Table Saw: Safe Ripping and Cross Cutting

The table saw is at the heart of most woodworking shops, so it’s VERY important that you use it correctly and safely. In this video we’ll demonstrate safe ripping and crosscutting on a Laguna Fusion 1 table saw. We’ll cover:

• – Blade selection, ripping versus crosscutting
• – The importance of a riving knife
• – Body position relative to the saw
• – Kickback and how to avoid it
• – What cuts require a push stick
• – Hand position when cutting
• – Dust collection
• – The importance of an outfeed table

Crosscutting safely

There are some crosscut-specific rules you should pay attention to. They have to do with retrieving your material after making a cut, and how to make repetitive cuts to exactly the same length. A stop block allows the miter gauge and rip fence to be used in conjunction with each other, which helps avoid the potential of binding or kick back.

Cutting lots of parts to size

Using the rip fence to get lots of parts cut to the same size makes great sense, as long as you’re didn’t it correctly and safely. Watch the video for the “rectangle rule,” which dictates when you can and can’t use the rip fence for these cuts.

More info

For more info on the Laguna table saw visit www.lagunatools.com or call (888) 677-9765.

8 Responses to “Table Saw: Safe Ripping and Cross Cutting”

1. Edmund Lee April 4th, 2022

   Safety Question – I have a large piece 4 feet by 28” and want to cut multiple 4” side cuts. This doesn’t break the length from blade/fence rule. It’s a ‘wide’ piece.

   1 – Is is a good idea to have a feather board clamped to the fence in front of the blade to help keep the piece flat to table?
   2 – Same rule applies by slight pressure of piece against fence and pushing/sliding the piece from wider (4’x 28” so I would be pushing/sliding the 3’8” side) through and past the saw blade instead of trying to slide the wider piece and also using push stick?

   3 – Use push stick when the size of the piece smaller in width (1’ x 28”) ?
   4 – Would you suggest using a circular saw and cutting it into a smaller 2×2 before using table saw to cut the smaller 4” wide strips?

   Reply

   • Customer Service April 4th, 2022

     1 – Is is a good idea to have a feather board clamped to the fence in front of the blade to help keep the piece flat to table?
     (WWGOA) Be sure that you use your blade guard and splitter for this operation. You should be sure that your off-cut piece is well supported, with side and outfeed support as needed. If that is the case, you shouldn’t need a feather board for this operation.
     2 – Same rule applies by slight pressure of piece against fence and pushing/sliding the piece from wider (4’x 28” so I would be pushing/sliding the 3’8” side) through and past the saw blade instead of trying to slide the wider piece and also using push stick?
     (WWGOA) Apply slight pressure against the fence, use a push stick between blade and fence, and stop applying pressure toward the fence shortly (1″ or so) before the cut is completed.

     3 – Use push stick when the size of the piece smaller in width (1’ x 28”) ?
     (WWGOA) If you are not able to use a push stick due to the distance between the blade guard and the fence, I’d suggest switching up your configuration and putting the off-cut portion against the fence. It will be more hassle to reset the fence each time, but worth it because of the increased safety.
     4 – Would you suggest using a circular saw and cutting it into a smaller 2×2 before using table saw to cut the smaller 4” wide strips?
     (WWGOA) Yes. I use a circular saw and guide to break down plywood before cutting on the table saw whenever possible.

     Reply

2. Christophe March 26th, 2020

   Is the blade guard/pawls/riving knife assembly aftermarket? If so, who supplies it? My Laguna did not come with anything except the riving knife. Thanks.

   Reply

   • Customer Service March 27th, 2020

     Hello Chris,

     Here is what our expert Paul had to say regarding your question:

     “Everything shown here is standard and comes from Laguna. The current Laguna table saws come with blade guard, anti-kickback pawls, blade guard and riving knife.
     Paul”

     Sincerely,

     Julia
     Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

     Reply

3. GREG March 20th, 2020

   i use my radial arm saw for all my cross cuts.

   Reply

4. Joseph Miller March 20th, 2020

   Thanks for this video! I would love to see “safety” videos for the miter saw and router table.

   Reply

   • Customer Service March 20th, 2020

     Hello Joseph,

     Thank you for your feedback. I have forwarded your comment to the proper department. We value your opinion and it will help with the development of our online streaming community. We will continue to listen and work hard for your complete satisfaction.

     If you have any other questions, please chat, email, or contact Customer Service at 1-855-253-0822.
     We greatly appreciate your business!

     Sincerely,

     Kate
     Woodworker Guild of America Video Membership

     Reply

5. johnlega March 3rd, 2020

   Great video – thank you. I was looking at the Fusion F2 (currently have a 1953 Unisaw). Would you recommend it?

   Reply