12 WORST TABLE SAW MISTAKES!! And How To Avoid Them...(DON'T DO THESE THINGS! Kickback/Binding)

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Жыл бұрын

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12 WORST TABLE SAW MISTAKES!! And How To Avoid Them...(DON'T DO THESE THINGS! Kickback/Binding)
Table saws are one of the most helpful saws on job sites or in the work shop--but they can be dangerous! This video from The Honest Carpenter will explain 12 of the worst table saw mistakes!
1. Twisting the Board: This can cause saw blade binding, which will lead to dangerous kickback.
2. Cutting Freehand: Never cut freehand with a table saw! Always use the rip fence or miter gauge or a crosscut jig.
3. Squeezing the Cut: Using too much force with your outside hand can cause the wood to bind on the table saw blade. This can trigger kickback.
4. Ripping Boards Wider Than Long: Trying to rip boards along their narrow length is unstable, because it forces the small end against the fence. Make this crosscut another way.
5. Levering: It's easy to accidentally rotate the front end of a heavy board up when you begin cutting. Don't do this--if the board drops down, the saw blade may bind.
6. Failure To Catch Outfeed: When long boards pass off the back end of the saw, they will get pulled down by gravity, pulling your end up. Have someone catch the outfeed gently, or let it rest on something.
7. Pulling Small Pieces From the Back: This brings your hands too close to the spinning blade. Push them through with a push stick instead.
8. Dropcutting: Don't try to lower a piece onto the spinning table saw blade. If it binds, the wood will get thrown, and your hands may contact the blade!
9. Don't Set Blade Too High: Table saw blades only need to extend about 1/4"-1/2" above the top of your wood stock.
10. Reaching Over the Table Saw: When a cut is complete, don't reach over the spinning blade to grab the piece. Push it through with push stick, and then turn off the saw.
11. Ripping Narrow Widths: Ripping any cut under an inch can be dangerous. Consider making this small width the offcut (away from the rip fence) instead.
12. Standing Behind Your Stock: If kickback occurs, you may get hit with a flying board. Stand just to the side of your stock while you're cutting instead.
We'll have more table saw advice videos coming soon (including, probably, another table saw mistakes video). Thanks for watching!
The Honest Carpenter

Пікірлер: 1 300

@leebreisacher Жыл бұрын

My favorite tip from Steve R is to always (always) do a "dry run" in your mind -- think about where you are going to stand, where you are going to have your hands throughout the cut, etc.

@dwightl5863 Жыл бұрын

Only slightly off topic but knowing where your fingers, including thumb, are when using the miter saw aka chop saw. Shudder when I see guys literally "chop" that 2 by x by just throwing it against the fence and slamming that blade down.

@nickbrutanna9973 Жыл бұрын

@@dwightl5863 They'll learn, sooner or later... missing a digit or more, but they'll learn. 😉

@jimdavis1566 Жыл бұрын

Yep, locating all of your fingers before each cut will keep you from having to find them afterwards.

@lazygardens 11 ай бұрын

@@jimdavis1566 That's morbid!

@irafair3015 11 ай бұрын

@@lazygardens Yet true.

@tc9148 Жыл бұрын

Good list BUT you did not cover the most important ones. #1 use the blade guard that came with the table saw or buy an over arm guard. #2 use a splitter with anti kickback cauls or a riving knife. #3 throw away that useless plastic push stick and make one with a long heel on it to properly hold down the stock. I have been a woodworker for 40 years. These three things prevent most accidents.

@tc9148 Жыл бұрын

@@kbenk108 Push stick link. www.leucht.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/02-new-sticks.jpg

@SHunsader 11 ай бұрын

Interesting perspective. I remove the blade guard the instant I purchase a table saw. It reduces visibility and keeps one from making precision cuts when needing to look from above. I've been working with table saws since the early 70's, have never been cut, bruised, etc, and try to hold my work to the highest standard. I DO leave the blade guard on chop saws though. As far as a push stick, I'm quite happy with quickly making a push stick that I can push straight through the blade on narrow cuts. Using the same stick when running through 10's - 100's of feet doesn't wreck the push stick if you keep it against the fence, since the blade passes through the same kerf each time.

@Bowamaketona 11 ай бұрын

My man’s is out here making mad money teaching people how to not make mistakes on the table saw while making the biggest mistake of them all. It’s absolutely bonkers to me that he would make this video and not even have a riving knife. It’s almost like he just learned a few things off of KZfaq and made a video on it. Some of what he said was good but for the rest he’s completely unqualified.

@alohamark3025 11 ай бұрын

Why do pros eschew the use of plastic guards and kickback cauls? Do they just think they are immune to accidents? Most woodworkers are amateurs, and unless they are super-precise, they should not ignore safety devices. The table saw is the most dangerous tool in a workshop. For long ripping, a track saw is much safer, and a miter saw is faster and more accurate for 6" crosscuts.

@Bowamaketona 11 ай бұрын

@@alohamark3025 I’ve worked with many pros and true experts. None of them cut bare saw on the table saw. They always have at minimum a riving knife. The guy in this video is not a pro. It took me 12 seconds to figure that out. Try a different video if you want to learn safety.

