Slow down for better cuts on your table saw

[mmayo]

I know most of you cut pen blanks (me too), but I cut wood for other larger projects too. I've noticed that I somehow started feeding the wood faster through the saw with inferior results. I watched the guy who cuts my 12' boards to 5' and realized he is smarter than I am. He, every time, cuts partial cuts with a sliding miter SLOWLY. I may be old, but I can still learn.

My cuts are slower by 3x at least and the resultant surfaces are very smooth. My cutting boards are known for three things: pretty, very smooth and perfect joints with no gaps.

Try it, you'll like it.

 

[wolf creek knives]

Two things I've learned over the years. Like Mark mentioned, don't push the speed and also make sure the saw blade teeth are sharp. I've ruined a lot of things by feeding the wood to fast and being to cheap to buy new blades or sharpen ones I already own. Good suggestion Mark!

 

[Drewby108]

I've found different woods behave differently with this. I push until I feel the wood pushing back and that usually gives me a good feed pressure.

Echoing what Tom said, sharp blades will make your life much easier, plus they're safer to use.

 

[moke]

Depending on what wood you are using, going slow can cause burning. I am currently making some outdoor furniture withe Sapele, and that would definitely burn doing that......it burns easily as does cherry....steady and not quick, but steady pressure and constant feed rate wins from perspective.

 

[KenB259]

From time to time, I've had some non woodworkers come over and want to make something. Whether it be a table saw or router or whatever, it's always asked, How fast do I go? Always a hard question to answer as we all know it's a feel kind of thing. Different woods, different thicknesses, are all, well, different. I always do a first cut, so they can watch and get an idea, but you just can feel and know if you're going at a good speed or not