Summary • Sawing is a fundamental process in cabinet- making. Stationary power saws cut wood and composite materials to component sizes. • Generally speaking, select the proper saw blade for efficient operation. Selecting the wrong blade may result in a splintered surface or burned edge. • Use saws with circular blades to make accurate straight-line cuts. The diameter of the blade helps keep the cut straight. • Stationary power saws that use a circular blade include the tilting-arbor table saw, tilting table saw, horizontal and vertical panel saw, beam saw, and radial arm saw. • The major components of a tilting-arbor table saw are a horizontal table on a machine frame, circular blade that extends up through a table insert, tilting arbor that adjusts the blade angle from 0° to 45°, and a motor. • Use a rip fence, miter gauge, sliding table, or jigs and accessories to guide material past the blade on a table saw. • Blade guards keep hands away from the blade and help control sawdust. • Circular saw blades are categorized by tooth design, kerf width, arbor hole size, and other features. • Table saw setup includes deciding whether to use the rip fence or miter gauge, setting the blade height, and squaring the blade. • Table saws can be used for ripping, crosscut- ting, beveling, mitering, resawing, cutting dados, compound mitering, shaping, tapering, and joint making. • Use a panel saw to cut full-size sheets. Horizontal and vertical panel saws are available. • Radial arm saws are used primarily for sawing stock to length. The saw blade, blade guard, and motor are above the table. • The radial arm saw can be used for crosscut- ting, mitering, kerfing, and beveling. • Band saws and scroll saws are used to cut curved parts. • Relief cuts allow waste material to break loose as a curved workpiece is sawed. • A band saw consists of a continuous, thin steel blade that travels on two wheels. The blade is exposed where it passes through the table. • Band saws are used for curved-line sawing, straight-line sawing, ripping narrow strips, U-shaped cutting, beveling, sawing multiple parts to size, and resawing. • Plan your sawing sequence before starting the band saw. Make short and relief cuts first, determine whether the workpiece will be to the left or right of the blade, and saw on the waste side. • Scroll saws cut small radius curves. They are used to make outside cuts and interior cuts, and for beveling. Parts include a table, hold- down, blade clamps, blower nozzle, and a guard. • Generally speaking, select the proper saw blade for efficient operation. Selecting the wrong blade may result in a splintered surface or burned edge. • Choose a blade based on the sawing operation to be performed. • Circular blades are used on table saws, radial arm saws, power miter saws, and various sta- tionary power saws. • A band saw consists of a continuous, thin steel blade with teeth on one edge. • To saw efficiently, blades must be sharp. Jointing, setting, cleaning, and filing (grinding) are all steps in sharpening. • Some blades can be hand sharpened. However, it is best to have blades sharpened by a profes- sional with the appropriate tools. • Maintaining your machinery is important for achieving quality results. Inspect, clean, adjust, and lubricate them periodically. Test Your Knowledge Answer the following questions using the information provided in this chapter. 1. List two stationary saws you might choose for straight-line cuts. 2. True or False? Saws used to cut curves can also cut a straight line, if a straightedge or fence is used. 3. The _____ of a circular saw blade helps keep the cut straight. 408 Section 4 Machining Processes Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.