new woodworker needs help

[old folks]

I am totally new to woodworking. I plan on buying a table saw but I first want to find information on how to use one... basics, what side of blade to rip from and why. How to sit up the saw to rip.

This information most every woodworker know but not all. I am very limited in funds so I would like to find free articles. Please help me.

old folks

[cabinetman]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

This is a pretty good starter.
.

[SARGE..g-47]

You might find Kelley Mehler's The Tablesaw Book from Taunton Press quite useful also.. But.... if you go there, get the 2nd edition as things have evolved with table saws since the first printing years ago..

BTW.. welcome to the forum and you might want to add your location (city or state) in your profile as you might be next door to my or someone's shop. If you want to drop by mine this afternoon, I'll not only show you how to use a table-saw.. you'll be helping cut tails on dove-tail joints by late after-noon. :>)

Regards..

[leehljp]

That was pretty good C'man!

Some tips: on long rips, watch the feed of the board against the fence more than following a line along the blade. It is the fence and board's contact that makes for good rips.

Learn to use push sticks.

Most kick backs are caused by not having a riving knife installed. It is not usually the front - but the back of the cut - that originates the kickback. It is not uncommon for perfectly straight wood to have stress relieved when cut and then pinch inward at the rear. This is where the rear riving knife becomes so valuable. It prevents the rear pinching of the wood which would have a tendency to raise up and begin its kickback travel.

These are the only ones that come to mind at the moment.

[old folks]

Thanks from totally new woodworker

Thanks for the quick replys. I went to the site and printed the info out.
Thanks again

[LinuxRandal]

Check out your public library. That should have several of the books that get recommended, if they are in a metro area. Find which one(s) you use more and get them for your bookshelf.

[rnelson0]

Using a table saw is easy. Even the safety is easy. It's creating something useful and beautiful with it that's difficult

One of the things I've noticed here, and elsewhere, is that there's an enormous amount of assumed knowledge - both WW specific and also some general shop knowledge. If you don't know what the 3" rule is, for instance, you might have a lot more to learn that someone else. What's your current level of knowledge?

Books and charts will help, but only to a certain extent. Some things don't make sense unless you've seen things in action or at least have a visual aid yourself.

Personally, I'd start by setting your DVR to record all the New Yankee Workship and Wood Works (PBS and DIY Network) that it hold. Norm at the NYW has a bit more focus on safety - he even has an episode specifically on Table Saws - but both shows will teach you how to make certain cuts and why you want to make those cuts. The one thing you won't see, however, is a guard - a guard protects you from the blade, but it makes for bad TV since you can't see the wood being cut as easily.

[poolhound]

If you havent already found it try newwoodworker.com

There are lots of interesting articles, tips, jigs, some video and tool reviews etc. In the "basics" section there is this intro to the tablesaw.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/basic/usetsbasics.html

Have fun and welcome to the forum.

[poolhound]

Personally, I'd start by setting your DVR to record all the New Yankee Workship and Wood Works (PBS and DIY Network) that it hold.

I had to laugh when I saw this. My DVR is set for all of these and my wife is always complaining when she is searching for a program she has recorded that our DVR is totally full of WW shows. I can hear her now - "how many of these do you really need to keep?"

[mschrank]

Welcome to the best woodworking forum on the net!

The link below will take you to a page filled with links to online woodworking podcasts. Most of them focus on specific projects, but you can pick up a good bit of general knowledge as well:

http://thewoodwhisperernetwork.com/category/video/

Also, the parent site to that link, The Wood Whisperer, offers quite a few short online videos aimed at beginning woodworkers:

http://thewoodwhisperer.com/

The host is either funny or a doofus depending on your sense of humor, but I find him refreshing and enjoyable to watch.

Finally, here is a link to a plethora of tips and techniques articles from Highland Woodworking:
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/w...asics_map.html

[rnelson0]

I had to laugh when I saw this. My DVR is set for all of these and my wife is always complaining when she is searching for a program she has recorded that our DVR is totally full of WW shows. I can hear her now - "how many of these do you really need to keep?"

Do you also record Ask This Old House as a series and pretty much any other DIY show as needed?

[Uncle Cracker]

Another thing you might consider, if you have a Woodcraft store where you live, is taking a couple classes there. I know most of them teach a basic woodworking course, held on a Saturday (or 2 consecutive Saturdays, I don't recall). You will receive hands-on instruction in several tools from a (presumably) competent instructor. Probably worth the fee if you are a total noob...

And if the table saw is your focus, they have classes devoted to that tool only, but you may have to wait several months for it to come around in the schedule.

[cwithboat]

Old Folks,
Where are you? I have a entry level Skil table saw that has been sitting on my shop floor since I got my new saw. It is yours if you are nearby Seattle.

[bigstick509]

[JonW]

You know, some really, really basic and decent info is actually in the BT3100 manual. Like how to make a rip cut versus a cross cut. How to use a push stick. How not to cut off your fingers. Anything more advanced than that and you'd better look at the resources everyone else gave you.