by Nick Somoski

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: February 23, 2012

You could be a big-shot woodworker who knows their table saw in and out, but one thing cannot be stressed enough: safety comes first, especially when using power tools. Just think how quickly an injury can happen. With tools like the table saw, loss of fingers or worse, a loss of life, can happen with the blink of an eye. To prevent something terrible from happening, here are a few safety tips you should always keep in mind when using that all-powerful table saw.

1. Know your equipment! If you're a first time user of a table saw or are not very familiar with the equipment, crack open the books and read all you can about it. You should know how to use a table saw safely, get a handle on the techniques, and understand what you're going to be using it on. The risk of injuries will be greatly reduced just by understanding what you're using.

Keeping the tabletop waxed and polished is also a good idea. A smooth surface will allow for easy pushing of the wood through the saw blade. A dirty, sawdust-filled table top will require more force by you to push the wood through.

2. Keep your area clean! Clutter, garbage, and piles of nonsense are more than just a distraction - they're a threat. While cutting a piece of wood, you won't want to be stepping over clutter and trying to work with piles of trash right next to you. They became obstacles to the user, and since they're distracting, they become hazardous. Sawdust can be another problem - it's important to clean the sawdust up once you're finished. If the mess isn't eliminated, your work may not be as thorough as you'd like it.

3. Always wear eye protection! When using the table saw, things can be flying at you from all directions. Always keep a pair of eye goggles around, as well as a blade guard, to wear when using the table saw. Flying wood chips, sawdust, and other debris can easily fly at you, and if you're not wearing eye protection something dangerous could happen.

4. Have control over the machine! It's important that you are in control at all times, not letting the machine control you. If something goes wrong, know where the power switch is and know where the plug is. Always keep your hands on the saw while cutting a piece of wood, and always make sure you're guiding it along the line you want to cut.

5. Always wear hearing protection! The table saw is one of the loudest pieces of equipment you can ever own. The noise can be deafening and can cause hearing problems over time. Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue

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