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•
Only cut workpieces with at least one
smooth and straight edge. DO NOT cut
warped, cupped or twisted wood.
•
Never attempt freehand cuts. If the
workpiece is not fed parallel with the
blade, kickback will likely occur. Always use
the rip fence or miter gauge to support the
workpiece.
•
Make sure the splitter/riving knife is
aligned with the blade. A misaligned split-
ter/riving knife can cause the workpiece
to catch or bind, increasing the chance of
kickback. If you think that your splitter or
riving knife is not aligned with the blade,
check it immediately!
•
Take the time to check and adjust the rip
fence parallel with the blade. Also, ensure
that your table slides parallel with the
blade. If either of these two elements are
not adjusted correctly, the risk of kickback
will be greatly increased.
•
Do not remove the splitter/riving knife.
The splitter/riving knife maintains the kerf
in the workpiece, reducing the chance of
kickback from the workpiece halves pinch-
ing the blade.
•
Feed cuts through to completion. Anytime
you stop feeding a workpiece in the middle
of a cut, the chance of kickback is greatly
increased.
•
Keep the blade guard installed and in good
working order. Only remove it when per-
forming non-through cuts and immediately
re-install the blade guard when finished.
Remember, always use the riving knife for
all non-through operations, unless a dado
blade is installed.
•
Make multiple, shallow passes when per-
forming a non-through cut. Making a deep
non-through cut will greatly increase the
chance of kickback.
Even if you know how to prevent kickback, it
may still happen.
•
Stand to the side of the blade during every
cut. If a kickback does occur, the thrown
workpiece usually travels directly in front
of the blade.
•
Wear safety glasses or a face shield. In the
event of a kickback, your eyes and face are
the most vulnerable part of your body.
•
Never, for any reason, place your hand
behind the blade. Should kickback occur,
your hand will be pulled into the blade.
•
Use a push stick to keep your hands farther
away from the moving blade. If a kickback
occurs, the push stick will most likely take
the damage that your hand would have
received.
•
Keep the blade guard installed and in good
working order.
•
Use featherboards or anti-kickback devices,
such as Shop Fox Board Buddies, to prevent
or slow down kickback.
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