GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ANTI-KICKBACK PAWLS – Prevents the workpiece from be-
ing 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 work-
piece.
BLADE BEVEL SCALE – Measures the angle the blade is tilted
when set for a bevel cut.
BLADE ELEVATION/TILTING HANDWHEEL – Raises and low-
ers the blade. Tilts the blade to any angle between 0o and 45o
for bevel cuts.
BLADE GUARD – Clear plastic cover that is positioned 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.
DUST PORT – Hole in back of saw base for attachment of
vacuum hose.
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.
JAM NUT – Nut used to lock another nut in place on a thread-
ed rod or bolt.
KERF – The amount of material removed by the blade cut.
MITER CUT – An angle cut made across the width of the work-
piece.
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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.
OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH – Resets the thermocouple and
provides a way to restart the saw motor if it overloads or over-
heats.
PUSH STICK – Accessory that is used to push the workpiece
through the cut to avoid placing your hands close to the
blade.
RESIN – A sticky sap that has hardened.
REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM) – The number of turns
completed by a spinning object in one minute.
RIP FENCE – A guide used for rip cutting that clamps to the
table top. It allows the workpiece to cut straight.
RIPPING – Cutting with the grain of solid wood or along the
length of the workpiece.
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 farther apart the tips
are, the greater the set.
SPLITTER – Keeps the workpiece split apart after being cut to
prevent binding on the blade and workpiece.
TABLE INSERT – Metal 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.
Saw Blade Path
Leading Edge
Kerf
Surface
Workpiece
Trailing Edge
