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Use an auxiliary fence in contact with the tabletop when ripping workpieces less than
2 mm thick . A thin workpiece may wedge under the rip fence and create a kickback.
Kickback causes and related warnings
Kickback is a sudden reaction of the workpiece due to a pinched, jammed saw blade or
misaligned line of cut in the workpiece with respect to the saw blade or when a part of the
workpiece binds between the saw blade and the rip fence or other fixed object.
Most frequently during kickback, the workpiece is lifted from the table by the rear portion of
the saw blade and is propelled towards the operator.
Kickback is the result of saw misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and
can be avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
Never stand directly in line with the saw blade . Always position your body on the same
side of the saw blade as the fence . Kickback may propel the workpiece at high velocity
towards anyone standing in front and in line with the saw blade.
Never reach over or in back of the saw blade to pull or to support the workpiece .
Accidental contact with the saw blade may occur or kickback may drag your fingers into the
saw blade.
Never hold and press the workpiece that is being cut off against the rotating saw blade .
Pressing the workpiece being cut off against the saw blade will create a binding condition and
kickback.
Align the fence to be parallel with the saw blade . A misaligned fence will pinch the
workpiece against the saw blade and create kickback.
Use a featherboard to guide the workpiece against the table and fence when making
non-through cuts such as rabbeting, dadoing or resawing cuts . A featherboard helps to
control the workpiece in the event of a kickback.
Use extra caution when making a cut into blind areas of assembled workpieces . The
protruding saw blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.
Support large panels to minimise the risk of saw blade pinching and kickback .
Large
panels tend to sag under their own weight. Support(s) must be placed under all portions of the
panel overhanging the tabletop.
Use extra caution when cutting a workpiece that is twisted, knotted, warped or does not
have a straight edge to guide it with a miter gauge or along the fence .
A warped, knotted,
or twisted workpiece is unstable and causes misalignment of the kerf with the saw blade,
binding and kickback.
Never cut more than one workpiece, stacked vertically or horizontally . The saw blade
could pick up one or more pieces and cause kickback.
When restarting the saw with the saw blade in the workpiece, centre the saw blade in
the kerf so that the saw teeth are not engaged in the material .
If the saw blade binds, it
may lift up the workpiece and cause kickback when the saw is
restarted.
Keep saw blades clean, sharp, and with sufficient set. Never use warped saw blades
or saw blades with cracked or broken teeth . Sharp and properly set saw blades minimise
binding, stalling and kickback.
Table saw operating procedure warnings
Turn off the table saw and disconnect the power cord when removing the table insert,
changing the saw blade or making adjustments to the riving knife, antikickback device
or saw blade guard, and when the machine is left unattended . Precautionary measures
will avoid accidents.
Never leave the table saw running unattended. Turn it off and don’t leave the tool until it
comes to a complete stop . An unattended running saw is an uncontrolled hazard.