@thedevilinthecircuit1414 8 ай бұрын

Re: mistake #11, cutting narrow strips. If you don't have a zero clearance throat plate, do the following. Lower the blade all the way into the saw. Lay a 2" strip of painter's tape over the length of the throat slot. Start the saw and slowly raise the blade through the tape to the height you need. Make your cuts. The tape prevents the thin strips from dropping into the saw. This is not a good solution for many cuts, but for a small batch, it's perfect.

@kralj975 2 ай бұрын

Or make expendable wooden pushing stick so when you push blade cuts through the stick

@gratefulwookie618 10 күн бұрын

Thank you for this tip

@jonathanlunglo Жыл бұрын

Thank you for these videos! I was lucky enough to learn carpentry from my father (who has been doing this longer than I've been alive), and it's good to see that the safety rules that kept us safe are the same that you're now sharing with a wider audience.

@hojo70 Жыл бұрын

#10 is so important. I am shocked at how many people and KZfaqrs have "normalized" reaching over a moving blade. Incredibly dumb! These are all great tips, thank you!!

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

Thanks hojo! You’re right-that is one of the most overlooked mistakes. And on the jobsite especially, there’s so much temptation to do it when you’re in a rush. But never worth it!

@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461 Жыл бұрын

@@TheHonestCarpenter 👍 NEVER BE IN THAT MUCH OF A RUSH 🤗

@kazesim88 Жыл бұрын

Agreed. And it might sound obvious but if you're turning the saw off before you grab the cut pieces, make sure you wait for the thing to spin down first. It still takes a second with a brake and it can be hard to see if you're using the blade guard. Also, blade guards are great for mitigating all of the "hand on the saw" disasters. Other vids on this remove them just for demo purposes and I'm guessing that's the case here? It should probably be mentioned.

@anneoreilly4900 Жыл бұрын

I’m not tall enough or my arms long enough to reach over the blade even if I wanted to, lol.

@ShuffleUpandDeal32 Жыл бұрын

I agree

@roberte.6892 Жыл бұрын

You know, I've seen other table saw safety videos b4, but this one is so good bc it explains the WHY and the HOW of what can go wrong, not just a list of things to avoid.

@tump1181 10 ай бұрын

Good video man! Coming from a disabled vet that’s been out the game for a bit, and trying to get back into doing some woodworking to keep myself busy it’s good to be reminded of these things. I remember in shop class many moons ago seeing a kid run his thumb through a very powerful shop table saw while making one of these mistakes. He had no chance to respond. The ceilings must’ve been 20’ high in that shop, and blood splatter reached them with ease. The teacher rushed him out, and by order of the teacher we had to find his thumb. 😅

@e-vd Жыл бұрын

Excellent advice. I just purchased my first table saw, and I've been looking for this important safety education in YT. I appreciate your straightforward explanations and examples. Much appreciated!

@gregpreston7301 Жыл бұрын

I was also surprised at no mention of the riving knife?! So important on rip cuts. I know because I forgot to replace it after making a few non-through cuts. I needed to make ONE rip cut and sure enough had a kickback and fortunately ended up with only a relatively minor injury. I now have a knife that can stay on even with a non-through cut and will only come off in rare circumstances. I also use a push stick that has a lip to help push the board through and just let the blade cut into it slightly to support the narrow cut. This type of stick/handle is easily replaced or "repaired" after numerous cuts. I know you are almost certainly familiar with these techniques Ethan and I am frankly surprised you didn't at least mention them. Thank you for your continued presentation of these important safety videos and your willingness to receive candid comments. I appreciate all you do.

@perchristophersen8966 Жыл бұрын

I make push sticks off scrap mdf. Just use a band or jigsaw tracing’s from any new or old ones 👨🏼‍🦳🇩🇰🇨🇦

@1001digital Жыл бұрын

Yes, the riving knife is a saver. I didn't use it one time and got a piece of wood flying. Had a bruise on my arm for month and will never forget to install it again.

@frankphillips7436 Жыл бұрын

I just mentioned this as well. I’m not exactly a safety freak but I can only think of two times I would ever remove the riving knife. 1) Doing coving. 2) Using a dado blade.

@Shanajio8 Жыл бұрын

My riveting knive is Set about 5mm below the blade.

@iangodenzi382 Жыл бұрын

Yas the dewalt has two riving knives one for blind cuts and one for through cuts. if used when making through cuts it will protect you from most of the dangers mentioned.

@afascinatingbit Жыл бұрын

These are all great tips, Ethan! Thank you for sharing. I learned firsthand about kickback when I first started when I stupidly tried to push a small square through with the rip fence. It bound, turned, and kicked back hard - putting a sizable dent in a cabinet behind me. In hindsight, I should have built and used a cross cut sled for that cut! To this day, I remain humbled and grateful that I wasn't injured.

@geoffhayden5283 3 ай бұрын

I agree to the thinking about it a few times. Always check first possible mistakes 3 times. If you are tired, it’s end of day, or you are in a rush, catch yourself and STOP! That’s when we make the most mistakes even when we know how to do everything correctly.

@csavage1947 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for a very useful tutorial on table saw safety. I especially applaud the fact that you show the potential results of each mistake.... I think "war stories" such as these are the best way to convey tool safety. As a general contractor with way too many trips to the emergency center with cut hands, nail gun penetrations, etc., I think that illustrative horror stories at tail gate meetings and during lunch breaks are the best way to convey the serious dangers of power tools.

