points of contact over 6' helps to reduce that on your cut side.

[maximilianmoosreiner]

Just kind of beginning to use my table saw, and it is always nice to get some more tips from somebody who knows the tool a little better than I do. Good video, thanks Izzy!

[MTBryanH]

Great tips! I'm a hack but have been using table saws for over 30 years and never considered waxing my saw table. Fantastic idea. I slapped my forehead: "Why didn't I think of that".
Also, the maker of the magnetic square should send you royalties because I immediately ordered one from Amazon.
Subscribed...

[cosmicrayastrophysics]

My only bad injury, cut through thumb bone, was when cutting firewood. After many years, one day I was not paying attention and got hurt pushing cut wood out of the way and forgot about the blade. Now when ever I am doing some near mindless task I like to keep a guard on the blade so that if my concentration wavers then it is hard for me to injure myself. Recalling how it felt to be wheeled into the plastic surgery theatre to have my thumb successfully put back on is also a good mental reminder as to how easy it is to get hurt.

[CoverCatz]

My first injury ever was on a table saw when I was 7. I sneaked in to a school add-on project, fired that baby up and it pulled my hand into the blade almost cut clean through my left index
finger. Since then I have had all the respect for these babies they deserve! Izzy, I can't stress this enough, safety, SAFETY, S A F E T Y ! Still have my finger too! All healed up. Coming up on my 53rd birthday.

[colinsmith]

I like the way you have kept to your roots and are still happy and keen to encourage novice wood workers like myself.

[RichardMartin]

Make wooden push sticks from plywood offcuts, cheap to make and they are easier to replace than fingers! And stand offset from the blade so that any kickback won't hit you.

[cvarney]

Great tips! Even the obvious ones. The line scratch was awesome! Thought.. man, why didn't I think of that years ago!

[condor]

Great video- I never crosscut on the right side of the blade and don't think it matters from a safety perspective. Matter of fact being right handed would make it awkward for me to use it on the right side. I always make sure to have a plenty to grip it well on the miter gauge. Thanks for the video - very good overview

[DanPrudlow]

Great tips. My tip for beginners...Outfeed table! Its so much safer to have your work pieces go onto a table versus having to reach over the blade to grab stuff. Take an afternoon and build one...doesn't have to be fancy...just something to catch your boards.

[toysoldier]

After all of these months I haven't seen this posted in the comments. Never stand in front of the blade when you start your table saw, blades do sometimes shatter and can eject teeth right at you when you start the machine.