I'm having issues with my track saw when cutting 8/4 walnut. Even after making five passes, it's still producing enough smoke to cook a turkey, and I'm worried about safety! Could this be due to the wood's tension against the blade or perhaps because I'm not using a riving knife? I really want to figure this out since I'm concerned about my dust collection catching fire. For reference, I'm cutting with the saw set to full speed on a 4-foot piece at a 90-degree angle.
3 Answers
Definitely consider if the blade is dull or just not suited for ripping hardwood. You should also check to make sure your saw is properly aligned with the track; any misalignment can cause extra friction and heat.
I faced a similar problem with thick materials too! What worked for me was making an initial rough cut that's slightly heavy, like 1/16" to 1/8". Then, I would come back with a finishing cut. Also, consider switching to a ripping blade; that really saved me from burning.
First off, check the direction of the blade. Sometimes a simple mistake can cause a lot of issues! Also, pitch build-up could be a culprit – that stuff can heat up pretty quickly when it clogs the teeth.
Great tip! I hadn't thought of doing a preliminary cut. I'll definitely look into getting a ripping blade!