@kathyputman5160 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! My husband never showed me how to use his tools while he was alive but, I've been figuring out on my own. I did have the benefit of watching him which helped a lot but, when I asked about all the clear plastic pieces (guards) that were not installed he said it was "crap" to get in your way. In all fairness have seen none of those guards installed on your saws either. I have all the No no's as a novice trying to learn. Table saws, 12" dual bevel miter saws, skill saws, jigsaws, sanders routers, hand held and table type, grinders etc. He made a lot of things. He just liked to piddle around as he put it but i think he was really good at it. I've started using them for minor repairs around the house as need and managed to do a half way decent miter cut to replace a board on the screen door, not exact but, good enough. Whenever I cup big sheets of plywood or lumber I use his saw horses on the other end level with the saw to balance the weight. He also has a metal support with a tri stand and a T top that has adjustable height, not sure what it is actually made for but have I used it for supporting 1x6's I needed to rip, It prevented it from levering as you called it. Next project I'll have to find or make a push stick. I've been using the half moon medal piece that fits into the grooves as a pusher. I have a dewalt and a black and decker table saw and I kept the black and decker miter saw as it did not cut towards me like the dewalt one did., that kinda scared me. I traded that for labor.

@tracychriss5645 11 ай бұрын

Good video! Although I usually don't do any of the things you mention, It doesn't "hurt" to watch this as a refresher to prevent accidents from happening. One accident with a table saw can be a life changing event!

@mustangtonto5862 Жыл бұрын

Your carpenter videos are some of the very best on KZfaq, and this one was quite possibly your very best yet! I have always been just a little leery of table saws, however after learning from you I will be more comfortable, but still not lackadaisical.

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Mustang! I’m really glad they help-work safe!

@TheWendyJohnson 11 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for taking time to share these tips! I just bought my first table saw and am watching as many safety videos as I can before firing it up. Thanks again!

@keithstead5175 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic safety video. You explain WHY we shouldn't do things, and illustrate what can happen if we do. I always learn new things from your channel, even though I've been a DIYer for many years. Thank you so much.

@namewithheld8115 Жыл бұрын

This is a fantastic video. Thank you for making it. I'm planning on doing some basic woodwork soon (moving to a new home), and this has been so valuable in covering all the things I shouldn't do, that I wasn't even aware of. Thank you!

@jimpackard8059 3 ай бұрын

If you are starting woodworking, the worst thing you can do is take note of this awful video. I suggest you get a qualified woodworking lecturer to view it and after he has stopped laughing, ask him for professional advice.

@tokencivilian8507 Жыл бұрын

One piece of table saw advice I saw on another channel said to always, always, always choose a saw with a splitter whenever possible to help reduce the likelihood of binding the blade and getting the kickback therefrom, be it from the lateral pinching you mentioned of bad left hand technique, or to help prevent twisting. Great vid, great safety tips.

@governor1978 Жыл бұрын

I just want to thank you for all your help and great advice and tutorials. I am an amateur carpenter and your videos have really helped me. Thanks!

@johnford7847 Жыл бұрын

Very useful. I'm a novice with the table saw and found this extremely useful. You gave clear explanations of each danger and why that operation poses a danger. Thank you.

@chycoll Жыл бұрын

#13. Not using a riving knife! This will prevent a lot of the issues you mentioned by the blade being squeezed.

@capricorn3d828 Жыл бұрын

Thankgod someone mentions ist

@wayneyadams Жыл бұрын

#14 And a blade guard, if possible.

@EmpathVisualStudio Жыл бұрын

@@wayneyadams in my personal experience blade Guards often get caught on material and cause more problems. If you need a blade guard you probably shouldn’t be operating a table saw. It’s all about respecting the power of the tool.

@wayneyadams Жыл бұрын

@@EmpathVisualStudio Yeah, your one of those guys who knows a guy, who knows a guy who heard about a guy whose life was saved because he wasn't wearing a seat belt so no one should wear seat belts. Enjoy your woodworking stumpy.

@wayneyadams Жыл бұрын

@@EmpathVisualStudio P.S. If you have problems getting work hung up in blade guards then you shouldn't be operating a table saw.

@bobwalker2293 Жыл бұрын

I am almost 80 and this is great advice young people just starting. Brings back memories of me standing right behind a 2x4 I was ripping and it kicked out hitting me in the abdominal area causing a hernia. That was 60 years ago. Thanks again

@jimpackard8059 3 ай бұрын

No - this video is awful advice and should be ignored. He is not even using a guard. Please encourage viewers to seek qualified advice and training before going anywhere near a saw.

@Tlfundsr Жыл бұрын

Great advice Ethan! I know I have been guilty of several of these no-no’s myself. I appreciate the reminders!

@scottlandb6579 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for doing this and being so clear and concise. I just got a table saw, excited to use it, and new to them. So I needed to find a safety video and glad I found yours. 👍🏼

@mannygiroux3491 9 ай бұрын

This saw kzfaq.infoUgkx84IcU5pbZd1Qrz8u4-YRLmJax7kdRi7B comes in handy in many ways. When I had a small (dead) tree fall I started the process of disposal by using this saw and cutting off the small branches. Then slowly work on the small trunk with undercutting and letting it fall down. With many trees on acres of land paying for a tree service can be expensive. It also is nice in that it can be used in hard to get areas like along my creek. It's also safer and quieter than a chainsaw. It obviously can't cut down massive trees but it does work fine for small ones or brush. And of course since I already own a Black

@tomfrederick6083 Жыл бұрын

Great tips, Ethan. I don't fear my table saw (an older Ryobi), but I have a very healthy respect for it. I make good use of infeed and outfeed rollers, and push sticks are a must for me. It really needs a riving knife. I have become quite fascinated by crosscut tables, and that is on my project to-do list. Love your channel!

