About our machine

Important Notes:

Safety Checkout required to use this tool.
If you trigger the $75 brake, you pay for it and the ruined blade
Ways the brake can be accidentally set off: wet lumber, conductive materials like carbon fiber and metal-backed foam, staples or nails embedded in wood.
If you think your material might set off the brake, use Bypass mode. Ask the General Manager or Shop Manager for the key.

Guides and Manuals

How to Select Table Saw Blades - choose the right blade for the right job
Kickback - what it looks like, and why it happens
- Article: Woodsmith Spirit - Table Saw Kickback
Ripping, Cross-cutting, push-sticks, featherboards - What they are and how you use them
Working with twisted or crooked wood - If it's not flat and stable, how to correct it so it doesn't kicback

Avoid cutting or damaging the fence. Don’t slam the fence into the blade while spinning down. Do not cut into the fence for rabbeting, use a sacrificial piece.
Know when to use the fence vs. the miter gauge or crosscut sled. Use the appropriate support for the cut you’re doing: use the fence for ripping, and the sled or miter gauge for crosscutting. NEVER USE BOTH. There is a high chance of the piece jamming between the blade and both of those.
Check your materials if you’re not sure if they’re conductive. Either touch it against the blade while not spinning or make a cut in Bypass mode and see if it would have triggered the brake.
Just because this is a “safer” saw does not mean it cannot hurt you. Treat it the same.

Moving/Working too fast. This can cause damage to our equipment. Safe practice is slow.
Touching tape measure against the blade while it spins down. This will trigger the brake.
Cutting wet wood. This will trigger the brake.
Pulling too hard on the main switch. This can damage the switch.
Contacting the blade with your hand, including when the saw is off but the blade is still moving. This will trigger the brake.

When changing a blade: use the yellow gap checker and adjust brake spacing if necessary
When cutting anything other than plywood or kiln dried lumber: check to see if it will trigger the brake system before cutting.
Check for staples and nails.
Check the blade that is on there, make sure it is appropriate for your cut (ripping or crosscutting)

These are the relevant new steps involving the safety system. Make sure you watch these!

Everyone should watch these! Even if you're a seasoned wood worker, a brief refresher on proper safety is never a bad thing.