Table Saw Basics - The Importance of Control

Over the years I've been on YouTube, I've always shown in my videos exactly the way I work when the camera isn't recording. I don't alter the way I do things or add safety devices that I never use to give the viewers a false impression.
And over that time I've had a steady stream of comments about how I'm using the saw and the "safety" features that are missing from the saw. In particular the riving knife. About "setting a bad example" or showing new woodworkers how to be "reckless".

And so in this ultra safety conscious age, where it's become acceptable to sit at home and do nothing to avoid catching a cold, I thought I would make a series of videos showing how I use my table saw.

As I say in the video, none of the saws I've owned came equipped or were designed to accept a riving knife. As a result, I (and millions of other woodworkers around the world) had to learn how to use a saw that doesn't have one. What that mostly means, for me at least, is that I learned to recognize the signs of kick back before it happens. I also learned techniques to prevent it from happening in the first place. As a result, it's been many years since I've experienced a genuine kick back on the table saw.
Some would say that I've been lucky. But I've found that like any other developed skill, you make your own luck through experience by using the tool and learning from your mistakes.

And it's my opinion that knowing how to prevent and recognize kick back is more effective than relying on a device that may or may not stop it from happening. Of course, having both is even better. So if you are using a saw that came with a riving knife, I recommend that you leave it in place and stay tuned to this channel for upcoming videos on how I learned to deal with and prevent kick back.


▶️ Project plans for sale: https://ibuildit.ca/plans/
▶️Support the work I do on Locals:
https://ibuildit.locals.com/
▶️ Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=865843...
▶️ Join my Makers Mob for detailed build tutorials:
https://go.themakersmob.com/john-heis...

My "Scrap bin" channel:
   / ibuilditscrapbin  

#ibuildit
#woodworking

Website: https://ibuildit.ca/
Facebook:   / i-build-it-258048014240900  
Instagram:   / i_build_it.ca