Some woodworking tips.

Here is an interesting thing about saw blades. Carbide saw blades have a very good life span, and if you are not using barn wood, or old wood, they might last years.   If not, you can send them for
sharpening.  Keep your table saw blades clean. Table Saw blades need to be cleaned periodically by soaking them for a few minutes in soapy water.  The reason for this is that the resin will cause heat build-up and your cuts will not not be as clean, leaving burn marks on hardwoods.

Making long, or thick cuts in pine, especially with knots in it requires a course, 24-40 tooth blade.  Many people want a smoother cut for hardwoods so that will it require less sanding.  That calls for a finer toothed blade. When using a fine tooth blade, such an an 80 tooth, it might also require cleaning more often.  All steel is not the same.  A precision table saw blade that cuts smoothly will be made from good steel that has been closely monitored, with standardized quality control, and then properly machined.

Dado saw blades stack together for various widths, and can be used with most table saws. Dado saw blades are great for making certain furniture, and box joints.  Box joints in particular are great to accomplish. They can give you an added confidence and accomplishment which can lead to further, more diverse, broad capabilities with wood and with machines in general.

Table saw surfaces should be cleaned once in a while.  Some shops will use 0000 steel wool if it has any rust build-up and then coating with a light oil, or paste wax.

One material used in machine shops and CNC is ceramic, which is similar to carbide, but almost always used only for cutting very hardened tool steel.   Ceramic is like glass, very light, and it is even harder than carbide but it is even more breakable than carbide.   It is not used for wood saws.

Table saws will run with less vibration and start smoother in cold weather by using a power twist link belt.  We use them and they last as long as a standard V-belt.  You can buy them by the foot.   They are easily adjustable and are more flexible than the standard, solid belts.  Your average 10in. table saw takes about 48 inches, 4 feet.

Many times you will buy wood and it will have a sticker on it. On fine hardwoods the sticker will stain and be hard to remove before you apply your finish. Always try to build your project with the sticker on the inside.

On table saws, always be careful, even when using a push stick.  Many times we use a home made aluminum tool.  The pointed tip will leave a hole in the wood, so obviously  it should not be used on the outside  working surface of any piece.  For small parts you can use the erasers on the end of a new, unsharpened pencil.

Always work safe around a moving blade....


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