How to Prevent Chipping on a Table Saw

Old saw blades can cause chipping in the wood.

When you use a table saw to cut materials, you may sometimes experience chipping on the edges of the cut where the material appears to be coming apart. Not all materials are subject to chipping, but others, like melamine panels, are extremely susceptible. While there are several techniques to reduce the amount of chipping on a material, if you really need to avoid chipping, you need to combine the various methods to give your material the ultimate protection.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Masking tape

Instructions

1. Replace your table saw blade with a new one, if necessary. Any wear and tear on the teeth of your table saw blade will cause chipping, no matter what else you do. Use a blade with a high alternate top bevel (HiATB) to cut down on the amount of chipping your blade will do.

2. Adjust the distance between the blade and the rip fence to equal the width of the cut you want to make. Measure the distance between the blade and the rip fence at several places. If these measurements are not identical, you'll need to adjust the angle on the blade or the rip fence.

3. Determine the line where the material will be cut and place one long piece of masking tape over that line, on both sides of the material.

4. Adjust the height of the blade to 1/8-inch above the surface of the table.

5. Place your material against the rip fence. Turn the saw on and push the material through, scoring the underside of the board.

6. Turn the saw off. Adjust your saw to the normal cutting height for the material you are cutting. Turn the saw back on and cut the material normally.

References

• Wood Magazine: Wipe Out Chip-Out
• DeKalb Saw: Saw Blade Tearout
• Ask Jon Eakes: How to Cut Melamine Without Chipping
• WoodworkingAdvice.com: Table Saw Blades Overview