CROSSCUTTING
CROSSCUTTING is known as cutting wood
across the grain, at 90°, or square with both the
edge and the flat side of the wood. This is done
with the miter gauge set at 90° (Fig. 55).
Make sure that the blade guard is installed for all
"through sawing" operations (when the sawblade
cuts entirely through the thickness of the work-
piece). Replace guard the IMMEDIATELY after
com pletion of dadoing or rabbeting cuts.
Have the blade extend approximately 1/8" above
top of work piece. Additional blade exposure would
increase the hazard potential.
Do not stand directly in front of the blade in case
of a THROWBACK (small cut-off piece caught by
the back of the blade and thrown toward the oper-
ator). Stand to either side of the blade.
Keep your hands clear of the blade and out of the
path of the blade.
If the blade stalls or stops while cutting, TURN
THE SWITCH OFF before attempting to free the
blade.
Do not reach over or behind the blade to pull the
work piece through the cut, to support long or
heavy workpieces, to remove cut-off pieces of ma-
terial, or FOR ANY OTHER REASON.
Do not pick up small pieces of cut-off material
from the table. REMOVE them by pushing them
OFF the table with a long stick. Otherwise they
could be thrown back at you by the rear of the
blade.
Do not remove small pieces of cut-off material that
are close to or may become TRAPPED inside the
blade guard while the saw is RUNNING. THIS
COULD ENDANGER YOUR HANDS or cause a
KICKBACK. Turn the saw OFF. After the blade
has stopped turning, lift the guard and remove the
piece.
If the workpiece is warped, place the CONCAVE
side DOWN. This will help to prevent it from rock-
ing while it is being cut.
The graduations on the miter gauge provide accu-
racy for average woodworking. In some cases
where extreme ac curacy is required, when mak-
ing angle cuts, for example, make a trial cut and
then recheck it with an accurate square or protrac-
tor.
Basic Table Saw Operation
-43-
If necessary, the miter gauge head can be swiv-
eled slightly to compensate for any inaccuracy.
TIP: The space between the miter gauge bar and
the groove in the table is held to a minimum during
manu fac turing. For maximum accuracy when
using the miter gauge, always "favor" one side of
the groove in the table. In other words, don't move
the miter gauge from side to side while cutting but
keep one side of the bar riding against one side of
the groove.
TIP: Glue a piece of sandpaper to the face of the
miter gauge head. This will help prevent the work-
piece from "creep ing" while it is being cut.
The miter gauge may be used in either of the
grooves in the table. Make sure it is locked.
When using the miter gauge in the LEFT hand
groove, hold the workpiece firmly against gauge
head with your left hand, and grip the lock knob
with your right hand.
When using the RIGHT hand groove, hold the
workpiece with your right hand and the lock knob
with your left hand.
FIG. 55