@arthurleathblountii7060 Жыл бұрын

This guy WILL get you hurt if you follow his videos.

@bcc5701 Жыл бұрын

@@arthurleathblountii7060 explain…?

@michaellacaria910 Жыл бұрын

Best 12 tips I’ve seen on table saw, and delivered in an easy to understand way, great job, I will review this a few times so some of them stick with me forever. Thanks for a great presentation.

@billybike57 Ай бұрын

Always great advice. I actually revisit many of your episodes like this just to stay sharp 👍🏼

@joeladam742 Жыл бұрын

Just wondering why you didn’t mention using a riving knife or blade guard. I noticed you didn’t have a riving knife installed during the video, but it will prevent some twisting and binding situations. You hardly ever see anyone using a blade guard on you tube but I try to use mine whenever I can, mainly for larger pieces. I find it is just another level of protection that you can put in place in a few minutes. Great video. It is good to go through these safety reminders from time to time.

@frankd8204 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful and as I am new to wood working and using a table saw, I can see how a lot of people, including myself, could make these mistakes. When doing repetitive cuts, I can also see a bit of complacency creeping in or feeling comfortable and taking short cuts. My neighbor has a really high end table saw that senses human tissue and stops the blade instantly. Even though he is a long-time woodworker, he said he saved his hand once as an uneven board pulled his hand into the blade and it stopped, only causing a scratch...totally amazing! If that happened on my table saw, it would have been a different outcome. I am guilty of reaching over to clear wood and not using an out table. Thanks again for such a helpful safety video.

@Xfd960 9 ай бұрын

What your neighbor has is a saw stop.

@flipperbooch2194 8 ай бұрын

@@Xfd960and those are some very expensive machines, but man are they worth it.

@jimpackard8059 3 ай бұрын

@@Xfd960maybe not. Other people also offer the same option

@wildbill23c 2 ай бұрын

@@jimpackard8059 Who, and are they any cheaper than sawstop? I want a sawstop but damn not for the prices they want for one. Even their basic contractor style table saw which is a step below a cabinet saw is over $2,000, the cabinet saw is over $3,000 and then has to be rewired for 220v, the contractor saw requires a $200+ kit to convert to 220v. Great saws, but bad for my wallet LOL....if they offered a payment/layaway plan I'd buy one, but so far haven't had any luck finding anything like that, and if they did offer something like that I'd buy a higher end cabinet saw from them.

@stemogstel22 Жыл бұрын

This video is well timed. I got back from picking up a table saw, and this video was posted when I got home. I didn't even open the box. I am grateful for the "mistakes" videos. On my most recent project I used my circular saw almost exclusively because of the confidence and lessons from the circular saw videos. I think this table saw video is a great primer for the projects that will utilize that tool beginning very soon. Thank you so much! After the circular saw videos and my outdoor bench project, I agree and would tell almost anyone that the two most important tools in the DIY arsenal are the cordless drill and circular saw. The speed square is now an absolute staple as well.

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Scott! I’m really glad the videos have been so helpful. I’ll keep making them-work safe!

@user-yg7fj2ym5c 6 ай бұрын

Honest Carpenter - I really appreciate your 12 Mistakes to avoid. It was great. I could relate to each one. Your way of presenting these mistakes makes it easy to understand. I just bought a table saw and am so glad I went through your video before I ever turned on the switch.

@seanhiscock Жыл бұрын

Ethan, once again, you have produced an excellent safety video. I admit to doing some of the foolish things but I did learn a safer way because I was not comfortable using the saw. During my first project where I used my first table saw, I made a lot of these mistakes. The kickback surprised me because I had the spawls installed. The wood had not gone in far enough before it kicked back. I turned it off & figured out what happened. Thanks again for your tips.

@RaistlinVideos Жыл бұрын

Any table saw "safety" video that doesn't use a riving knife or even mention one would be far from "excellent."

@justinharper6909 4 ай бұрын

@@RaistlinVideos And not using a blade guard.

@eru6ite Жыл бұрын

I'm about to get a table saw today and this video couldn't have come at a better time. Thanks for all the awesome tips! 👍

@matthewrhoades5156 Жыл бұрын

This is a great instructional video! I really thought I knew what I was doing with a table saw until an ugly kickback left me with a really bad horizontal bruise across my abdomen. I did not know the table saw had that much power. I really pay attention now and let the saw do all of the work. Thanks for posting this!

@thegardenofeatin5965 11 ай бұрын

#13: Use as many safety attachments and guards as possible when making a cut. The riving knife should be installed for all through cuts, if the guard can be used, use it. #14: Except for dados, never use the fence and the miter gauge at the same time. If you are cross-cutting multiple pieces to the same length, it can be tempting to use the fence as a convenient stop, and then put the stock through the blade using the miter gauge. But this is likely to cause the stock between the fence and the blade to bind, causing kickback. Clamping a short stop block to the infeed side of the fence which will allow the fence side offcut to be otherwise free once it is in contact with the blade will prevent this. A sled is also a viable solution.

