I'm working on building Steve Ramsey's springtime planter box and I think I messed up a cut while using my table saw. The plans call for laminating two pieces of 24" 2x4's together and then trimming them. Yesterday, I tried to trim about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from each leg with my Dewalt 7491 table saw, but as I was cutting, it felt much harder to push the wood through than usual. I had to use a lot of force, which even caused some sparks at one point. The cut turned out fine, but I'm wondering if I should have used a ripping blade instead of my 60 tooth fine finish blade. Am I doing it all wrong by trying to cut a 3-inch thick piece of wood on a table saw as a beginner? Am I ruining my 60 tooth blade, especially since I've noticed more sawdust in my cuts lately?
1 Answer
Sounds like you might've been struggling because the blade wasn't right for the job. If you're ripping lumber, a ripping blade is definitely the better choice. As for those sparks, they can happen if you're cutting through something that's too challenging for the blade or if there's a hidden staple. It’s good that you didn’t hit any metal, that could've really damaged your blade. Just check your blade to see if it’s got any nicks. If you're noticing that your cuts are getting messier, it might be time to swap blades altogether based on what you’re doing!
Thanks for the insight! Do people frequently change blades for different cuts, or is it just for particular situations?