Question for woodshop safety test

[Luis Reyes]

Hi All,

I'll be joining a new woodshop soon and there's a safety test I need to pass. There's one question on the test that's thrown me for a loop. "How many edges of a workpiece must be supported during a dado cut on the table saw". I believe it's two edges (using a mitre gauge it'd be like a cross cut on the table saw where you support the edge on the back and also apply some pressure on the front while doing the cut. Is that right? I also typically use a clamp on the top to support the piece downwards on only one side of the cut)

Thanks in advance!

Luis

[Jerry Bruette]

I would think only one edge. Supported by the fence or by the miter gauge. You'd be cutting the dado into the face of the work piece.

[Christopher Herzog]

If i am using the table saw, the fence is all i use to guide one edge. The board is in my mind supported only by one edge.

Am i picturing this situation correctly?

Chris

[Tom M King]

That's a poorly worded question that sounds like it was made up by someone who thinks others could only think properly if they think like that someone. Does it ask about edges of a board or piece of plywood, or edges of the dado??

[Luis Reyes]

That's a poorly worded question that sounds like it was made up by someone who thinks others could only think properly if they think like that someone. Does it ask about edges of a board or piece of plywood, or edges of the dado??

Yes exactly!! I thought it was just me mis-reading the question but I'm glad the reactions so far have been similar to mine.

Here's the exact wording: "When cutting a dado on the table saw, how many edges of the work piece must be supported during the cut"

[Brian Runau]

What is the definition of supported here? Brian. Downward force side force?

[Doug Garson]

It's such a poorly formed question I'm not sure how I would answer it. A better question would be "describe how you would safely cut a dado on a table saw 1) along the length of a board and 2) across the width of a board".
To that I would answer:
1) I would use a featherboard to firmly push the board against the fence and a push block to push the board forward while pushing it firmly down on the table top. Is that one edge (supported by the fence? ) or two supported by the fence and featherboard? Or none since the definition of supported is "bear all or part of the weight of; hold up." The only part of the workpiece that is supported is the bottom and it is not an edge.
2)I would use the method you described or a sled,again by definition the only part supported is the bottom, again not an edge.

[Mark Hennebury]

one.

edge.png

[Cameron Wood]

I think it depends on whether you walk to school, or carry your lunch.

[Michael Burnside]

They thought more about obfuscating that question than they did about safety. If you had a lot of space you could argue one or two...I'd say one "edge".

[glenn bradley]

Sorry. Forgot to click "Post". This may be out of order. . . .

The question may just be worded poorly. If the material is on the table for a dado to be cut across the face (dados are cut across the grain, grooves are cut with the grain) one edge would be against the miter gauge n never both. The fence versus miter gauge would depend on grin direction of the blank. Most often so the answer is one. Maybe this is what they are really asking(???).

[Thomas McCurnin]

Two--One against the fence supported by push stick, One against the table, again supported by push stick.

[Michael Burnside]

Two--One against the fence supported by push stick, One against the table, again supported by push stick.

Yea, I think there in lies the issue with the question. I'd argue the side on the table is a face, not an edge.

[Mark Hennebury]

Tell them the question makes no sense and whoever is responsible for the wording should be fired. Or put any answer, then defend it.

[George Yetka]

I would think 2 sides of a workpiece. The table and either the rear edge with a miter gauge or the edge along the fence.

If you attempted it with just the table it would be pretty unsafe. Adding a 3rd to hold project against the fence could work to.