If you are learning terminology for the table saw one concept to grasp is ripping. Ripping is the act of cutting a board of wood along its length; normally along the grain. A table saw does this with a spinning circular saw blade, with the table supporting the work and with a rip fence keeping the cut consistently narrow. According to OSHA a table saw “is a machine equipped with a circular blade… That enables a person to make straight sawing…” The direction can be perpendicular or parallel to the wood grain.
So the action issimple. However, making a safe and true cut requires a few things to go right: the rip fence to be placed correctly, the right saw blade, enough support from the stock, and control of the stock with both hands not near the blade.
Understanding how is wood cut when ripping with a table saw therefore involves both the mechanics of the cut and the safe way to perform it. The following guide explains what happens to the wood, how the table saw controls the cut, how to set up the operation, and which mistakes can lead to kickback or an inaccurate result.
What Does Ripping Mean on a Table Saw?
Ripping is a cut that is made with the blade in the table saw oriented so that it passes through the workpiece in line, or approximately in line, with the grain of the wood. A crosscut, conversely, is a cut made across the grain.
For instance, if you had a board 6 ft. Long, 1×8 in. And you cut it down with a table saw into long narrow strips of, say 1x3s, you would be ripping the 1×8. If you made the same cuts horizontally to produce shorter boards with parallel grain, you would be crosscutting.
The point is the setup of the table saw differs from the operation to be performed.
On a rip cut the distance is set with the rip fence and then the operator feeds the wood up against the fence into the rotating blade. OSHA cautions workers to keep the piece aligned with the rip fence when ripping so that kicking back is less likely.
A useful short definition is:
Ripping on a table saw is the process of cutting wood lengthwise, usually parallel to the grain, by feeding the workpiece past the blade while controlling its position with a rip fence.
The result can be a narrow strip, a wider panel, or a board reduced to a specific width.
How the Table Saw Actually Cuts the Wood
A table saw utilizes a spinning circular saw blade powered by an electric motor that is located under a surface known as a table. A portion of the blade extends up through a slit in the surface and then is spun by the saw’s motor. As a cut piece of wood is passed in toward and then through the blade, the blade’s teeth contact and shave off a thin section of material called kerf.
Kerf is defined as the width of material removed.
Kerf doesn’t always match the width of the steel from which the blade is made since the blade’s carbide teeth generally project slightly past the edge of the blade. During the making of a rip cut, the work is advanced linearly, past the spinning blade as shown here. The successive teeth of the spinning blade then sever and slice away the section. The blade cuts the material, and the sawyer feeds the stock past the saw.
Therefore, the sawyer does not use the blade to “saw” a board “across” itself from the right to the left as seen from the face of the saw blade.
The lateral guide or fence has its own job to do it doesn’t also shove stock either. The sawer, as mentioned above feeds the stock and the work on the fence and feeding mechanism are working in tandem. This partnership is what gives you a repeatable result.
The Role of the Rip Fence
The rip fence is one of the most important parts of a table saw when making a lengthwise cut and maintaining accurate woodworking cuts.
Suppose you need a board that is exactly 4 inches wide. You position the fence so the appropriate distance exists between the fence and the blade. The board then travels between those two reference points.
The fence effectively creates a physical guide that prevents the workpiece from wandering sideways.
A properly positioned fence helps produce:
- Consistent board widths
- Straighter cuts
- Better control of the workpiece
- Less need for sideways correction during feeding
The fence should be aligned correctly with the blade according to the saw manufacturer’s instructions. A fence that is improperly positioned can cause the wood to bind, rub against the blade, or move unpredictably.
OSHA advises that wood being ripped should be guided parallel to the rip fence. It also recommends leaving sufficient clearance and properly supporting the material being cut.
Fence measurement is not the only consideration
When producing precise work, always make the measurement from the blade or appropriate referenced point on the blade and not by trust in a pre-marked fence scale automatically being set up correctly.
Variations occur between saws and fences. If final size is the determining factor, check your setting using the suitable measurement method, prior to cutting.
This is critically true with making multiple similar pieces.
How Is Wood Cut When Ripping With a Table Saw Step by Step?
