Not knowing how to cross cut wide boards on a table saw is a very common dilemma woodworkers and DIYers face. And that’s also due to the fact that mostly, we are used to work with narrow pieces when cross cutting using a table saw.
However, that does not mean you have to limit your creativity potentials. And keep aside a wide board that caught your eyes for a certain project. You can very well achieve perfect cross cuts with those wide materials.
And today, we plan to help you with that matter specifically alongside a few more handy tips. So, stay tuned till the very end.
Quick Overview
How to Cross Cut Wide Boards on a Table Saw – Glance at The Basics First.
To keep all-exclusive, we’ll start fresh with a short section describing how you should be taking over a crosscutting job on a wooden piece with the best table saw that you own. Knowing the precise way of how to conduct such cuts is very important.
If you don’t know how to rip cut an angle on table saw the right way, the outcome won’t be up to your expectations. Similarly, for crosscutting wide boards, you first need to find out the basics of making correct crosscuts. Just follow the simple steps.
Keep In Mind – Rip fence is for stabilizing the long lengths. But it’s only in terms of working on narrow materials. So don’t go for it for guiding. This could raise the chances of dangerous kickbacks. Especially if there’s not enough space to fit the material. Using a miter gauge, instead, can help.
- Insert the crosscut blade onto the table saw. Make sure to unplug it first and then fit inside the arbor.
- Go for protractor guide adjustment next with miter gauge for straight or angled crosscut.
- The miter gauge’s front edge is what should be used as reference for positioning and aligning the material. You can use clamps if further securing is necessary.
- Turn the table saw on and let the blade spin with full speed. Only then you want to make the blade touch the wood.
- Once you finish, before retrieving the ready parts, make sure to turn the table saw off.
For Wide Boards, You Can Use Extra Tools with Table Saw.
So, till now you have the idea that miter gauge in the table saw is to help with crosscuts as well as angled cut. However, consider this.
You are trying to push the material against and through cut for miter gauge. You hold in a way that it stays down against table. And this causes friction. One good reason for lacking accuracy. And the problem seems even more severe with longer, heavier and of course, wider workpieces.
Solution? A Proper Crosscut Sled to Use with Table Saw.
The availability of huge base makes the workpieces support needs a piece of cake. And so, there’s no contact with saw table when making a cut. As a result, no friction making the workpiece unable to shift easily. No matter how wide the piece is.
Also, another valid reason why you must consider crosscut sled for cutting wide boards, is safety. If you don’t have a crosscut sled, making one will only need plywood.
Keep In Mind These Important Warnings While Using The Sled.
- While using the sled, make sure the blade guard is eliminated from the table saw.
- The blade must not be exposed above board more than quarter inches.
- The blade path should be far from contact of your hand.
- Finish a cut and turn the saw off before trying to adjust the sled.
To use the tool, start by position checking of the fence by simply going through a plywood scrap. The two pieces must butt together once you flip a slide over. If there’s a gap then the fence must not be perfectly square. This is also how you crosscut plywood on a table that are pretty wide.
Place the board in the sled and make sure you use clamp for firmly holding it in spot. Then cut the thing into two. Now, flip the one side of cut board. Then you want to push the edge freshly cut right against another half.
The two pieces fitting together right means there’s not gap. And that assures the sled was able to help with a square cutting. Three extra screws for making it stay in place would help. Or using the hammer for tapping the clamped end would help to nudge your fence slightly. You can make another cut and keep going until you get the perfect cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use a table saw for cross cuts?
The matter gets twisted when you want to learn how to cross cut wide boards. Because bigger dimensions are what table saw find hard to handle with limited space. However, the tool is just fine to use for any sort of cuts. So, yes, you can make proper crosscuts using even a portable table saw. Just the size of material is what that could make the process easier or harder.
Why does it become so hard to push wood through table saw?
There can be more than just a few reasons. But usually if you notice the work piece feels pretty hard to get through the table saw, it could be due to the blade. Try to carefully check the cut pieces. Can you see splinters, grains being burnt and also rags as well as tears? Then the blade needs cleaning, adjustment or replacement.
Wrapping Up
And that was all about the process of making cross cuts on wide boards with a table saw. Working with woods need creativity, and a few equipment to accompany that.
There are several tricky parts that you are bound to face every now and then. Don’t be disheartened by facing such confusions and troubles during difficult projects. Take it as a chance to learn things that you previously didn’t know about.
Surely, it could feel exhausting at times. But at the end of the day, all of that would only make you better and closer to become a fabulous expert, something you hopefully wish to become. Good Luck!
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