By | May 23, 2025
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How To Avoid Kickback On Table Saw

Kickback is one of the most dangerous hazards when using a table saw — it occurs when the saw blade catches the workpiece and forcefully throws it back toward the operator. Avoiding kickback is essential for both safety and precision.

Here’s how to safely avoid kickback on a table saw:

✅ 1. Always Use a Riving Knife or Splitter

  • This metal piece behind the blade keeps the kerf open and prevents the wood from pinching the blade.
  • A riving knife moves with the blade, which is even safer than a fixed splitter.

✅ 2. Use a Blade Guard

  • Blade guards help deflect wood pieces and reduce the chance of kickback.
  • Modern blade guards often include dust collection and anti-kickback pawls.

✅ 3. Stand to the Side, Not Directly Behind the Blade

  • If kickback does happen, standing off-center reduces your risk of injury.
  • Keep hands and body out of the line of fire.

✅ 4. Use a Sharp, Proper Blade

  • A dull blade or the wrong blade for the cut (e.g., ripping with a crosscut blade) increases binding and kickback risk.
  • Use a clean, sharp rip blade for ripping and a crosscut blade for crosscuts.

✅ 5. Use a Fence or Miter Gauge — Not Both

  • Never freehand a cut on a table saw.
  • For rip cuts: use the rip fence.
  • For crosscuts: use a miter gauge (not the fence, which can bind the wood).
  • Do NOT use the rip fence and miter gauge at the same time unless you use a stop block.

✅ 6. Avoid Binding or Pinching the Blade

  • Always support long or wide boards with an outfeed table or roller stands.
  • Ensure the workpiece is flat, square, and not warped or twisted.

✅ 7. Use Featherboards or Push Sticks

  • Featherboards keep the wood tight against the fence and help avoid movement that leads to kickback.
  • Push sticks or push blocks keep your hands away from the blade and apply controlled pressure.

✅ 8. Check Fence Alignment and Blade Tilt

  • Misaligned fences or tilted blades can cause binding.
  • Regularly check that your rip fence is parallel to the blade, and your blade is square to the table unless making an angled cut.

✅ 9. Cut Smoothly — No Forcing

  • Feed the workpiece at a steady, controlled pace.
  • Forcing the cut increases the chance of blade pinch and kickback.

✅ 10. Turn Off Power Before Adjusting

  • Always unplug the saw or flip the power switch off before:
    • Changing the blade
    • Adjusting the fence
    • Clearing offcuts near the blade

⚠️ Bonus: Recognize Dangerous Conditions

  • Wood rising off the table = early warning sign of kickback
  • A change in blade pitch or resistance = stop the cut