The basic process can be broken down into several stages.The exact procedure should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular table saw.
1. Inspect the saw and material
Check the blade, guard, fence, table and other guards and safety equipment before turning the machine on.
Your lumber must also be appropriate for the operation. You should not be working stock with cracks, splits, bad flaws, or foreign objects embedded within it. OSHA has marked damaged stock, knots, and foreign objects as contributors to the hazard of kickback.
Before operating, remove any nails, screws, staples or other metal hardware if using material from a previous application.
2. Select the appropriate blade
Use the correct blade for the type of operation. The blade must be appropriate for the material to be cut, and usable in the saw. For a given cutting action, a blade appropriate for the action can yield an more appropriate outcome than inappropriate blades. The OSHA actually states that if you are using a cross cut saw for ripping you must use a ripping blade rather than a cross cut blade.
The blade must also be sharp, properly inserted and undemaged as part of proper tool maintenance.
A dull or damged blade is harder to feed, and can also be more prone to binding and kickback. OSHA also recommends removing dulll, badly set badly filed badly tensioned or cracked saws.
3. Set the rip fence
Measure the desired finished width and position the rip fence accordingly.
Lock the fence securely before beginning the cut.
Do not start cutting while making fence adjustments. The saw should be off whenever you are setting up the workpiece or adjusting the cutting arrangement.
4. Set the blade appropriately
The blade should be adjusted according to the saw manufacturer’s instructions and the material being cut.
The goal is to expose enough blade for the intended operation while avoiding unnecessary blade exposure.
Do not assume that raising the blade as high as possible automatically improves cutting. OSHA identifies incorrect blade height as one factor that can contribute to kickback.
5. Position the stock
Place the board on the table with the fence guide set tightly against the fence. Use some way to make sure the board is well supported in the direction of the cut. That long or wide boards need either some outfeed or side support, otherwise the weight of the board will cause it to drift away from your fence path.
6. Start the saw and allow it to reach operating speed
Follow the manufacturer’s starting procedure and allow the blade to reach its intended operating speed before beginning the feed.
Do not force wood into a blade that has not reached normal operating speed.
7. Feed the wood steadily
Push the board forward while keeping in constant contact with the fence.
The feed should be a controlled, steady, unhurried rate.
Your hands must stay clear of the blade and clear of the line of cut. OSHA recommends a push stick when you can’t reach small workpieces safely and when using the table saw for ripping narrow stock over the blade.
The teeth, in the process of cutting kerf and separating your board, shave waste material away as the stock moves.
8. Complete the cut without reaching toward the blade
Continue controlling the material until it has safely passed the cutting area.
For narrow or short pieces, use an appropriate push stick or push block rather than bringing your hands close to the blade.
Never attempt to grab a small offcut while the blade is still rotating.
9. Turn the machine off when appropriate
After the cut is complete, follow the manufacturer’s shutdown procedure and wait until the blade has completely stopped before clearing material or making adjustments.
A blade can remain dangerous while it is coasting. OSHA specifically warns against reaching toward a saw while the blade is still moving after power has been shut off.
Why the Wood Must Stay Against the Fence
This fence determines position side-to-side.
Workpiece moves away from the fence, then comes back to the blade. The tendency is for the wood to twist, and bind on the blade, throwing off the accuracy, and the safety. A worker will want to focus on maintaining the edge of the board up to and against the fence correctly, rather than forcing the wood around the blade. There is a fundamental difference between guiding the board forward along the fence, and forcing the board over toward the fence with side-push. The perfect rip will depend on careful forward, up against the fence, movement.
What Is Kickback During a Rip Cut?
Kickback occurs when the saw catches the workpiece and throws it back toward the operator, making table saw safety practices essential during ripping.
It is one of the most serious hazards associated with ripping. OSHA notes that kickbacks occur more frequently during ripping than crosscutting. They can happen when the stock twists, binds against the blade, or becomes caught by the teeth.
Several factors can contribute to kickback, including:
- Improper blade setup
- A dull or damaged blade
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Wood twisting during the cut
- Poor-quality or defective stock
- Incorrect feeding technique
- Missing or improperly used safety devices
- Inadequate support
The risk is one reason table-saw safety should be treated as part of the cutting process rather than as an afterthought.
