23 Chapter Sawing with Stationary Power Machines

Objectives Select stationary power saws for making straight or curved cuts. Discuss the proper operation of stationary power saws. Choose the most appropriate saw blade for a given operation. Maintain stationary power equipment.

Sawing with Stationary Power Machines Fundamental operation in cabinetmaking Machines designed to cut straight-line or curved-line cuts Select safest appropriate saw for cut Choose most efficient if more than one is appropriate Prior instruction, experience on machine

Safe and Efficient Operation Disconnect power when changing blades, servicing Ensure blade is clean, sharp Install, adjust point-of-operation guards Support material before and after cut Feed material into saw properly Ensure dust collection is working

Handedness Machine operations affected by which hand is used Some operations may be reversed Others should be set up one way

Sawing Straight Lines Standard operation in cabinetmaking Blade selection critical Machines with circular blades best option Fences aid in guiding material for straight cut past blade

Tilting-Arbor Table Saw Left- or right-tilting arbor Circular blade extends up through table Blade raising device Tilting device SawStop LLC

Tilting-Arbor Table Saw Guiding Material Rip fence Miter gauge Sliding table Jigs, accessories Patrick A. Molzahn Laguna Tools

Tilting-Arbor Table Saw Blade Guard Protect user from blade, flying debris Mount to table or saw-trunnion Splitter Anti-kickback pawls Overhead guard Riving knife SawStop LLC Patrick A. Molzahn

Tilting-Arbor Table Saw Setup Decide whether to use rip fence or miter gauge Set blade height Square blade

Setting Blade Height and Squaring Blade Patrick A. Molzahn Chuck Davis Cabinets

Operating the Table Saw Ripping Crosscutting Beveling Mitering Resawing cutting dados

Ripping Lumber on the Table Saw Cutting lumber along grain Set blade height Measure from fence to tooth set toward fence Ensure blade guard, riving knife or splitter in place Stock must have one flat face, one straight edge Stand to one side of blade

Ripping Plywood on the Table Saw Carbide-tipped blade Set blade Use guard and splitter Set fence Patrick A. Molzahn

Crosscutting Lumber and Plywood on the Table Saw Carbide-tipped blade Set blade height Guide material with miter gauge Crosscutting duplicate parts to length Stop with miter gauge Stop with rip fence Patrick A. Molzahn

Sawing Nongrain Manufactured Products Choose blade based on smoothness of cut required Wood veneered panels require same steps as solid lumber Panel saws equipped with scoring blades, preventing tearout

Beveling Sawing with blade tilted Joint making, shaping Set saw tilt angle with tilt scale, T-bevel, protractor, triangle Blade angled away from fence, miter gauge Patrick A. Molzahn

Mitering Cutting angle using miter gauge Set blade square to table Adjust miter gauge to required angle Prevent creeping Abrasive-covered wood auxiliary fence Patrick A. Molzahn

Resawing Two or more pieces from one piece May require multiple passes Keep same face against fence Side-mounted guard Chuck Davis Cabinets

Ripping Narrow Strips Prone to kickback Two methods Zero-clearance throat plate, push stick Position strip on offcut side of blade, stop block positioned before blade

Cutting Dados, Ploughs Dado set Stacked set of blades, cut grooves Dados cut perpendicular to grain Ploughs cut with grain

Tilting Table Saw Table tilts Most operations same as tilting-arbor Beveling is exception

Panel Saws Horizontal or vertical Beam saw Scoring blades Sliding table feeds material into blade Beam saw Cuts multiple sheets at one time Scoring blades Patrick A. Molzahn Casadei Busellato

Radial Arm Saw Used to cut stock to length Saw blade, blade guard, motor above table, mounted on yoke Sized according to blade diameters Delta International Machine Corp.

