Table Saw Tactics

By Ian J. Kirby TABLE SAW TACTICS If you want the saw to cooperate, set it up correctly for the job. Like most woodworking machinery, the table saw is a collection of relatively simple parts bolted together. Early table saws consisted of massive metal castings and large diameter blades. They were designed and built for one purpose: to rip large pieces of solid wood into smaller pieces of solid wood. Today we expect the table saw to perform a variety of tasks: to rip solid wood; to crosscut solid wood; to break down manufactured sheet materials; and to make a range of joints and molded shapes with speed and accuracy. This increase in its capacity has come about as a result of improvements to the machine,