23.3.5 Operating the Table Saw The table saw is capable of performing many different operations. Those discussed here are rip- ping, crosscutting, beveling, mitering, resawing, and cutting dados. Other operations, discussed in other chapters, include compound mitering, shap- ing, tapering, and joint making. Ripping Lumber Ripping is cutting lumber along the grain. See Figure 23-12. Install a carbide-tipped rip blade. Set the blade height at least 1/4″–1/2″ (6 mm–13 mm) above the material thickness. At least two teeth should always be in contact with the wood. Unlock and move the rip fence to the desired width. Mea- sure from the fence to a tooth set toward the fence. It is better to measure twice and saw once than to measure once and need to saw twice. Finally, make sure the blade guard and riving knife or splitter are in place. Stock to be ripped must have one flat face and one straight edge. The face rests on the table and the edge rides against the rip fence. Turn on the saw and feed the wood past the blade. Hold it firmly on the table and against the fence. Make sure long lengths of material are supported. Stand to one side of the cutting line. Keep your hands at least 3″–4″ (75 mm–100 mm) from the blade. For narrow stock, use a push stick. Remember that wood may warp while being ripped. This happens because ripping relieves inter- nal stresses. A splitter or riving knife is designed to prevent sawn lumber from pinching the blade. However, maintain a firm hold and be prepared for kickback in case feeding the material becomes difficult. Always stand to either the left or right side of the material’s possible path so you are out of harm’s way if it suddenly becomes a projectile. Remember to always push the stock past the blade. Ripping Plywood Plywood, a stable manufactured product, is ripped along the face grain like solid wood. See Figure 23-13. Install and use a carbide-tipped rip or combination blade. Set the blade height 1/4″–1/2″ (6 mm–13 mm) above the panel thickness. With the guard and splitter in place, adjust the rip fence and saw the plywood as if you were ripping solid stock. Crosscutting Lumber and Plywood Crosscutting is sawing through the wood or ply- wood across the face grain. See Figure 23-14. Install a carbide-tipped crosscut blade. Set the blade height so the entire carbide tip is 1/4″–1/2″ (6 mm–13 mm) above the workpiece. The material is typically guided with a miter gauge positioned in the left table slot. This is the normal cutting position for a right-handed person. Mark the cut to be made. Hold the workpiece firmly against the gauge with your left hand while feeding with your right hand. With the saw off, align the cut- ting line with the blade. Make sure the width of the Patrick A. Molzahn Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 23-12. A—To rip narrow widths, use push sticks to hold and feed the material. B—Dimensions for a typi- cal push stick. 3/8 B 1″ squares Push stick A Patrick A. Molzahn Figure 23-13. Ripping plywood. 378 Section 4 Machining Processes Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.