How To Prevent Table Saw Kickback While Cutting Wood

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Table Saw Kickback

Are you familiar with kickbacks? What causes saw kickback? How to prevent table saw kickback?

Whether the woodworkers are professional or non-professional, it doesn't matter. All of them have to be familiar with the table saw as it's the most used saw for cutting woods. 

You can say that without a table saw most of the woodworkers couldn't complete their work entirely. But every precious thing comes with a price, so does the table saw. A table saw comes with kickbacks. It might sound simple, but it is dangerous. Do you have any idea how many table saw accidents occur per year? It numbers way more than you can ever imagine.

That’s why today we’re here with some table saw safety hacks so that you can successfully skip the kickback injuries. So, let’s check them out.

What Is A Kickback When Using A Saw?

While cutting a wood piece using a table saw if the wood suddenly gets back directly to the worker without his or her knowledge with the full speed, that’s what we call a kickback. 

It often happens when the cutting wood somehow starts losing its pressure against the table saw rip fence across the blade. And the main problem is it happens so fast at a sudden that you can’t avoid the harmful impact. 

Hacks to Prevent Table Saw Kickbacks: Use Your Table Saw Safely

If you had no idea about the kickbacks of the table saw, well, now you know. Here are some essential remedies for you so that you can use them and avoid your saw kickbacks. Go through them thoroughly.

Alignment of the Rip Fence

Rip fence alignment is one of the most initial movements for preventing kickback. Rip fence misalignment can turn into a serious kickback injury while cutting an element.

That’s why make sure you align the rip fence parallel to the table saw blade. Thus the misaligned rip fence can’t be able to create dangerous funnel effect to the wood piece edge.

Using a Riving Knife

Looking for the best tool for preventing kickback injuries? A riving knife could be your first choice. When the wood you’re cutting by any chance drifts away from the saw fence, it can get caught in the saw back. There comes the riving knife. It prevents that occurrence. The riving knife comes with the table saw as a thin metallic piece. It looks like having a surfboard fin or arched shape.

Table Saw Riving Knife

A riving knife takes place and locks into the back of the saw in such a way so that it can effortlessly move with the blade. If you like can use riving knife alternative it's handy for you top-rated hybrid table saw. You can set its top-end below the top-dead-centre of the blade. Also, you can make grooves and other non-through cuts without removing the knife.

Using a Splitter

You can also use a splitter if it comes to a low profile substitute for the riving knife. A splitter also prevents the wood from drifting into the blade by sticking up like a nub. But the main fact is it doesn't move like a riving knife.

It means it can't rise and fall with the blade as it takes a fixed place behind the blade. And also unlike the riving knife, you have to remove the splitter while going for the grooves and other non-through cuts.

Using a Push Stick

A push stick can also help you avoid kickbacks as a table saw anti-kickback device. It's never safe pushing the wood through the blade with your hand while cutting it, instead of doing that you should always use a push stick.

There are different types of push sticks available out there. You can buy them from the woodworkers. Or, it's also straightforward to make on your own. Don't take this little element lightly. When necessary, it can be the most crucial equipment for cutting wood.

Using a Crosscut Sled

Are you familiar with the crosscut sled? This can be another weapon for you to avoid the saw kickback. Using a crosscut sled will help your hand stay away from the blade.

Because of the crosscut sled, the fence won't move to the side of the blade. It's going to make the fence move to the front of the blade. And that's how a crosscut sled will prevent from kickback injuries.

Table Saw Crosscut Sled

Using Feather-Boards

You can put feather-boards as another table saw anti-kickback device into your list. It may not be the best option, but at least it’s a safe option to prevent kickback while cutting wood using a table saw.

The feather-boards are going to assist you in avoiding pressing the sawn section of the cutting wood piece. You just need to set the feather-boards up in front of the blade. And that’s it. Now, it’s going to reduce dangerous kickbacks.


It’s always better to be careful and have precautions while using a power tool, especially the table saw. A few tables saw mistakes can create substantial serious incidents just because of the accidental kickbacks. The above tricks and tips can help you prevent your saw kick back and use your table saw safely.

Austin Dean Author

Austin R Dean

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