The safest way to use a table saw is to make each cut in a deliberate sequence: identify the cut, prepare the saw and stock, choose the right guide, feed the work under control, and wait for the blade to stop before clearing scraps or making adjustments. Keep hands out of the blade’s path, never guide stock freehand, and use the guard and other safety devices intended for the operation.
1. Identify the cut before setting up
Ripping changes a board’s width and generally follows the grain. Use the rip fence to guide the board. Crosscutting cuts across the board’s shorter dimension; use a miter gauge or a suitable crosscut fixture such as a sled.
Do not use the rip fence and miter gauge together to guide the same workpiece unless the saw’s manual specifically describes a safe stop-block setup. In an ordinary crosscut, a trapped offcut can bind against a fence or stop as the blade turns. Remove the rip fence from the work path and follow the manual’s instructions for the crosscut fixture. The DEWALT DWE7485 manual provides model-specific examples; its setup details are not universal.
2. Prepare the saw and stock before switching on
- Check that the blade is appropriate for the cut, correctly installed, and in good condition. Remove cracked or damaged blades from service, and follow the saw maker’s speed and setup instructions.
- Inspect the stock for splits, checks, cracks, and knots, and check for nails or other foreign objects. Defective stock can be difficult to control and may contribute to kickback.
- Confirm that the blade guard and applicable spreader or riving knife and anti-kickback devices are installed and working. Do not use the saw if guards or other safety devices are not functioning properly.
- Lock the rip fence or miter gauge as appropriate, and check that the stock is supported on the infeed and outfeed sides.
- Wear eye and face protection. Keep other people clear of the workpiece and the possible kickback path.
OSHA’s table saw guidance and kickback guidance emphasize functioning safeguards, sound stock, and support. If an operation appears to require a different guard configuration, use only a method and work-holding device allowed by the saw’s manual. Disconnect power before adjustment or service, and consult the manual for model-specific settings.
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- INCLUDES: (1) Long Hold Down Push Block (1) Safe V Stick and (1) Straight Push Stick (2) Short Hold Down Push Blocks.
- BLOCK FUNCTION: Provides added hand safety while guiding wood for sawing and cutting - safety blocks allowing you to maintain a firm and steady downward pressure of the workpiece, without the bounce or chatter as it crosses the cutters blades.
- STICK FUNCTION: Offers enhanced hand safety while guiding wood for sawing and cutting – the l-shaped stick (also called a v push stick) allows you to push the entire work piece through the blades, and the standard straight push stick is great when you have limited space - both are narrow and are useful when working with smaller stock.
- APPLICATIONS: Push blocks are commonly used for face jointing, ripping plywood, routing and other woodworking applications and push sticks are commonly used in combination with jointers, tablesaws, router tables and shapers.
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3. Choose a guide that controls the workpiece
For ripping
Keep the board against the rip fence and feed it parallel to the blade. Apply pressure where the saw’s manual directs; the DEWALT DWE7485 manual gives instructions for that model only. Use an undamaged push stick or push block when the cut calls for one, especially when the workpiece is small or narrow.
For crosscutting
Guide the stock with a miter gauge or suitable crosscut sled, not by holding it against the rip fence during an ordinary crosscut. Make sure the offcut cannot become trapped against a fence or stop and contact the blade. Follow the saw manual’s directions for the fixture and the cut.
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For special stock-control aids
Featherboards and similar aids can help in selected setups, but they are not universal solutions. Use them only when they are compatible with the cut, remain clear of the blade and fence, and are permitted by the saw manual.
4. Feed with control and keep clear of the blade
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in its eTool: Machine Guarding — Saws — Table Saws, advises: “Use a push stick for small pieces of wood and for pushing stock past the blade.” A push stick helps keep hands farther from the blade; the appropriate type and technique depend on the saw and operation. Do not assume another model’s distance thresholds or push-stick directions apply to your saw.
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The DEWALT DWE7485 manual warns, “Never perform any cutting operation freehand.” That instruction is from the DWE7485 manual, not a universal quoted rule from every manufacturer; it reinforces the essential practice of guiding stock with the appropriate fence, gauge, or fixture rather than steering it by hand. Keep hands out of the cut line and follow the manual’s guidance for feed pressure and hand position.
Kickback occurs when the blade catches or binds the workpiece and throws it toward the operator. Reduce the risk by using suitable, maintained blades and the safety devices intended for the operation, keeping stock parallel to the fence during a rip, and supporting the work so it does not twist, pivot, or fall. Stand to the side of the blade’s line rather than directly behind the workpiece.
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- 【Enhanced Safety Control for Table Saw Work】: Designed to keep your hands at a safer distance from the blade, this table saw push block improves control when cutting narrow or small workpieces. Ideal for reducing kickback and maintaining stable feed during woodworking tasks.
- 【Versatile for Multiple Woodworking Tools】: Suitable for table saws, router tables, jointers, and band saws. This woodworking push block adapts to various cutting applications including ripping, trimming, and precision cuts. Cutting accuracy reaches 1/4 inch.
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5. Support long and wide boards
Support both the infeed and outfeed ends so the board stays level and controlled as it passes the blade. Support wide stock and manage the cut and uncut ends, scrap, and finished pieces; a falling or pivoting piece can pull the work off line. Use auxiliary support for long or wide workpieces as the saw manual directs. Never reach over or around a rotating blade to retrieve stock.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Finish the cut before clearing or adjusting
After feeding the workpiece through, keep clear of the blade and wait until it has stopped before removing scraps, repositioning stock, or making adjustments. Disconnect power before adjustment or service. If a piece binds, do not reach toward the blade to free it; stop the saw and follow the manufacturer’s procedure.
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Quick setup checklist
- Decide whether the cut is a rip or a crosscut.
- Inspect the stock and blade; confirm guards and applicable safety devices work.
- Lock the correct guide and arrange support for the infeed, outfeed, and offcut.
- Plan hand position and use a push stick or other suitable aid when the operation calls for it.
- Stand out of the blade’s line, feed the stock under control, then wait for the blade to stop before clearing or adjusting.
For practical supplementary advice on material inspection and safe handling, see Woodcraft’s table saw safety guide.
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