What is the splitter used for on the table saw?
A splitter on a table saw is a vital safety device primarily used to prevent workpiece kickback by ensuring the cut wood does not pinch or drift back into the saw blade.
A splitter is an essential component found on most table saws, specifically designed to enhance user safety and improve the quality of cuts. Its fundamental role is to act as a physical barrier and guide for the workpiece as it passes through the blade.
Key Function: Preventing Kickback
The paramount purpose of a splitter is to help prevent a board from drifting back into the blade, once it has been cut, which would cause serious kickback and potential injury. When a board is ripped (cut along its grain), the internal stresses within the wood can cause the two halves to try and pinch together behind the blade. Without a splitter, this pinching can bind the wood against the spinning blade, causing the saw to violently throw the workpiece back at the operator—a hazardous event known as kickback.
How a Splitter Works
- Positioning: A splitter is typically a thin, vertical piece of metal or plastic. It sits behind the blade, directly in line with the kerf (the slot made by the saw blade). Many modern table saws have a splitter built into the blade guard, integrating it as part of the overall safety system.
- Guidance: As the board moves through the saw, the splitter enters the kerf immediately after the blade has made its cut. This simple yet effective action keeps the two newly cut halves of the board separated.
- Safety Assurance: By maintaining the kerf's width and physically preventing the wood from closing in on the blade, the splitter significantly reduces the risk of binding and subsequent kickback, thereby making table saw operation considerably safer.
Importance of Using a Splitter
Neglecting or removing the splitter from a table saw greatly increases the risk of accidents. Its absence can lead to:
- Increased Risk of Injury: Kickback can result in severe injuries, including deep lacerations, broken bones, or worse.
- Damaged Workpiece: The force of kickback often splinters or damages the wood, potentially ruining the project.
- Damage to the Saw: In some severe cases, uncontrolled kickback can put excessive stress on the saw's motor or blade assembly.
Splitter Features and Benefits Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| What it Is | A crucial safety device, often a thin piece of metal or plastic, integral to table saw operation. |
| Location | Positioned directly behind the saw blade; commonly built into the blade guard or available on its own, behind the blade. |
| Main Goal | Its primary function is to help prevent a board from drifting back into the blade, once it has been cut, which would cause serious kickback and potential injury. It achieves this by keeping the cut kerf open. |
| Benefits | Dramatically enhances user safety, significantly reduces the likelihood of workpiece damage, and ensures smoother, more controlled cutting operations by preventing the wood from pinching the blade. |
[[Table Saw Safety]]
