Hey everyone! I'm having a bit of a rough time with my woodworking tools and I'm starting to think there's something I might be doing wrong. Over just two days, I've managed to break my Festool track saw and encounter some serious issues with my Festool miter saw and Powermatic table saw.
1. I tried to cut a 2-inch slab of walnut using my Festool track saw, which hasn't seen much action in the past few years, and found that the blade kept binding up. No matter how slow I went, the blade eventually just stopped working. What could I have done wrong?
2. I'm also building a moxon vice from maple, and my miter saw struggled to make the cuts. It kept binding, even when I took it slow, and I ended up with some kickback.
3. Finally, while trying to rip the maple to 4 inches on my table saw, the blade kept binding up again. I had to make a small cut with my miter saw just to finish it off.
I'm really confused about what's happening here and could really use your advice. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
It sounds like you're doing a lot of heavy cutting in one go, which can cause binding issues. For hardwoods like walnut, it's better to take multiple passes and gradually plunge deeper, rather than trying to cut the full thickness at once. The same goes for your miter saw—making shallower passes can help avoid that dreaded kickback. And for the table saw, raise your blade a bit progressively until you get through the cut. You'll thank yourself later!
If your tools are functioning right but still having issues, check the condition of your wood. Sometimes, the wood may look dry but can still have internal moisture. This tension can cause the wood to bind while cutting, particularly in thicker pieces like walnut. They call this case hardening, and it can really mess with your cuts!
Are you using a riving knife and a rip blade on your table saw? When ripping solid wood, especially thick pieces, a proper setup is critical. And keep those blades clean and sharp! If you're only making deep cuts, that could be a major contributor to your troubles. Instead of going all-in, try making shallow passes and increase the depth gradually!