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Feeding Stock on
Your Table Saw
Feeding stock
sounds simple, and it generally is – provided you follow some common
sense rules.
The first thing
you need to know is that different materials feed at different rates. A
hard wood will feed differently than a soft wood. In general,
you’ll need to feed hard woods slightly slower than soft woods. I say
“in general” because you may find an exception, and I won’t be there
watching what you’re doing.
When you’re
feeding stock at the right rate, there are some signs you can look for:
- Your saw’s
motor isn’t laboring or sounding like it’s bogging down.
- Your stock
will feed smoothly.
- Your stock
won’t burn – yes, burn. If you feed stock too forcefully or too
slowly, the friction from the side of the teeth against the wood
will heat up the wood and, believe it or not, you could get burn
marks and smell smoke. If that happens, use less pressure on your
stock OR, maybe better, stop your saw and assess the situation. Your
blade could also be dull.
- Your cut is
smooth, not rough.
The Fence is Your Friend
Another
important factor is making certain that your stock remains flush against
the fence. If you start drifting away from the fence, the end you cut
last will be narrower than the end you cut first.
The way you hold
the stock can affect how well your stock feeds and remains against the
fence. When feeding stock, I keep my left hand braced on the edge of the
saw and at the edge of the stock. That way, I can accomplish two very
important things: I can stabilize the saw, and hold the piece flush to
the fence. My right hand will then feed the stock forward.
Two things to
mention here. You want to also be sure that your piece is flat against
the saw table, and you’re not lifting up the end as you feed it. Having
your hand on both the edge of the table and the stock takes care of that
problem. The other thing to mention is that you may want to have a pair
of roller stands if you’ll be ripping long boards. One stand will
support the board as you feed it, and you’ll use the other as outfeed
support.
One thing that
you absolutely MUST NOT do is to try feeding a long board by propping
the front on the saw and then pushing from the back end of the board. If
you do that, the pressure of trying to feed the board may very well
knock your saw over, and you don’t want to be in that position.
Feeding Sheet Stock
Some projects
are likely to involve plywood or other sheet materials. If you’ll be
doing that, you’ll need at least twice the length of your sheet goods
around your saw so you have room to feed it and complete the cut. You’ll
also need outfeed support for both pieces if, for example, you’re
cutting a 4x8 sheet of plywood in half.
It’s this very
circumstance for which you need the side extensions I wrote about in the
guide for buying your table saw. Without side extensions, a straight cut
will be virtually impossible. In that case, you may want to rough cut
your board somewhat wide and feed it freehand, then cut it to the proper
width once it’s narrower and easier to manage. Just remember to mark
where your final cut will need to be so you don’t inadvertently ruin
your stock.
One last point
about feeding sheet stock: it’s much easier if you have some help –
especially knowledgeable help.
A little common
sense will go a long way. Pay attention to each step, knowing that your
saw must be stable, you must stay clear of the blade, and your piece
needs to end up the size you want it to be. It’s worth taking the time
to do things carefully and correctly.
Shopping for a table saw? Check out the Delta table
saws Rockler has to offer.
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Kevin Adam
"The Basement Woodworker"
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