Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Apr 19, 2008 04:27am | #1

   It's not really easier per se, but it is less wasteful of wood. A bandsaw would be the tool of choice for the task, but if you don't have one, you can do it on the tablesaw as you suggest--with the cup facing upwards. Be sure to have some kickback protection in place, as the board will be unstable and can easily rock into the blade.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   english44 | Apr 19, 2008 02:08pm | #4

   My reference to 'easier' was probably that I had in mind hand-planing the smaller boards than planing the larger one. Once I rip the board into smaller pieces, there won't be much of a cup in any of them. It seemed that ripping with the cup up would make it less likely that the board would bind on the saw blade. Should I use a featherboard? What kickback protection were you suggesting?

1. 
   saschafer | Apr 19, 2008 03:23pm | #5

   You don't have to have binding to get kickback--binding all but ensures kickback, but is not required. You can get kickback any time the leading edge of the workpiece contacts the far point of the blade, and with a boart that's rocking on its convex side, that's easy to do. At the very least, you should use a riving knife or splitter. In addition, you should use a solid guard over the top of the blade to stop any pieces that are thrown up as well as back. That leaves you with pieces that shoot straight back towards you along the surface of the table, which you can generally avoid by standing well to the left of the blade.

   I wouldn't use a featherboard or other "pressurized" constraining device in this situation. The lack of stability that results from having the board lying on its convex side means that a featherboard won't be able to exert steady, even pressure.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Apr 20, 2008 05:16am | #6

   "--by standing well to the left of the blade."

   Do you stand to the left of the blade?  I was just told to stand to the right of the blade to avoid reaching over the blade when pushing the workpiece through.

1. 
   saschafer | Apr 20, 2008 03:12pm | #7

   It depends on the cut. If you're ripping a narrow piece, then yes, standing to the right makes sense. But if you're ripping a narrow edge off a wide board, or crosscutting, then standing to the left makes more sense.

   (These days, I'm standing on neither side, as I am currently tablesaw-less--no room.)

   -Steve

    

2. 
   Tinkerer3 | Apr 20, 2008 11:26pm | #8

   Thanks, I'm putting it together.  NO TABLESAW!?  That's awful!

3. 
   saschafer | Apr 20, 2008 11:33pm | #9

   I don't miss it much. Cutting sheet goods is a pain, but that's about it. Now that I've gotten my new Festool TS 55, even that task isn't so bad.

   -Steve

    

4. 
   andyfew322 | Apr 21, 2008 02:34am | #10

   I too am tablesawless, mine broke, getting a new one tonight hopefully 

   Look ma, no jigs!!!

5. 
   Henley | Apr 21, 2008 02:50pm | #12

   Hey Andy, whatcha gettin ?

6. 
   andyfew322 | Apr 21, 2008 06:31pm | #13

   The Jet  708315LSB. It is the biggest I can get, and for the best buck 

   Look ma, no jigs!!!

7. 
   Henley | Apr 22, 2008 02:28am | #14

   Hey I think you did pretty good!
   That's a way better saw then I started out with (and several in between). So what have you been using in the meantime? I mean you've been
   doing some pretty involved projects, you must have had access to one.

8. 
   andyfew322 | Apr 22, 2008 03:48am | #15

   no access, life's been a drag these past weeks  :( 

   Look ma, no jigs!!!

2. 
   andyfew322 | Apr 19, 2008 05:50am | #2

   you can make a jig that slides along the fence or in the miter slot that holds the wood while you run it past the saw blade

    

   Look ma, no jigs!!!

1. 
   BrianDerr | Apr 19, 2008 09:20am | #3

   I'm sensing a contradiction in your post . . . intentional? Maybe mother isn't looking.Brian

3. 
   forestgirl | Apr 21, 2008 06:44am | #11

   Just for jolllies, here is an article about the terminology, with sketches.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)