Brian Tuftee
12-29-2006, 10:56 AM
Hello everyone, new woodworker here who's just now taking the leap into 'fine' woodworking projects with the acquisition of a tablesaw and router. Not quite a novice, as I've made some basic outdoor furniture (2x4 asian-themed bench, adirondack chair, planters) but this is my first attempt at making something nice that will be appreciated indoors...
Anyway, my first major issue concerns burn-up while cutting on the saw (a Craftsman 10" entry-level contractor saw - can't remember the model #), specifically, I'm getting burn marks on my waste pieces when ripping with the fence. So far for this project I've ripped some 1x2 poplar stock in half down its length, and ripped some birch and oak plywood as well. The burn marks are always on the waste side (left side) of the blade, never on the fence side.
The wood seems to feed smoothly, and doesn't feel like it's binding, so I can't figure out why I'm burning it so much. The riving knife is lined up with the blade, and I've checked the fence and it's dead on parallel with the miter slots and the blade itself (at least to the limits of accuracy with a tape measure, say 1/32"). I'm using a general purpose 10" carbide ripping blade with 30 teeth (and taping my cuts on the plywood, to minimize the tearout). I'm setting the blade height so the highest tooth fully clears the workpiece.
Should I feed even slower, even though the wood doesn't seem to be resisting? Is my blade height wrong, should it be higher? Different blade? Any other thoughts? I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually, but I'd like to hear some veteran input. Thanks!
Anyway, my first major issue concerns burn-up while cutting on the saw (a Craftsman 10" entry-level contractor saw - can't remember the model #), specifically, I'm getting burn marks on my waste pieces when ripping with the fence. So far for this project I've ripped some 1x2 poplar stock in half down its length, and ripped some birch and oak plywood as well. The burn marks are always on the waste side (left side) of the blade, never on the fence side.
The wood seems to feed smoothly, and doesn't feel like it's binding, so I can't figure out why I'm burning it so much. The riving knife is lined up with the blade, and I've checked the fence and it's dead on parallel with the miter slots and the blade itself (at least to the limits of accuracy with a tape measure, say 1/32"). I'm using a general purpose 10" carbide ripping blade with 30 teeth (and taping my cuts on the plywood, to minimize the tearout). I'm setting the blade height so the highest tooth fully clears the workpiece.
Should I feed even slower, even though the wood doesn't seem to be resisting? Is my blade height wrong, should it be higher? Different blade? Any other thoughts? I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually, but I'd like to hear some veteran input. Thanks!