Ripping on Table Saw Safety
Question from
WoodCentral
This
woodworker wanted to try a new-to-him technique on his table saw --
and he wanted to know if his planned method was safe. - Editor
"I
need to rip some pieces of plywood. They need to have a 22.5 degree
bevel on one edge and I am wondering about a couple things. The
finished width will be 5" and the length is about 24".
I
am concerned about safety doing this. When I rip the bevel, should
the blade be tilted towards
or away
from the rip fence - I've never been too sure about this? Also, would
it make sense to rip the pieces wide, say 5-1/2" with a bevel,
then put the beveled side against the rip fence and rip to final
width?Safety with my 1023SL (w/splitter) is always on my mind. I've
never been too sure on the safest way to rip a bevel. I know these
are rather newbie-ish questions, but the older I get, the more
concerned with safety I get and the more I question myself ... Hope
I'm asking this right and making sense.
The pieces are for a
corner cabinet thingy I am making." - Joe
Others
let him know which side of the blade they thought the fence should be
placed on, and what that thought of his planned cuts. - Editor
"My
take: always have the bevel you are cutting on top of the blade. You
don't want anything trapped between the blade and the fence. The
idea of cutting the bevel and then ripping to width works for me.
It's what I often do."
- J.L.
"The
loose off-cut should not be between the workpiece and the fence.
However, in lots of cases this is unavoidable and if it is, then be
sure you keep out of the kickback line of fire. I believe your saw is
a left-tilt and if so, it is OK. Cutting
the bevel and then the finished width is what I would do since you
are more likely to get an accurate width because it is much easier as
a rule to set the fence accurately for the 90 degree cut than the
bevel. Make sure when you do this cut the long edge of the bevel is
up; if it is down, it may slide under the fence."
- Bill H.
"General
rule; if you have a left tilt blade, the fence should be on the right
side of the blade and if you have a right tilt, the fence should be
on the left side. There may be exceptions, but as said, be careful
and keep out of the 'line of fire.'" - Hal
This
woodworker also shared his experience of what could happen if things
went wrong. - Editor
"If
it leans to the left, the fence goes on the right; that way, the
rotation of the blade holds the workpiece down on the table, and over
against the fence. If you want to trim the piece for width, or cut a
bevel on the second edge, then you can go ahead, but it is better to
have the thin edge high, so it does not jam under the fence. One
of my rules for table saws is I don't do it if it can't be safely
done (which this can). But if you want to escape injury, never let
yourself drift into doing iffy things on the saw. It isn't
professional, if you care about that. And a lot of pros are missing
digits. Kickback is very dangerous. A 10" blade doing 5,000 rpm,
has a surface speed of 218 feet per second. If your piece comes off
the saw at that speed, as small pieces can, the projectile is lethal.
When I got into archery, 218 fps was about tops, and bows shooting
arrows that fast had killed all the game on earth. An arrow would
have a weight of about 1 oz +. At that weight and speed it develops
an energy of 40 foot pounds. A 22LR bullet does about 110 foot
pounds, or about what a piece weighing 3 ounces would hit with at
that speed. I have been hit by much heavier pieces, and they did slow
the blade speed down a little, but they were moving like hell. It
really hurts."
- Tom D.
Advice on Starting a Career in
Furniture Making from WoodCentral
This young man posted a question on
a woodworking discussion forum that is a fairly common one among
young people with an interest in woodworking. - Editor
"I
graduated high school last year and tried the college route. However,
I don't believe formal education is for me, and I want to follow my
dream of making things with wood. Specifically, I would like to get
into fine furniture making, but I don't know where to begin to learn
this trade. I have looked at a few schools online that look
legitimate and aren't some scam. They are run by professionals who
have years of experience and your time is spent in the shop learning
the trade and not in a classroom with 'theory' from books. I have
also wondered if trying to become an apprentice would be a better
route to take. I would most likely be paid to learn on the job. I
have a little experience with woodworking as I fiddle around making
small projects in my father's shop but really nothing compared to
what I see people making in their home business, etc. Also, I think I
would like to work in a shop first to gain experience and possibly
branch out and start my own business at a later date. Any thoughts,
tips, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated!" - Steve
When
you ask for advice from woodworkers, you get it. Some had suggestions
for specific schools. - Editor
"Before
committing, ask where the persons that came before you are now. For
example, should you go to a school, find out where the students from
previous classes are employed. If they are mostly assistant managers
at the local fast food places, make another choice.... Similar
inquiry for apprentice positions. If you like building stuff,
consider taking a job at a shop that makes commercial or residential
cabinetry. See how you like the work and go from there." - Bill
T.
