Binding when ripping on Table Saw

Is the splitter wider than than the blade. I’ve heard others state that problem. In their case it was a fine kerf blade that was causing the problem. You stated that your blade was not that kind.

Try a piece of ply or mdf and see if you can get it past the splitter. If it doesn’t work then it’s not your wood, It’s something else.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

On my tablesaw, the splitter is too wide for some thin-kerf blades. Switching back to full kerf blades and the splitter works like it should.

Mic the splitter and the outsides of the teeth on the blade

-- Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

If I remember correctly the blade that you have in the saw is only recommended for ripping 3/4” to 1” material.

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

I’m ripping 1×4 red oak. I don’t think that is the problem. And the blade is not thin kerf.

This morning, with a clearer mind and more light, I sight checked the alignment and found that the splitter was bent slightly so that the top was out of line slightly. I bent it back so it looked in line when I sight checked it looking down the blade.

I also went over the splitter with some fine steel wool on the “can’t hurt” premise.

But one of the things I did which may have made the difference is to raise the saw blade. Before I had it so that the bottom of the teeth were right at the top of the wood. Now the teeth are well above the wood. I had read somewhere that raising the blade could reduce drag.

The oak also had some more time to dry, if that was a factor, and, for those or other reasons, the wood cut well. I’m still having some black marks on the cut which I assume are from burning, but it no longer smells, there appears to be no significant binding, and I’m getting decent, if not perfect, results.

—thanks for the feedback. Don

-- --Don, Columbia, SC

Sounds more like natural stress within the lumber is causing the binding. I have cut many 5, 6 and 8 quarter pieces of lumber and often ttimes they will bind and cut unevenly.

Bob

Important that the blade be alligned with the fence, not the miter slot, check the allignment of the bade to the fence and then check the splitter to the miter slot. careful allignmnet should help.

-- If you say 'It's good enough', it probably isn't.

Sounds you might have a piece of “reactive” wood. If so it has internal stress (due to the way it grew) and when it is cut the stresses are relieved and the wood binds against the splitter or fence.

Raising the blade so the gullets are slightly proud of the wood surface as you did should be Standard Operating Procedure for all cuts.

-- Joe