For ripping operations, OSHA identifies spreaders and anti-kickback devices as important safeguards.
Where should you stand?
Avoid standing directly in line with the blade and the material’s potential kickback path.
OSHA recommends standing to the side of the blade to reduce exposure to material that may be thrown backward.
This does not replace proper guards, alignment, or technique. It is another layer of protection.
Push Sticks, Push Blocks, and Safe Hand Position
Probably the most asked beginner question is; how do you keep narrow boards under control and out of reach of the blade? The answer is with a proper push device.
What is a push stick? OSHA has a standard definition of a push stick, that it’s a narrow piece of stock with a notch to make it easier for you to push short pieces of stock through the saw and keep your hand out of the cutting vicinity.
Push blocks offer a bigger gripping area. Some push blocks can be used on certain operations for an even wider grip surface.
Again, it really depends on what type of stock, what size stock, what saw, what manufacturer requirements are to make sure you use the right push device, whether that be a push stick or a push block.
However, what it boils down to and how easy to answer the question of “how to control the stock when using narrow boards or any time my hand will come close to the blade?” It’s quite easy; if you find you have to move your hand close to the blade to have control then the set up must be changed. OSHA explicitly states that whenever appropriate, woodworking tools must have suitably designed push sticks or push blocks, and the operator should keep his/her hands out of the line of cut.
Common Mistakes That Produce Poor or Unsafe Rip Cuts
Pushing too aggressively
More force does not necessarily produce a better cut. Excessive pressure can make it harder to maintain alignment and can increase the chance of binding.
Use a controlled feed rate appropriate for the material and saw.
Letting the board drift from the fence
A small sideways movement can change the finished dimension and create an unstable cutting situation.
Maintain consistent contact with the fence without forcing the board sideways.
Using a dull blade
A dull blade can make cutting harder and may contribute to overheating, rough cuts, binding, or kickback. Damaged or cracked blades should not be used.
Removing the guard unnecessarily
The blade guard and related safety devices exist to reduce exposure to hazards.
OSHA advises using equipment only when guards and safety devices are properly installed and functioning.
If a particular operation requires a specialized setup, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable safety requirements rather than improvising.
Reaching for an offcut
An offcut can move unexpectedly. Never reach toward the blade to retrieve material while the blade is rotating.
Wait for the machine to stop before clearing pieces.
Ignoring support requirements
A long board can become difficult to control as its weight moves beyond the table.
Use suitable support for long stock so the material does not sag, rotate, or pull away from the fence.
Special Cases: Narrow, Long, or Large Pieces
Not every rip cut is equally simple.
Even though shorter, narrower material demands more attention to hand placement (the risk of getting the operator’s hands close to the blade is high), it’s where properly chosen push stick/push block is the most crucial.
Long boards also present issues-the board might end up sitting very far past the fence of a table saw, making it awkward to control and support.
Large sheets are also problematic-a standard table saw is often too cumbersome for an individual worker trying to safely maneuver a full sheet of plywood. It’s often more feasible to cut large sheet stock (like full plywood sheets) into smaller pieces that are more manageable on a table saw with a more controlled cutting technique (depending, once again, on shop setup).
The primary goal is always to avoid forcing your table saw to work too hard-especially if that entails any kind of material control problem for the operator.
Ripping Hardwood, Softwood, and Manufactured Panels
The principle of cutting is fairly uniform across numerous wood products, but the material can be have diverse behavior.
With softwoods, one may find they feed relatively easy. Denser hardwoods might require a more deliberate feed rate. Knots and grain direction changes will cause variations in how a board feeds into the blade.
Plywood and other sheet products feed differently than solid boards due to the composite nature of these items.
No matter what material it is composed of, one must match the blade selection to the operation and secure the material to prevent it from moving during the cut.
Material quality also plays a role. OSHA notes, poor quality wood products and stock with defects can contribute to kickback.
Once a board starts to bind, twist, or act out of the ordinary, do not simply press harder; safely shut off the machine, then re-evaluate the situation.
