-6-
G0444/G0444Z 10" Table Saw
Below are tips to avoid the most common
causes of kickback:
• Never attempt freehand cuts. If the work-
piece is not fed perfectly parallel with the
blade, a kickback will likely occur. Always
use the rip fence or crosscut fence to support
the workpiece.
•Make sure the blade splitter is always
aligned with the blade. A misaligned blade
splitter can cause the workpiece to bind or
stop the flow of the cut, resulting in an
increased chance of kickback. If you think
that your blade splitter is not aligned with the
blade, check it immediately!
• Ensure that your rip fence is parallel with the
blade; otherwise, the chances of kickback
are extreme. Take the time to check and
adjust the rip fence.
• Use the blade splitter during every cut. The
blade splitter maintains the kerf in the work-
piece, therefore, reducing the chance of kick-
back.
• Feed cuts through to completion. Anytime
you stop feeding a workpiece that is in the
middle of a cut, the chance of binding, result-
ing in kickback, is greatly increased.
Even if you know how to prevent kickback, it
may still happen. Here are some tips to pro-
tect yourself if kickback DOES occur:
• Stand to the side of the blade during every
cut. If a kickback does occur, the thrown
workpiece usually travels directly in front of
the blade.
• Wear safety glasses or a face shield. In the
event of a kickback, your eyes and face are
the most vulnerable part of your body.
• Never, for any reason, place your hand
behind the blade. Should kickback occur,
your hand will be pulled into the blade.
• Use a push stick to keep your hands farther
away from the moving blade. If a kickback
occurs, the push stick will most likely take the
damage that your hand would have received.
Statistics prove that most common acci-
dents among table saw users can be
linked to kickback. Kickback is typically
defined as the high-speed expulsion of
stock from the table saw toward its oper-
ator. In addition to the danger of the oper-
ator or others in the area being struck by
the flying stock, it is often the case that
the operator’s hands are pulled into the
blade during the kickback.
Protecting Yourself
From Kickback
Preventing Kickback