@peterwaterhouse8326 6 ай бұрын

You should not have to point out these crucial safety tips. The OP is a disgrace.

@cocvhecv 5 ай бұрын

I have made this mistake and have a healthy fear of it now. Good one.

@BobAmarant Жыл бұрын

Hi, really good video. You’ve got some items in here that I’ve never thought of. A big one for me is cross cutting short pieces on a long board while using a miter gauge, and using the fence as a length stop. The small piece between the blade and the fence will get caught and kick back at you. If doing this, attach a board to the fence and use that as a length stop, push pass the stop so the cut piece doesn’t bind.

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

I had that one written in Bob, and decided to use it in a later video about the miter gauge to keep this one a little shorter! You’re totally right though-that’s super dangerous the moment you get binding. Thanks for watching!

@gregglumus5303 Жыл бұрын

I truly appreciate your channel. You are a great presenter very concise and practical. You give the how's and why's fluidly and with sincerity. You are an awesome KZfaqr. Keep up the good work.

@vonpilcher3900 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting this video. I have made some of these mistakes, then realized how dangerous they could be. This was a great review to take to heart.

@tanda628 Жыл бұрын

You should push with your push stick closer to the blade rather than the fence. This keeps the front of the board better attached to the fence. If you push close to the fence the front of the board can pivot away from the fence. You can actually see this happening on your video around 10:37. There are basically two pivot points on the board when you are cutting. One is at the back end of the board at the fence and the other is at the cutting point of the blade. When you push farther from the fence the pivot force around the back end of the board is stronger and that keeps the front end of the board better attached to the fence. Bit nitpicky but this is a safety video :)

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

No, I agree tanda! But I thought it needed more explanation, and I have some trepidation showing close push stick usage to total newcomers because it has its own risks as well. I’ll talk about it a lot more with the push stick video!

@dougdiplacido2406 Жыл бұрын

I totally disagree. You keep the stick as far from the blade as possible to avoid it hitting the blade and getting put through your hand.

@andrewbieger5004 Жыл бұрын

@@dougdiplacido2406 Not wanting to stir up chit here, but I gotta agree with Tanda on this one. The push stick used here (like those supplied with most every new saw) is a strong, but relatively soft plastic. If it hits the blade, it will have a bite taken out of it, but the KB is still reduced over the option of pushing near the rip fence. If you look at ANY video of Kickbacks, you will see the chain of events usually starts with poor control of the work piece, and the work piece gets sideways into the blade. The bottom line is that TS have inherent risks associated with their use, but MINIMIZING the risks helps keeping the woodworker with ALL ten fingers. As an aside, I am a Gen. Contractor with over forty years in the field, and virtually every TS accident I have ever witnessed was the direct result of poor work piece control.

@ecsoftball Жыл бұрын

@@andrewbieger5004 Thanks for your insight.

@sjoerddeboer329 Жыл бұрын

Lol, I just mentioned exactly the same mistake in my comment and after I posted it, now I see, you already did! Glad I was not the only one that noticed.

@ipick4fun27 Жыл бұрын

I don’t mean to knit pick on you. I noticed you removed the riving knife probably to show clarity of the video. But since you are doing safety video, please keep the riving knife on or mention to your viewers. It prevents a lot of kick backs. Although the temptation is to not use the one with blade guard. But they should when doing thru cuts. For non thru cuts other than using daddo blades, at least use the shorter riving knife or splitters.

@kristenbellinger6589 Жыл бұрын

Hi Ethan, I recently found your channel and I've been binge watching a bunch of your videos (and subscribed). Really great info and I've been learning a ton! A table saw has been the last big tool item on my list as I already have most everything else, and I've just ordered one through your affiliate link - early Christmas present to myself :) I have a farm (livestock) and I build all kinds of things around here by myself, so I really appreciate all the info in your videos. I'm discovering how much I've done the wrong way (!) but I'm happy to be learning correct techniques and improving my skills. Thanks again!

@timothycushing5473 7 ай бұрын

Great explanations. Thanks.

@Erik_The_Viking Жыл бұрын

#10 is a big one here on YT - I see a lot of woodworking channels where they're constantly reaching over the blade. When I finish with a cut I turn off the saw and let the blade stop spinning. Then I grab the offcut.

@wildbill23c 2 ай бұрын

I do the same. If the pieces drop on the floor behind the saw oh well. I can pick them up later. I try to keep an outfeed table or stand behind the saw, but sometimes for just one rip cut I might not, and usually the pieces will just fall to the floor behind the saw if they're too long. Let the saw stop completely and just walk behind the saw and pickup the pieces....much safer than reaching over a spinning blade...same goes for trying to pick something up from behind a wood lathe, whatever is spinning on that lathe may catch your clothing....lots of tools that can cause entanglement and dismemberment in a workshop....its best to slow down and take your time....don't be rushed, and don't be using equipment under the influence of drugs or alcohol either.

@curtisfulton1442 Жыл бұрын

Another awesome video, it always great to get a refresher on stuff like this , especially with people that have done for so long and they tend to forget the basics.

@bernarddouthit478 10 ай бұрын

Ethan - this is great. I do have one comment - I use a featherboard whenever I possibly can, and I have of course learned to set it to hold the work piece tight against the fence, but not so tight that it creates friction. I think featherboards are indispensible in reducing the likelihood of kickback or other problems. Lastly, one mistake I learned the hard way is that before I start the saw, I always make sure my work piece is backed away from it. Quite often I move it up to the blade before I turn the saw on to rehearse the cut. I left the workpiece against the blade once and when I started the saw it shot out. It's just a good thing to check - basic, but still very important.