When You Should Stop and Get Help
A table saw is not a tool to experiment with when you do not understand the machine or the operation.
Consider getting instruction or assistance if you are unfamiliar with:
- Installing and aligning a table-saw blade
- Setting the rip fence
- Using the blade guard and anti-kickback system
- Choosing the correct blade
- Handling large sheets or long boards
- Using push devices correctly
- Diagnosing binding or repeated kickback
- Making specialized cuts that require altered guarding
OSHA emphasizes that woodworking equipment should be operated with appropriate safeguards and by properly trained operators.
If a saw has a damaged guard, cracked blade, malfunctioning fence, or other safety problem, correct the issue before cutting. Do not try to compensate for defective equipment through technique alone.
Final Takeaway
Understanding how is wood cut when ripping with a table saw starts with one basic idea: the blade cuts the wood lengthwise while the rip fence controls the workpiece’s position. The feed rate is kept smooth and the board is directed into the cut by simply walking it through against the fence, rather than trying to muscle the board through the blade.
An appropriate blade, perfectly adjusted fence, sufficient work support behind the blade, machine guard, and appropriately placed push tool help to make a smooth, clean, safe cut. Kickback is the # 1 concern on this type of cut and no bad stock, out-of-date blade, machine out-of-adjustment, or missing machine guards should be considered a secondary concern at best.
A table saw cut to this fence is about as precise as it comes, but control over the machine gives the perfect ripcut rather than forcing the workpiece, and all the time-saving gadgets and techniques are for naught without that.
FAQs
1.What does ripping mean on a table saw?
Ripping means cutting wood lengthwise, generally parallel to the grain. During a rip cut, the workpiece is guided along the rip fence while the rotating blade removes material to create a straight cut.
2. How Is Wood Cut When Ripping With a Table Saw?
The wood is fed forward through a rotating circular blade while its edge stays against the rip fence. The blade teeth remove a narrow section of material called the kerf, separating the board along its length. The fence controls the width of the finished piece.
3.Which part of the table saw guides the wood during a rip cut?
The rip fence guides the wood during ripping. It keeps the workpiece parallel to the blade and helps maintain a consistent cutting width.The wood should not be cut freehand because proper guidance helps reduce the risk of kickback.
4.Should you use a push stick when ripping wood?
Yes, particularly when the workpiece becomes narrow enough that your hands would need to approach the blade. Push sticks or push blocks allow you to maintain control while keeping your hands farther from the cutting area. OSHA specifically recommends push sticks for small pieces and for pushing stock past the blade.
5.What is kickback when ripping on a table saw?
Kickback occurs when the blade catches the workpiece and throws it back toward the operator.It is more common during ripping than crosscutting and can result from binding, twisting stock, improper blade setup, damaged or poor-quality lumber, or inadequate safety equipment.
6.How can you reduce kickback while ripping?
Keep the workpiece properly aligned with the rip fence, use the appropriate blade, maintain the blade in good condition, use the saw’s required guard and anti-kickback devices, and provide adequate support for long or large pieces.Standing to the side of the blade rather than directly behind it can also reduce exposure to kickback.
7.Can you rip narrow pieces of wood on a table saw?
Yes, but narrow pieces require additional care because your hands may otherwise get too close to the blade. A suitable push stick or push block should be used, and the workpiece should remain properly supported and guided.
Conclusion
Understanding how is wood cut when ripping with a table saw comes down to controlling the workpiece as it moves lengthwise through the rotating blade. When ripping with the table saw the rip fence dictates the width of cut and the blade takes away a thin width of the board during cutting. More than measure for measure’s sake; safety in ripping necessitates that you match the blade to your stock and to use one that is sharpened and has teeth set correctly, and keep the stock square to the fence. Safety accessories like guards, spreaders, anti kickback mechanisms, push sticks and other devices appropriate for the job should always be used.
Because kickback is particularly hazardous while ripping, never try to muscle a binding board through, and never put your hands anywhere the blade can come into contact.
Setting up correctly, feeding steady, using appropriate supports and keeping your hands far from the point of cutting will give you a clean controlled rip cut.
