When I cut wood for my projects, I could observe the cutting path was not clear due to some improper cutting methods. Mostly I could see some splinterings that can be seen bottom side of the cutting path. So I researched many solutions for this. I could find amazing tips and tricks for the clean wood cutting path. So let’s see what are these and how can you use those methods for your projects.
So, first of all, we must observe, what is the reason for this then we can avoid that. Mainly I could observe, there is no tight support to the bottom fibers of the wood. When the blade is rotating, its bottom layers will not cut. Bottom fibers will tear instead of cut.
So we can see there are some tears or splinterings bottom and side of the workpiece. I hope this is really understood you. So we must tighten the bottom layer in order to have a smooth cutting path.
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Tools You Will Need
- Table saw with blade
- Paper tape
- Plywood board
- Plastic plate
- Chisels
Follow the below steps for smooth and no tearing, splintering cutting path.
Tip 01 – Paste the Tape Bottom of the Wood
This is a really common method. When you paste a tape at the bottom of the wood, it can bear the bottom fibres tightly. When the blade is on the cutting path, it can cut both wood and tape together. This can stop the tearings and splinterings of the bottom of the wood.
When you cut across the grain, you can observe severe chip removing or splinterings. So you had better paste the tape side of the wood and bottom of the wood together in order to support the bottom and edge fibres of the wood.
You must remember to use a low amount of glue tape with paper tape. If you use any polythene glue tape that can be torn due to blade rotation. A paper tape will tear quickly and will remove easily with the material when you saw it by table saw.
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Tip 02 – Cut With Another Wood Part
This is another way to stop the tearing and splintering. As I mentioned above, it is quite clear that tearings and splinterings are occurred due to the looseness of the bottom fiber layer. So you can keep another wood part at its bottom as it supports the bottom fiber layer. You can place any plywood layer to its bottom. So both will cut together, and top and bottom layers will tight close when both are cut.
Due to tightening it will not tear or splintering. After the cutting process is over you can remove that external wood layer. You can use any unwanted parts in your working area.
Tip 03 – Cut the Path Before Sawing
In this method, you can cut the cutting path using the paper cutter. As I mentioned above, the splinterings are occurred due to bottom layer tearing and when you cut the saw blade path, it will remove the tearing parts. So remember to cut the thickness of the blade. If you cut a single line it will not affect much. You must cut two lines that should equal to the saw blade teeth thickness.
You do not need to deep cut using the paper cutter. It is better to cut 1mm. And make sure that is the cutting path. If there is any large tolerance, that will not succeed well.
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Tip 04 – Engrave the Cutting Path
If you can engrave the cutting path smoothly before sawing, you can have an amazing result. So what you can use for the engraving process. You can use a chisel and cutting blade for this. You just need to cut the sawing path using the chisel.
But I strongly recommend you to use the same sawing blade for this. In the table saw you can move upward and downward the sawing blade. So you had better lower it and then saw the bottom side first. After the bottom side is finished, you can see it by turning another side. So it is a really practical solution for this problem.
When you do this, make sure to cut the same distances.
Tip 05 – Reduce the Saw Blade Open Area
This is a bit scientific. I can simply explain you like this. When the blade is rotating at high speed, there is a centrifugal force due to unbalance weights. This happens in a small amount, and its effect is high. So when there is unbalance weight, it can vibrate. As well as when the radius is high, this can happen highly.
When there is a vibration, it will not cut the exact path. There will be tolerance. When the wood is dry, this can happen widely. That is why there is a wide-open in the saw blade open area.
So you can reduce this by using a plastic plate. Have a plastic plate (sheet of plexiglass) and past on the saw blade open area, and then activate the table saw rotation and move up the saw blade as the plastic plate is cutting. So you can see the blade will make the narrow area for its rotation. It will touch the plastic plate even in a small movement. It will stop the vibration.
The plate is plastic, and it will not harm the blade. Then you can cut the wood using this. Compare the result.
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Tip 06 – Use Right Blade for the Job
When you cut the wood using the saw blade, you should select the right blade for the suitable wood. You should select the saw blade according to the grain or across the grains when you cut the wood. Splinterings and tearings occur according to this. You must balance the quality of the cut and the efficiency of the cut.
For an efficient cut, dust should be removed quickly. Otherwise, the blade will become overwhelmed, heat up and vibrate and leave the scorch and blade mark on the wood. When you use a high amount of teeth blade, you can have smooth cutting, but that is not much efficiency due to less dust removal and above problems.
But if you use the fewer amount of teeth and wider gullets will cut efficiently and it will remove the dust quickly. But it will make more tear-outs and splinterings.
When you cut across the grain, fewer teeth will cause splinterings of the edge. So you had better use a high amount of teeth blade. Always you should use the balance the efficiency and quality. Select the right blade for the right job for the clean-cutting process using the table saw.
You can use 80 blades for delicate finishing cuts.
Read More About – How to Select the Right Saw Blade?
Tip 07 – Use A Clean Saw Blade
When you use the dirty blade, there will be additional friction. Imagine you have to use the rusting blade; it will make dozen of problems when you are working. It will make smoke and try to burn the wood due to unnecessary friction. After you cut, you can see scorching marks on the surface. So always use a clean blade with suitable cutting angles and teeth.
When the dust is not removed properly, it will remain on the blade and will add additional friction. When you cut the wet wood, this can be seen heavily. So you had better clean the blade before you place it on the table saw.
Tip 08 – Maintain Proper Feeding Speed
We can feed the wood to the table saw in many ways. Sometimes we are compelled to high rate of feed to finish the job. This will make bad cutting with tearing and splinterings. When you force high to feed the table, saw it will not cut in a proper way. Most of the time, it will force to table saw rotational speed, and it will reduce.
Finally, we can see tear-out fibers of the bottom and sides. So apply sufficient feeding to the table saw for clean cutting. It will provide a gentle smooth cutting path to the tool.
