I've been using my table saw safely for years, but I'm now facing the challenge of ripping very long (around 3 meters) and thin pieces. It feels a bit unsafe because using my microjig means my hand would have to pass directly over the blade, and I'd need to reposition my hands multiple times to move the wood through the saw. I'm considering using two microjigs, but that just seems like a lot of complicated hand movements. I've thought about using two featherboards and a push stick, but I'm not entirely convinced that's the best solution. Can anyone share their recommendations or point me to some helpful video tutorials?
3 Answers
I’d say prioritize outfeed support, and if possible, get a trusted friend to help pull the wood through toward the end of the cut. Having a push block on hand is a good idea just in case you need it.
Make sure you have solid outfeed support and definitely use a push stick as you get close to the blade to keep your hands safe. A steady feeding rate is key, too. It sounds like you have an outfeed table integrated into your workbench, so that’s a good start!
Making a larger infeed table could really help! Also, consider using a track saw if you're worried about safety. Just be cautious with joining tracks for longer cuts, as that can affect accuracy. What's the thickness of your pieces? If you share more about that, I might have other suggestions!
The final piece is supposed to be 12cm wide, and I need to trim about 1cm off each side. A track saw with multiple passes could work, but I'm hoping to get it done more efficiently with the table saw.
Awesome! I’ll be preparing two featherboards and using the push stick for that last bit. Thanks for the advice!