The table saw is a really important tool in woodworking. A table saw can be used for a satisfactory cutting process due to its high accuracy. But there are some problems, such as burning due to improper tool usage. So many reasons cause to burn the wood when it is cut using the table saw. So let’s see what are those reasons and how do they affect to table saw cutting process? and avoid burning the wood.
Table saw cutting surface is burning due to high friction between blade surface and cutting surface. High friction can occur due to dull, dirty blade, amount of teeth, binding, wet workpiece, misaligned saw blade, and wrong feeding and RPM. You can avoid this by using a proper table saw and methods
You can find 12 reasons; how is a table saw is burn the wood? And what are the reasons and how to avoid them all in detail? So let’s move on to the factors you should consider.
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01. Dull Saw Blade
A dull blade is with blunt cutting edges. So it will not cut the material sharply. When the blade is dull, it tends to scratch the chips from the workpiece. Friction is occurred due to this, and the blade tends to heat more and more. When the blade is heated up, it burns the workpiece cutting surface. So when you use the dull blade, you can see the burn mark o the cutting surface.
Sometimes you use a brand new blade, you can see these kinds of burn marks. Brand new blades are not blunt, but it has a high amount of friction on the surface.
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02. Dirty Saw Blade
When the saw blade is used continuously, sawdust is collected at the rim of the saw blade. As a result of this, its surface is a bit rough/ Some times lignin can be melting and then sawdust has strongly adhered to the saw blade.
Additional thickness is created due to this. When the blade is touching the cutting surface, it is heated due to friction, and burning marks can occur. Mostly sawdust is in the saw blade can be spread over the surface with burn marks. So do not use a dirty blade. Use a clean blade instead of this. Sometimes smoking can observe when using a dirty blade.
How to Clean the Dirty Saw Blade?
A dirty saw blade can be cleaned using Laundry detergent or Tool Cleaner. You had better follow the below steps.
Things you need
- Brush/Piece of cloth
- Water
- Detergent powder
- Tool cleaner
- Aluminium pan
Dirty Saw blade cleaning method
Step 01 – Remove the saw blade from the table saw
Step 02 – Lay the saw blade on the aluminum pan
Step 03 – Pour water and detergent into the pan as it submerges
Step 04 – Spray the tool cleaner if you use that
Step 05 – Keep 05-10 mins
Step 06 – Brush the saw blade again and again
Step 07 – Wipe the table saw blade
Step 08 – Fix the saw blade to the table saw
03. Number of Teeth in the Blade
A saw blade has a specific number of teeth. The number of teeth is a measurement of cutting speed and sawdust removal. When the number of teeth is high, it is unable to remove the dust with its cutting and feeding speed.
Rip cut collects more dust than cross-cut. As a result of this rip cut, collects more dust and chips to the gullet. So use a low number of teeth for rip cut and use a high number of teeth for crosscut.
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04. Workpiece Binding
The workpiece is binding due to many reasons. Mainly workpiece is stuck between the saw blade and the fence due to space differences. As a result of this, we can see some burning marks on the cutting surface. When the workpiece is binding, it can kickback. So it is very dangerous than the burn marks on the surface.
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05. Wet Workpiece
When we cut the wet workpiece, we can expect wet sawdust. Wet sawdust has highly adhered to the saw blade than dry sawdust. Wet sawdust is entered into the gullet. It will not remove quickly.
When the sawdust remains in the gullet its can make additional friction between the blade and workpiece surface. So use a low number of teeth saw blades when you use the wet wood pieces.
06. Misaligned Blade
For the perfect cutting, we need to align the fence, miter gauge and saw blade. If anyone is misaligned, it can affect the cutting process. Normally cutting lade is right along with the cutting patch. If there is any misalign, it can stuck the workpiece surface and the side of the saw blade.
So make sure the saw blade is really aligned with the cutting path.
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07. Bent Saw Blade
Bent blades or damaged blades are another reason for the burn of the workpiece surface. When the blade has bent, it can hardly touch the surface. So we can observe burning marks on the surface.
A blade can be bent due to the hard-hitting of the steel in the wood piece. Probably a nail can be a reason for bend or damaged blade. So do not use bent or damaged blades for the cutting process.
08. Wrong Feeding or Method
This is very important. We have to cut various thickness workpieces when we are working. When the workpiece thickness is high, we may not need to feed it constant rate.
As a result of this, you may push and pause the workpiece. After you cut the workpiece, you can see some burning makes on the paused places. So do not push and pause. Maintain the constant feed rate.
09. Splitter or Reviving Knife Misaligned
A splitter and reviving knife are used to prevent touching the workpiece and saw blade after the cutting process. It is really important for safety. It can stop the kickback when it is working.
So the reviving knife or splitter is misaligned by mistake, the workpiece can have burning marks because the workpiece can scratch with the saw blade surface. So make sure both are aligned.
10. RPM of the Saw Blade
RPM stands for Revolution Per Minute. When there is high RPM, it can cut aggressively. Low RPM will keep the tears on the surface. In brief, the surface is not smooth. When RPM and feeding rate should be compatible with each other.
If the RPM is high and the feeding rate is less, the blade can rotate freely without removing material. So it can heat much, and burn marks can be seen. So do not use High RPM for every wood type. Use suitable RPM for cutting the wood.
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11. Miter And Fence are not Parallel
The fence and miter should be parallel. When these are not parallel, saw blades and the workpiece can be clogged. As a result of this saw blade slows down and tries to stop.
The workpiece can be scratched with the saw blade surface hardly, and it can produce a high amount of heat, and as a result of this, it can burn. So use the miter and fence parallel as much as possible.
12. Push in Wrong Place.
This is very important. When we use the push stick, we tight one place and then push forward. So it can turn from that point, and when it turns to the blade side, the workpiece surface and blade surface can touch hardly. As a result of this cutting surface can be burned due to friction and overheating.
What are the Easy Burn Woods and Cuts?
Mostly rip cut can cause to burn the wood surface. That is along a cutting path through the fibers. So it can produce more chips and as a result of this more friction can produce and finally burn marks can produce.
Below are the most burning woods
- Cherry
- Mahogany
- Maple
- Purple Heart
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How to fix the Burning marks
If you have burning wood, you can remove it by using sandpaper or scraper. Sometimes you will need to do additional material removal. The easiest way is to fix the table saw as it does not make any burning marks.
