Woodworking machines and machine operations
Woodworking machines and machine operations
This domain tests machine setup, safe operation, and the relationship between cutter rotation, feed direction and finish.
Core rules
- Guards, riving knives, anti-kickback devices and push sticks are mandatory on circular saws. Never reach over a moving blade.
- Feed against cutter rotation. On a table saw the blade rotates up toward the front, so feed from the front; on a planer the cutter rotates into the work, so feed against the rotation.
- Set blade height just above the work; align the fence parallel to the blade; use featherboards for narrow rips.
- Planer/thicknesser: face and edge joint on the planer, then thickness to parallel. Take light cuts; remove warp first.
- Band saw: set guides close to the work, use the correct blade width for curves, and keep fingers away from the blade line.
- Drill press: clamp work, select speed by bit size and material, and withdraw the bit to clear chips.
Worked example
Rip 18 mm pine to 60 mm on a table saw. Check the blade is sharp and the riving knife aligned. Set the fence to 60 mm using the scale and confirm with a rule. Set blade height to about 20 mm-just above the 18 mm stock. Fit a push stick and featherboard. Stand clear of the kickback line and feed steadily. Reasoning: minimum blade exposure reduces injury; the riving knife prevents the kerf closing; a featherboard keeps the work against the fence.
Traps
Feeding from the outfeed side; removing the riving knife; taking too deep a cut; using the fence as a guide for freehand crosscuts; forgetting dust extraction; measuring from the blade teeth rather than the set fence.