@robinbuell7472 3 ай бұрын

i didnt think about reaching over to guide the end of the cut and creating kickback that could pull a hand into the blade very good info and all your explanations are very good thank you

@BobAmarant Жыл бұрын

Another thought. The kind of push text that you’re using are my least favorite. I much prefer a push stick that has a long edge on the bottom. The type that you are using works if you have nothing else, but doesn’t hold the board against the table. Keep up the good work.

@ipick4fun27 Жыл бұрын

If you want to be safe about it, I recommend using two push sticks. One to the side and one pushes forward. Never push into the blade when pushing to the side. Or use feather board.

@billsedutto8824 Жыл бұрын

The biggest mistake is not wearing eye and ear protection. That being said this was a well done video. It’s probably the best I’ve seen on table saw mistakes.

@mrcryptozoic817 Жыл бұрын

An additional benefit of ear protection: I've found it's easier to concentrate if I wear ear protection. All that noise generates a lot of tension in your mind.

@jayman12348 Жыл бұрын

Safety squints count?

@fuyu5979 11 ай бұрын

Fantastic advice that will keep we DIY beginners safer. Thanks for upload ! It is very helpful. Anticipating ur next one. Peace

@williamguzman6037 Жыл бұрын

New at wood working Best table saw safety I have watched Thank you Very much greatly appreciated.

@PanchobabyDotCom Жыл бұрын

You've pointed out some potential dangers to this neophyte. Some real eye-openers. Great video. Safety first. I've had a couple of scares with that kick-back. It really is astonishing how dangerous carelessness can be. Thank you, Professor Donthertyerselph.

@smokeyjay187 Жыл бұрын

As a beginner woodworker I found this very helpful. I use scrap wood and my edges aren't entirely straight so I get resistance sometimes. Also did not know that pulling on the back piece of wood could pull your hand in like Tommy Caldwell. I use a push block instead of push stick and wondering if that is a problem.

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

I do prefer push sticks over blocks, Smokey-but they’re all useful and I’ll cover my ideas on them soon!

@boltup5566 Жыл бұрын

@@TheHonestCarpenter looking forward to your thoughts on push blocks. Very useful when I need to make a lot of thin strips the same width. I just let the push block get cut.

@howardberry2658 Жыл бұрын

If you've got wibbly wobbly edges on your scrap timber, and you don't have a jack plane, jointer or planer, try fixing something straight over that edge so that it runs against the fence, and rip the other edge. Then remove your straight thing, turn the board around and rip off the wibbly wobbly edge. I've used metal studding for walls and spare uprights for shelving systems in the past, since the metal is very straight and slides well against the fence.

@drewscreen Жыл бұрын

@@howardberry2658 that's exactly what we used to tell our students to do when they came into the shop with reclaimed boards.

@jimpackard8059 10 ай бұрын

As a beginner, you should ignore this video as he is not using a riving knife or a guard and that is dangerous. I don’t know what he does for a living but he needs to get some training before he instructs others on safety as he is clueless

@destortion93 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the thoughtful tips! A "must watch" video for all of us who are just starting out.. and not only!

@johnyoung5771 11 ай бұрын

This is really excellent: no nonsense and very clearly explained. Thank you so much.

@DoubleplusUngoodthinkful Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised you didn't mention using a blade guard. There are some nice ones that make using a saw a lot safer. My Grizzly table saw has a floating bilateral blade guard to protect my hands and spring-loaded forward-facing teeth to quickly arrest any board that would be ejected. Also, push sticks are great, but there are also over-top pushers that seem to allow more control of the stock being cut. I don't have one yet, but they look pretty good and pretty safe.

@wayneyadams Жыл бұрын

Almost every woodworking video on KZfaq shows cuts made without the blade guard. Maybe it's a guy macho thing, they don't want to look like wusses using blade guards.

@DoubleplusUngoodthinkful Жыл бұрын

@@wayneyadams Well, everyone I have ever met missing fingers from woodworking accidents looks like a total badass. I don't aspire to that kind of badassery, though.

@wayneyadams Жыл бұрын

@@DoubleplusUngoodthinkful Badass or not, their fingers are missing. It's like the idiots from up north here in Florida who walk around in shorts and short sleeve shirs when it in the 40s. They think they are bad asses, but we laugh at them and comment on what idiots they are for not realizing it's cold.

@DoubleplusUngoodthinkful Жыл бұрын

@@wayneyadams LOL. You'd probably laugh at me then. I just moved to FL from CO. I wear shorts until it gets down to about 45. Short sleeves down to 40. Cause yeah, it's not really cold when you're used to ZERO or lower in the winter. A 45 degree day in February in CO IS a shorts day. I enjoy the 55-65 range here, especially when it's humid.

@dylan-nguyen Жыл бұрын

I really like the "Gripper" style push blocks. Milescraft makes a cheaper version it allows you to press down, towards the fence, and forward all at once plus it has a side support for thinner small pieces as well

@lauramarshall6376 Жыл бұрын

I've tried the other brands of this and they don't work nearly as well, at least not for me. People spend lots of money on tools, so cheaping out on the safety stuff is not necessarily money well spent. Glad it works for you, tho.

