1. Woods Machine Safety
# 1 Radial Arm Saw

3. Purpose of the Radial Arm Saw
 Cross Cut
 Rip
 Miter
 Bevel
 Rabbit
 Dado

4. Purpose Of The Radial Arm Saw
In Our Shop
 Rough Cross Cutting is only done on the
Radial Arm Saw.
 Rough Sawn Lumber can be safely cut to a
manageable length or a desired Rough length.
 The saw will always be set to make a Square
cut on the End of the board.

5. Guards are the most important part!
Upper Blade
Guard
Dust Collection
Hose
Lower Blade
Guard

6. Anti-Kickback Cutting Area
Device
Margin of Safety
(6” on each side)
Kerf Area

7. Wood Placement Parts
Fence
90 Degree Angle Table

8. Power Switch 12” Saw Blade

9. Parts Considered for Hand Placement
Handle Motor

11. Check The Guard!
 Wiggle the Upper Guard
to make sure it is tight.
 If the Guard is loose, it is
not in proper working
condition.
 Do not use the machine if
the Guard is loose.
 Get instructor if the Guard
is loose.
 The Wing Nut is used to
lock the Upper Guard if
necessary.

12. Blade Facts
 When viewing from the Clockwise Rotation
left side, the Blade
rotates Clockwise,
toward the operator.
 The Arbor Nut will
have a Left-Hand
Thread.
 If it were Right-Hand
Threaded it would
loosen the Arbor Nut. Blade Nut and Washer

13. Safety Checklist
 Check the Guard
 Make sure the wood is flat on the Table and tight
against the Fence.
 Hands out of the Margin of Safety.
 Thumb tucked in.
 Arms straight and Parallel, never cut Cross Armed.
 Saw needs to reach Full RPM before feeding the
Blade into the wood.

15. Cutting with the wood on the LEFT
side of the Blade
 Right hand is on the Saw Handle with the saw as far
back as possible. NEVER let go of the saw when the
Blade is moving.
 Left hand starts the saw.
 Left hand is then placed on the wood and out of the
Margin of Safety with your thumb tucked in.
 Start the cut after saw reaches Full RPM.
 Check the Kerf Area behind the Blade for Debris
before returning the saw to its starting position.

16. Cutting with the wood on the RIGHT
side of the Blade
 Right hand is on the Saw Handle with the saw as far
back as possible.
 Left hand starts the saw. NEVER let go of the saw
while the Blade is moving.
 Carefully switch hands so that the left hand is on the
Saw Handle.
 Right hand is then placed on the wood and out of the
Margin of Safety with your thumb tucked in.
 Start the cut after saw reaches Full RPM.
 Check the Kerf Area behind the Blade for Debris
before returning the saw to its starting position.

17. Kerf Area
 Check the Kerf Area before and after the cut
is made
 If there is Debris behind the Blade after the
cut, then stop the saw in the outer position
and turn off the saw.
 Never bring the Blade out further than
necessary.
 Never reach into the Margin of Safety for any
reason while the Blade is moving.

19. Cutting a Crooked Board
CROOK IN CROOK OUT
INCORRECT CORRECT
GAP BETWEEN THE EDGE NO GAP BETWEEN THE EDGE
AND FENCE AT THE KERF AND THE FENCE AT THE KERF

20. Cutting a Cupped Board
CUP DOWN CUP UP
INCORRECT CORRECT
GAP BETWEEN THE WOOD WILL NOT COLLAPSE
FACE AND TABLE CAUSING THE DURING THE CUT, BUT MAKE
BOARD TO POSSIBLY KICKBACK SURE TO HOLD IT STILL

21. Cutting a Bowed Board
BOW DOWN BOW UP
INCORRECT CORRECT
GAP BETWEEN THE FACE NO GAP BETWEEN THE FACE
AND TABLE AT THE KERF AND THE TABLE AT THE KERF

22. Cutting a Twisted Board
TWIST OFF THE TABLE TWIST ON THE TABLE
INCORRECT CORRECT
GAP BETWEEN THE WOOD WILL NOT COLLAPSE
FACE AND TABLE AT THE DURING THE CUT, BECAUSE
KERF AREA CAUSING THE THE WOOD IS TOUCHING THE
BOARD TO POSSIBLY KICKBACK
TABLE AT THE KERF AREA

24. Radial Arm Saw Operation
 Clear Debris from Work Area and the floor before using
any machine.
 Operator is responsible for keeping other people out of
their Work Area (Arm’s Distance).
 Operator must be focused on the cutting area while the
Blade is moving.
 Always hold on to the Saw Handle while the Blade is
moving.
 Always keep your hands out of the Margin of Safety
while the Blade is moving.
 When finished, clean up your Work Area: tools,
materials, etc.