Table Saw Essentials
Whether you’re rough-cutting stock to size, taking it to its final dimensions or doing the joinery required for your woodworking project, a table saw has you covered. This class provides you with must…
Class Preview
Whether you’re rough-cutting stock to size, taking it to its final dimensions or doing the joinery required for your woodworking project, a table saw has you covered. This class provides you with must-have information for setting up and safely using your table saw.
Session 1: Getting Started
Before making any cuts, let’s make certain your table saw can do everything you ask it to do. We’ll look at: • Parallelism between the blade and fence • Getting perfectly square cuts • Calibrating your rip fence and blade height • Choosing the correct blade • Ensuring your blades are sharp, clean, and ready to cut • Taking care of your saw
Session 2: Using the Table Saw
Starting with safety, George will take you through how to rip boards, including when to use a push stick and how to position your hands and body. Then you’ll move on to crosscutting techniques, including a great tip for easily crosscutting wide material. Rabbets require a sacrificial fence, and resawing requires the use of a featherboard. This session shows you how to make your own sacrificial fence and how to use it, and how to safely position and use a featherboard.
Session 3: Thin Rips, Bevels, Cutting Metal
Many woodworking projects call for exceptionally thin pieces, such as edge banding and splines. We’ve got a great approach that allows you to cut these small parts safely, with your guard in place. George will also show you to set perfect angles on your saw blade and miter gauge. The table saw also provides a great way to cut thin-walled non-ferrous metals. This session teaches you about the perfect blade for this work, and how to safely make the cuts.
Session 4: Dadoes, Rabbets and Grooves
Stackable dado heads are a must-have if you plan on doing joinery on your table saw. This session shows you how to stack the dado head so you don’t chip a tooth, a great trick for setting the height of the dado head and how to safely cut dadoes. Making a wide cut doesn’t always mean using a dado head. With proper set up, you can use a standard rip blade to cut custom-sized grooves and rabbets.
Session 5: Class Summary
A table saw is often the centerpiece of a shop. Refining and practicing the techniques you’ll learn in this class will make you a better woodworker, and help you create more and better pieces.
Bonus: Intro to Table Saws
This short video might help overcome any hesitation you have in working with a table saw.
Meet Your Expert
Learn more about your instructor, George Vondriska.
