Woodworking is a great hobby enjoyed by many. Their ability to turn an ordinary piece of wood into a cabinet, chair, or even a cutting board gives the woodworker a sense of accomplishment. Most woodworkers are familiar with each and every tool they have in their shop and respect them all. That's right, I said respect. The typical woodworking shop is filled with tools and equipment that, if not respected, can cause serious injury to the equipment and operator.

The novice, or less experienced, operator are more likely to injure themselves while operating their woodworking tools, but this is not to say the experts are exempt, because they aren't. Most of these injuries are a result of lack of concentration, faulty equipment, poor work practices, poorly maintained work area, just to name a few. There is one tool in the woodworker's shop that is responsible for the majority of injuries and that is the table saw, so here are a few tips to stay safe in your woodshop.

When first installing your new table saw in the shop the location should be pre-determined. There needs to be ample workspace around the table saw with no interference from surrounding tools, cabinets, or other machinery. Now, before you go any further, be sure to read and understand you owner's manual that came with your saw.

Before preparing to plug in your table saw there are several considerations to make before electricity is ever connected to the saw. The primary safety tip here is not to use extension cords if at all possible, but if it is a must be sure it is rated for the machine. The best way to run electricity in your shop is with overhead outlets or drop cords that hang from the ceiling or coil spools. Connecting in this manner will keep the appliance cord out of the way, thus preventing accidental cutting of the power cord or tripping.

Once your saw is in operation you will need to follow some simple rules to prevent injury or damage to the saw. Prior to operation, the power cord needs to be examined from the plug to the machine. Look for damage of any kind to the protective cover of the cord, check the plug has no cracks or loose prongs, and check that the cord is connected to the saw properly. Then, leaving the saw unplugged, it is time to move on to the saw.

When looking over the saw you want to check that it is sturdy, all bolts are tight, safety pins are in place, and that there are no cracks or damage to the surface plate. Once you are satisfied the table is in safe operating condition you'll need to check the blade and mount. First make sure the saw is still unplugged, then, remove the cover plate next to the blade. Now, standing behind the blade, squat down to eye level and slowly turn the blade making sure it turns true and showing no sign of being bent or having broken or chipped teeth.

These inspections may seem time consuming, but a little extra time is better than losing a finger, hand, or eye.

Well, you've completed your inspections and you're ready to plug it in and get busy not so fast. Before turning on your saw there are a couple of other safety items you'll need. The first item will be to put on your safety glasses, or better yet, goggles. Another tool is your push block used to push the final foot of wood past the blade of the saw. You should never push wood past the blade with bare hand, doing it this way is when most injuries occur.

We've went over some very important safety tips for operating your table saw. Once you get your own system for checking your equipment you'll be ready to get started on any project you have in mind.

Learn more about this author, Russell Roper.
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