Which side up on table saw

Good side up on table saw, good side down with “skill” saw and Chop saw

I don’t think it matters if you use a zero clearance insert, high quality sharp blade (rip not crosscut), and a fence that is exactly parallel to the blade.

-- Joe

I would have to agree, and in most cases that is the situation I work with. However I try to expose the kids to more than what happens “just in the school shop”

So you dont know everything? Just Kidding!

-- Your not a true woodworker until you blow your nose and saw dust comes out! (WoodWorker Rule)

good one young apprentice. I guess we all need a little refresher once in awhile.

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI

although it “doesnt matter” if you’re using a good zero-clearance insert, and a sharp blade – but why not follow common sense and good practice? getting used to working under proper procedures ensures that when you’ll switch from your perfectly setup machine, to another (a friends? another shop? a temporary replacement?) your results will stay (as close as possible to) the same high quality results and not all of a sudden nothing would seem to be working properly – this is true for quality control procedures, and also to safety procedures.

Think about it – you learn to drive on the right (proper) side of the road – even if there are no other cars around…

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Those are good points PurpLev, but on most of us want both sides to look good. “If nothing is working properly” the problem is most likely more profound than just turning the board over.

With regard to using a machine that is not “perfectly” set up. I submit that using a machine that is not set up properly is what leads to many accidents, and therefore should not be used.

-- Joe

ajosephg true – a machine that is not properly setup should not be used, and we do all want both sides of the boards to look clean – that being said, I merely used extremes to make a point :) maybe I went a bit too extreme … lol, but It was easier to present the point that way (less details, and a more radical situation)

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Point well taken. To say it in another way is that good workmanship and safe practices go together and start with a methodical way of doing things the same way each time. An example is the way a NASCAR tire changing crew is choreographered so that there is never any guess work about who, why, when or where. BTW – have you heard that some surgical teams have implemented similar methodology to prevent mistakes in the operating room and have actually talked to NASCAR crew chiefs about their process?

-- Joe

efficiency is the name of that game. that is quite interesting how the medical team consults NASCAR, but I can see the reasons…. I just can’t take the image out of my head now of a medical team standing at the NASCAR pitstop waiting for the strecher to roll in… hahahaha

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Yeah – The patient calls in and says: “I want a right knee, a pound taken off my stomach, and give my elbow a half turn of wedge!!”

-- Joe

LOL… then all you hear are impact wrenches…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †