RIPPING
Cutting a wood plank or sheet of plywood lengthwise to
reduce its width is called “ripping.” To rip stock, hold the
work with both hands pushing it into the blade as well as
firmly against the rip fence so that it is cut straight,
.
• The work to be cut must have a straight edge to ride
the fence and must be flat to make solid contact with
the table during the cut in order to avoid “kickback” (a
blade jam causing the wood to fly backwards and hit
you).
• Never rip or cut wood without using the fence or miter
gauge to guide it because the stock could kickback.
• Always use the blade guard and splitter assembly when cutting wood. It has anti-kickback fingers and a split
ter to prevent the saw “kerf” (the slit cut by the blade) from closing and binding the blade, which can overload
and/or stall the motor or cause the blade to lift and eject the workpiece towards the front of the saw at very
high speeds. The blade guard keeps your fingers away from the blade and also reduces the amount of saw
dust flying free.
• Although certain operations require the removal of the blade guard and splitter assembly, it should always be
replaced for regular cutting.
• Never stand in the line of the blade when ripping.
• Raise the saw blade only about 1/4” higher than the work to be cut.
As you complete the rip, the wood will either remain on the
table, tilt up to be caught on the end of the guard, or fall
onto the floor (or outfeed table). The waste part of the
stock remains on the table to be removed only after the
saw is stopped (unless it is large enough for immediate
safe removal).
If the work to be ripped is narrow, it is safer to use a push
stick, rather than the hands, to feed it into the blade,
.
Push sticks with non-slip grippers can be purchased, but a
shop-made one works just as well.
When ripping extremely narrow stock that may not clear
the width of the blade guard, or very thin material such as
paneling, which may slip between the underside of the
fence and the table surface, a strip of wood as an auxil-
iary guide can be attached to the fence.
NEVER REACH IN TOWARDS THE BLADE WHILE THE BLADE IS STILL SPINNING! WHENEVER A RIP CUT IS COMPLETED, TURN OFF
THE SAW AND WAIT FOR THE BLADE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE REACHING IN TO REMOVE THE WORKPIECE OR
THE WASTE MATERIAL.
BEVEL RIPPING
Bevel ripping is performed the same as ripping but with the saw blade set to an angle not perpendicular with the
table surface. After changing the bevel angle verify the alignment of the guard and splitter; make sure there is
clearance with the saw blade.
RIPPING SMALL WORK PIECES
Do not attempt rip cuts if the work piece is too small, as this will oblige you to place your hands too close to the
blade and put you at serious risk of injury. When ripping narrower widths; use a push block or a push stick in order
to avoid placing hands near the blade.