Changing Radial Arm Saw Blades Change when dull or for different operation Remove guard Secure motor Use wrenches to hold arbor or blade, loosen arbor nut Install new blade

Radial Arm Saw Setup Wide range of adjustments Elevation crank, arm, yoke, motor Only yoke moves during sawing Locked for ripping Monitor adjustments frequently

Radial Arm Saw Crosscutting Lock arm, yoke pivot, bevel at 0 Power off Align blade Back off blade, turn on Pull saw across board, saw back through kerf Saw off, wait for blade to stop completely Patrick A. Molzahn

Crosscutting Multiple Parts Clamp stop to fence Place workpiece against stop, make cut Attach stop to fence at desired length for wide material Patrick A. Molzahn

Other Radial Arm Saw Setups Mitering Rotate saw arm right or left to proper angle Kerfing Raise blade above table Beveling Motor and blade assembly tilt Protect table

Sawing Curved Lines Band saws Scroll saws Relief cuts Large radius curves, large components Scroll saws Small radii, curves Relief cuts Waste breaks loose Less chance blade will twist, break

Band Saw Continuous, thin blade travels around wheels Blade guide Guidepost Bottom wheel drives blade, top wheel can control blade tension, alignment Distance from blade to side frame is throat Delta International Machinery Corp.

Band Saw Operation Plan sawing sequence Check setup Cuts, workpiece to which side Check setup Adjustments, guard, locking devices Set up saw guard Check blade tension Patrick A. Molzahn

Curved-Line Cutting on Band Saw Cutting radius depends on blade width, set Relief cuts where direction changes Do not push workpiece against side of blade Patrick A. Molzahn

Straight-Line Cutting on Band Saw Requires guide Adjust for drift Miter gauge for cross cuts Cut narrow strips on band saw

U-Shaped Cutting on Band Saw Three sides of opening sawn Alternatives to relief cuts Saw sides straight Drill turn-around holes Bore inside corners with radius bit

Beveling on Band Saw Table or head tilts Set angle with scale or T-bevel Freehand or with guides

Band Sawing Multiple Parts to Size Stack, fasten workpieces together Make relief cuts Saw along cutting line Last two cuts should free parts from waste Use guide if necessary

Resawing on Band Saw Use auxiliary fence or pivot block Set given distance away from blade Mark thickness on board edge Cut in one pass Allow for drift Use push block last 3 Patrick A. Molzahn

Scroll Saw Cuts small radius curves, interior openings Table can tilt Blade held by two clamps, moves up, down Size based on throat depth Delta International Machinery Corp.

Scroll Saw Blades and Setup Three or more teeth in contact with material TPI varies Setup Adjust guidepost Adjust speed

Scroll Saw Operation Outside cut Interior cut Beveling, scroll cuts Pocket cuts Blade threaded through hole in workpiece Patrick A. Molzahn

Selecting Blades Blade choice based on sawing operation Inspect blade frequently Blade performance based on tooth design, chip load Chip load depends on number of teeth, size of gullet, speed of blade, rate of feed Chip load is factor for all blade types, styles

Circular Blade Selection Blade diameter Tooth design Hook angle Cutting edge shape Number of teeth Kerf width Arbor hole size

Circular Blade Selection (Cont’d) Diameter Defines tool size Hook angle Angle between tooth face and line from tooth tip to arbor Cutting edge Tooth shape or grinds

Circular Blade Selection (Cont’d) Number of teeth More teeth, smoother cut Determines performance in thin materials Kerf width Larger diameter blades create larger kerfs Arbor hole Larger on blades with larger diameter

Circular Blade Selection (Cont’d) Other considerations Gullet Flat, hollow ground, or thin rim blades Expansion slots

Band Saw Blade Selection Loop length Blade width Hardness Tooth shapes, blade set Blade material

Scroll Saw Blade Selection Standard blades cut in one direction Width , TPI vary Beveled teeth, alternate set Standard length 5″

Maintaining Saw Blades Keep sharp, free of rust and resin, teeth intact Inspect blades frequently for cracks, warp, missing teeth Clean with solvents Carbide-tipped blades need professional sharpening

Maintaining Power Saws Inspect Clean Adjust Lubricate Disconnect from power, lock out before servicing

Table Saw Maintenance Ensure miter gauge slot and blade parallel Check fence alignment Adjust using dial indicator Lubricate handwheels Ensure belts tracking correctly Keep motors free of sawdust Keep table free of rust

Table Saw Maintenance

Radial Arm Saw Maintenance Lubricate all moving parts Check table and fence alignments Level table Patrick A. Molzahn

Band Saw Maintenance Ensure proper blade tension Adjust blade tracking Adjust spacing between blade and side guide, thrust bearing Coil blade for storage Patrick A. Molzahn

Scroll Saw Maintenance Select proper blade guide and blade Set proper tension Check lubricating oil level