"There
are some schools that are highly regarded, like North Bennett StreetSchool in Massachusetts and College of the Redwoods in California,
but you can go to shorter courses like at Marc Adams and pick up
specific skills. I like the idea of working in a shop and learning
how to produce things on a schedule -- the commercial pace, which you
have to learn or you won't be making any money. I am happy to do
woodworking as a hobby, but I can see how doing it for a living would
have its appeal." - Roy G.
"You
might also want to look at vocational schools. There is one in
eastern Pennsylvania called Thaddeus Stevens that has an excellent
cabinet making program as well as an excellent placement rating for
graduates. Look around your area and see what is available." -
Wade
Others
focused on needed skills. - Editor
"Regardless
of your learning path, if you want to make fine furniture you will
probably not be working from a set of detailed plans. Often you will
be working from an idea or picture from the client (which could be
yourself). Drawing is an important skill to learn, whether is it on
paper or a computer. It is something you can start on now. I write
this acknowledging drawing is my biggest weakness." - Jerry G.
"If
your goal is running your own business, that business training will
be paramount. All the schools mentioned will give you hand and design
skills, but no idea how to make a living. Then after getting good
training and business skills, get married to someone with a great job
and even better benefits. Then you can go into business. Making a
good living at this is one big uphill battle. I worked in an
engineering job for 15 years before starting a custom woodworking
business. If my wife hadn't had benefits, we wouldn't have lasted as
long as we did." - Dick C.
And
still others advised Steve to make sure woodworking is really what he
wants to do. - Editor
"In
addition to the other good advice that everyone has given you, I
would advise you to make sure that woodworking is what you really
want to do. Consider which aspect of woodworking that you would like
to do. If you haven't really tried a reasonable sized project, then
you might want to try one or two before you embark on the woodworking
journey. It's not like you can switch majors as people do in college.
An apprenticeship program might be the ticket - but make sure
woodworking is what you really want to do." - J.L.
"I
would suggest taking a job in a cabinet shop somewhere, and get some
real world experience of what that business is all about. You'll
learn by being part of the operation and you'll see what your
employer has to go through -- finding customers, coming up with
designs and drawings, how to buy lumber, plywood, tools and machines,
stoking the stove, sweeping the floor, unloading the truck, wiring
the machines, not to mention dealing with employees, paperwork,
bookkeeping, marketing, sales, etc. A little background here: I
believe strongly that you need to get involved in something before
you decide to invest in a pricey education. I think it was Confucius
who said, 'If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up
someplace else.' And, with the cost of education, even vocational
training, you shouldn't have to afford an education that isn't
relevant to your eventual career path. Some people think you need to
go to school for something, and then 'find yourself' in the course of
your education. I think you need to work in a trade or profession in
some capacity before deciding your next move." - Ellis W.
...
and to reconsider throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to
speak. - Editor
"The
theory you dislike and what seem to be unrelated courses may not seem
so useless down the road. It is what makes you an educated individual
with, hopefully, an inquiring mind and a range of interests. Focusing
on what looks like your ideal career today has to be tempered with
the reality that it may not be what it seems and it may not even be a
career a few years down the road. How many woodworkers that used to
build cabinets have been replaced with a computer program and a CNC
cutting machine? How many people in the modern generations treasure
handcrafted furniture? The answer to the first question is 'lots' and
the answer to the second question is 'few.' I'm an old guy now but I
can't think of anything I didn't learn in schools of various types
that hasn't been beneficial even if it was just to know what somebody
else was talking about." - Bill H.