@dylan-nguyen Жыл бұрын

@@lauramarshall6376 I have both and the Milescraft version is basically the same they are also equally both made of plastic and about an inch thick either version is much better than a push stick though

@davelutz7096 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the helpful hints, procedures and tricks. I’m retired and getting back into woodworking again!

@omnarasi9637 6 ай бұрын

Thank you, HC, for these invaluable tips.

@cg2000cg1 Жыл бұрын

#13 use a blade guard... 😁

@matthamilton8479 Жыл бұрын

Well done. As someone that got lazy one day in the interest of speed, I can attest that table saws are amazing tools that have amazing power that can be very dangerous. I was needing to cut several 4 in blocks off of a 2x2 strip of maple. Rather than using a stop block to set the length of the cut, I just pushed the board against the fence, used a mitre gauge to hold the long end and started ripping off those small blocks. About 6 or so into it, one bound up with the blade and went flying...straight into my mouth. A 2"x2"x4" piece of hard maple traveling at about 100mph does not think a mask and lips are much to deal with. A lot of blood, 3 stiches in one lip and 2 in the other and I will never rush any cut on my table saw. If it feels dicey, I find another way to do it!

@graememccubbin598 Жыл бұрын

Very well done video. Probably the best I've seen on table saw safety. Tks for taking the time to look out for the little guys.

@danbirch8939 Жыл бұрын

Excellent tips! Common sense reminders. I started using the micro-jig Grr-Ripper push handles a few years ago, and LOVE them. They take a second to set up, but it’s worth it. Thanks!

@Rick_B Жыл бұрын

A riving knife will prevent you from pinching the cut on the back, and I never use my tablesaw without it.

@WTFisAuserFRCKINname 7 ай бұрын

Thank goodness I instinctively knew all this because I’m safety-minded; but it’s great to see someone with good experience to show why I was right to be hesitant. I can use this to teach my boy in the future. God bless you for caring about people you don’t know.

@andrewselvaggio9995 Жыл бұрын

I have learned so much from this channel its amazing. Especially what I should not be doing. I just want to thank you for the effort and time you put in to produce these and provide knowledge to people like me.

@markb7143 4 ай бұрын

Helpful reminders and lessons. Appreciated.

@josephkerkau2520 Жыл бұрын

As an owner of my own woodshop and business.. I feel that what you're saying is absolutely true!! Because I have a lot of equipment and I pay attention to what I'm doing with it, safety is always 1st..

@billm.8220 Жыл бұрын

Haven’t used a table saw as of yet. This video was very informative as to safety & what NOT to do. Keep up the good work Ethan.

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Bill! 🙂

@DCgamer723 Жыл бұрын

Check out Steve ramseys channel, he has a video on table saw safety you may find useful as well

@thirdsin7754 Жыл бұрын

You talked about binding, but didn't mention your riving knife being removed and why it probably isn't a good idea for anyone needing to watch this video...?

@Rossg1981 Ай бұрын

As soon as I noticed that I immediately came to the comments and sure enough this is the first one I see.

@dbackhusker Жыл бұрын

Good to watch these safety videos regularly, it’s so easy to get too comfortable.

@jonasvaleisa Жыл бұрын

All tips are very helpful. Even though I started using my table saw after watching multiple videos on KZfaq, I still find your video very useful. It's easy to forget some of the basics when you're in a hurry (which by itself is a no no), or when working alone with bigger stock, or some weird shaped pieces. One thing which is also very important is to keep in mind that the lumber might be twisted, cupped, bowed etc., and this can also bind the blade during the cut (don't ask me how I know). Anyway, great video, thanks for sharing!

@manleyhall5368 Жыл бұрын

As someone who has had over fifty years experience with table saws, radial arm saws, miter saws, saber saws saws, circulat saws , and band saws, I concur with everything you demonstrated about table saws. My late father suffered serious finger injuries many years ago when I was just a small boy. That impressed on me the need to be very careful, especially with table saws. As a teenager I cut the flesh on my left thumb and index finger when reaching over a short board that I was ripping when it hit a knot and kicked the board back. Fortunately because I would only have the blade protruding barely 1/4 " above the stock, the wounds were only flesh wounds that healed in time without even evidence of the injury. Though my actions were not entirely correct, at least one factor prevented a horrific injury. I was fortunate and have never forgotten that incident . It has stuck with me to follow safety procedures with table saws. Another safety precaution when using a table, avoid conversations with bystanders during a procedure. Years ago during two separate incidences, the foreman at the cabinet shop where I was employed cut the ends of each of his thumbs when trying to converse with friends who came in the shop while he was operating a table saw. As he looked up as the person each time the tip of one his thumbs passed through the blade. ago

@Cobra-vq6qr Жыл бұрын

Always set blades based off how much finger you want to lose. That's what the carpenter who trained me said. I don't want to lose much finger so my blade almost always JUST PEAKS out of the board. Blade depth is also a great way to tell if you are flexing(leveraging) the cut.

@TheHonestCarpenter Жыл бұрын

Dang, that’s a good tip! 😅

@John-gj1jr Жыл бұрын

I see your point and I don't run my blade much higher than the gullets anymore, BUT I think a low blade is much more likely to kick a piece back at you. However, a lot depends on how the kickback started, or rather what cause it. I never had a kickback until I started lowering the blade. I wore two nasty bruises after lowering mine. Not saying you're wrong, but there are two sides to this, in my opinion.

