Cutting Operations; Ripping - Craftsman 137.21825 Owner's Manual

CU'B'ING OPERATIONS
There are two basic types of cuts: ripping and
crosscutting. Ripping is cutting along the length and
the grain of the workpiece. Crosscutting is cutting
either across the width or across the grain of the
workpiece. Neither ripping nor crosscutting may be
done safely freehand. Ripping requires the use of the
rip fence, and crosscutting requires the miter gauge.
Before you use the saw each and every time, check
the following:
1. Blade is tight on the arbor.
2. Bevel angle lock knob is tight.
3. If ripping, fence knob is tight and fence is
parallel to the miter gauge grooves.
4. Blade guard is in place and working properly.
5. You are wearing safety glasses.
The failure to adhere to these common safety
rules, and those printed in the front of this manual,
can greatly increase the likelihood of injury.
RIPPING (FIG.Y,Z)
To prevent serious injury:
• Do not allow familiarity gained from the frequent use
of your table saw to cause careless mistakes.
Remember that even a careless fraction of a second
is enough to cause a severe injury.
• Keep both hands away from the blade and path of the
blade.
• The workpiece must have a straight edge against the
fence and must not be warped, twisted, or bowed.
1. Remove the miter gauge. Secure the rip fence to
the table.
2. Raise the blade so it is about 1/8" higher than the
top of the workpiece.
3. Place the workpiece flat on the table and against the
fence. Keep the workpiece about 1" away from the blade.
4. Turn the saw ON and wait for the blade to come up
to speed.
5. Slowly feed the workpiece into the blade by pushing
forward only on the workpiece section (1) that will
pass between the blade and the fence. (FIG.Y)
F_k_Vg-'_l_ II_[€
AVOID KICKBACK by pushing forward only on that
section of the workpiece that will pass between the blade
and the fence.
Fig.Y
6. Keep your thumbs off the table top. When both of your
thumbs touch the front edge of the table (2), finish the
cut with a push stick. Make a push stick using the
pattern on page 33.
7. The push stick (3) should always be used when the
ripped workpiece is 2" or narrower (1). (FIG. Y)
8. Continue pushing the workpiece with the push stick (3)
until it passes the blade guard and clears the rear of
the table.
9. Never pull the workpiece back when the blade is
turning. Turn the switch OFF. When the blade
completely stops raise the anti-kickback pawls on
each side of the splitter and slide the workpiece out.
Fig. Z
17