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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ANTI-KICKBACK PAWLS – To prevent the workpiece being
kicked upward or back toward the front of the table saw by
the spinning blade.
ARBOR – The shaft on which the blade or dado is mounted.
BEVEL CUT – An angle cut made through the face of the
workpiece.
BLADE BEVEL SCALE – To measure if the angle of the blade
is tilted when set for a bevel cut.
BLADE ELEVATION AND TILTING HANDWHEEL – To raise
and lower the blade or tilt the blade to the angle between 0º
and 45º for bevel cuts.
BLADE GUARD – A clear plastic cover that positions over the
blade while cutting.
COMPOUND CUT – A simultaneous bevel and miter cut.
CROSSCUT – A cut made across the width of the workpiece.
DADO – Special cutting blades that are used to cut grooves
in a workpiece.
FEATHERBOARD – When ripping a workpiece on your table
saw, this keeps it firmly and safely against the rip fence. It
also helps prevent chatter, gouging, and dangerous kickback.
FREEHAND – Performing a cut without using a rip fence, mi-
ter gauge, hold down or other proper device to prevent the
workpiece from twisting during the cutting operation.
GUM – A sticky sap from wood products.
HEEL – Misalignment of the blade.
JAMB NUT – Nut used to lock another nut in place on a
threaded rod or bolt.
KERF – The amount of material removed by the blade cut.
KICKBACK– Occurs when the saw blade binds in the cut and
violently thrusts the workpiece back toward the operator.
LEADING END – The end of the workpiece which, during a rip
type operation is pushed into the cutting tool first.
MITER CUT – An angle cut made across the width of the
workpiece.
MITER GAUGE – A guide used for crosscutting operations
that slides in the table top channels (grooves) located on ei-
ther side of the blade. It helps make accurate straight or angle
crosscuts.
NON-THROUGH SAWING – refers to any cut that does not
completely cut through the workpiece.
OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH – Protects the motor if it over-
loads during operation, provides a way to restart the saw.
PUSH STICK – Used to push workpieces when performing
ripping operations.
PUSH BLOCK – Used for ripping operation when the work-
piece is too narrow to use a push stick. Always use a push
block for rip widths less than 2 in.
RABBET – A notch in the edge of a workpiece. Also called an
edge dado.
RESAWING – Flipping material to make a cut the saw is not
capable of making in one pass.
WARNING
Resawing IS NOT recommended.
REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM) – The number of turns
completed by a spinning object in one minute.
RIP FENCE – A guide used for rip cutting which allows the
workpiece to cut straight.
RIPPING – Cutting with the grain of the wood or along the
length of the workpiece.
RIVING KNIFE – A metal piece of the guard assembly located
behind and moves with the blade. Slightly thinner than the
saw blade, it helps keep the kerf open and prevents kickback.
SAW BLADE PATH – The area of the workpiece or table top
directly in line with the travel of the blade or the part of the
workpiece that will be cut.
SET – The distance between two saw blade tips, bent outward
in opposite directions to each other. The further apart the tips
are, the greater the set.
TABLE INSERT – Insert that is removed from the table to
install / remove blades. It is also removed for dado cutting.
When dado cutting, a dado insert plate must be used.
THROUGH SAWING – Making a cut completely through the
length or width of a workpiece.
WORKPIECE – Material to be cut.
NOTE: Blade guard assembly is removed for purposes of
illustration only.
Saw blade path
Leading edge
Kerf
Surface
Workpiece
Trailing edge