@geoffkoy9269 Жыл бұрын

@John I completely agree with you there. A higher blade contacts the timber in a downwards motion, whereas a lower blade is, more or less, pushing back towards you. I'm afraid I am 1 of the naughty woodworkers that sets the blade a reasonable amount above the blade. Never had kickback. I guess it is a personal preference. That being said, I have made cuts with a low blade. I just don't feel comfortable doing it

@John-gj1jr Жыл бұрын

@@geoffkoy9269 I'm leaning again to a higher blade. Due an accident years ago that could have been much worse (5 stitches) I am very aware of the blade and use 2 push sticks especially on small pieces. Never had a major kickback until I lowered the blade, then had 2 in rapid succession.

@arthurleathblountii7060 Жыл бұрын

That protects you from nothing. Maybe you should have been trained by a woodworker not a carpenter. My recommendation is to set up a stack dado that isn't a through cut. Then tell me about fingers. This guy is a weekend birdhouse builder.

@santory5788 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the perfect explanation of this issue.

@bobbieprairie6173 6 ай бұрын

I am so glad that I watched your video before using a table saw, your are very informative and brought up very, very good points. Thank you for sharing

@csimet Жыл бұрын

I'll add one (#13) you may have missed... when using a push stick with larger pieces in particular, you should actually push that material on its edge closer to the blade rather than next to the fence. Pushing next to the fence may leverage/twist the front of the piece towards the blade's backside (and cause kickback), where as pushing it closer to the blade side leverages it up against the fence away from the blade's backside.

@lastdaysofhumanity4114 Жыл бұрын

Thanks to comments like these i can now understand why when I was doing my frist run throughs (with saw off) I was pushing the material and kept easily moving out of the fence towards the blade. I was pushing almost literally toughing the fence with push stick. This is my first table saw too so learning as much as possible is what i need.

@JohnSmith-ld1pw Жыл бұрын

Mistake#13: NOT USING YOUR RIVING KNIFE!!!! Ethan, this was a safety video and yet almost none of your cuts shown had the riving knife in place. I know you have it because I actually saw it once!

@brianthastrup1232 Жыл бұрын

Great reminder- great video as always ❤

@anthonyromeo5960 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for great advice

@jmackinjersey1 Жыл бұрын

Pro tip: if you are making cross cuts, put the longer side of the board against the fence, and make sure you are cutting the shorter side/end off. this helps reduce the chance you will "twist" the board and possibly bind the blade or have a nasty looking cut.

@ST-0311 Жыл бұрын

The biggest mistake you can make is NOT USING RIVING KNIFE! A table saw demonstrating all kinds of bad cutting techniques with no riving knife in sight for any of them... Whatever. Table saws are designed to make crosscuts cuts completely safely, and not just "Long straight cuts." "Mistake" #4 is a non-issue as every table saw can make a crosscut without making a crosscut jig. Every table saw comes with a miter gauge for crosscutting. Rather than demonstrating what not to do, perhaps demonstrate the perfectly acceptable way of doing it correctly.

@larry1875 8 ай бұрын

Great video! Thanks for the information. I hope that will keep someone from getting hurt.

@sergioalli6594 Жыл бұрын

Love your channel. Always helpful

@nalinbuddhika Жыл бұрын

Before teaching others at least put on a riving knife

@kentmerrill8925 Жыл бұрын

Just starting this. Thanks for the tips.

@HowardGraves Жыл бұрын

One of the best videos I've seen on the subject. Great work.

@rkerby6375 10 ай бұрын

Wow, your video was absolutely well thoughtout; accurate; and thought provoking! Keep up the excellent work! Well done!

@marcher78 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for these tips! New to woodworking and using table saws so these will come in handy.

@betosousa654 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and knowledge.

@moszi8595 Жыл бұрын

As an absolute beginner of using a table saw, I really valued these tips. Thank you.

@tubefxmstr Жыл бұрын

Extremely helpful and you kept it very simple and to the point! For that, I am subscribing! Ty

@Grumpy_Guy Жыл бұрын

I've seen so many of these videos and I appreciate every one! I hope to get a table saw soon and hope I can remember these vital recommendations! Thank you!

@wandanorgard 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this video. Very well put together and informative. My table saw is still in the box. I have so much to learn before I open it.

@user-is9iu5on2g 9 ай бұрын

great video, straight to the point with no nonsense

@sherih3385 Жыл бұрын

Exactly the info I was looking for! Thanks 😊

@patrickmaloney4125 Жыл бұрын

Great tips! More importantly, a great review! Reminds me of Safety Stand Down in the Navy...get people out of their complacency zone and back in the game. Thanks!

@thegeomaster Жыл бұрын

Indeed, this video is absolutely necessary before getting started with this type of tool, and even serves as a basic safety induction based on typical mistakes. thaks a lot!

@braytac Жыл бұрын

As some one who watches woodworking and not so much does it himself this was very helpful and interesting. Knowing why things are done a certain way and what to look out for when doing them myself one day. lots of woodworkers say "don't do this yourself" and then do it in there video without ever explaining why not is pretty high. Learned a lot in these 11 minutes and 45 seconds, thank you

@CreativeIdeasMaker Жыл бұрын

We saw a lot of appropriate and practical explanations in this video. We must consider exactly these problems and apply the solution for them. Thanks for your great video.