Table Saw Blade Moves While Cutting

blade tilt lock handle is tight?

Do you have a thin kerf blade ? If so it could just be blade flex.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

It’s probably the fence causing the problem. It may be bowed or not parallel with the blade or both. Slide the fence all the way to just touching the blade, to see if it touches the front or back of the blade first. Hold the slider (the “T” part) tight to the rail as you do this. It should touch both front and back of the blade at the same time. Of course, don’t do this with the saw running, but I’m assuming you know that.

To see of the fence is bowed, hold a known straight edge against it. A level or steel yardstick will do. If it’s bowed, you can fasten a straight piece of 3/4” oak or similar wood to it, by drilling through and screwing from the opposite side of the fence.

I also have a Ryobi table saw and it’s not a bad saw for the price… just takes a little tweeking to make it work properly. Have you tried a full 45 deg. bevel cut yet? I had to chop out a piece from the side of my saw to get it to tip all the way, because it was hitting on the inside at about 44.5 deg. :)

-- I'll grow up when ketchup bottle farts stop being funny.

It’s a low quality tablesaw.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.

My bet would be a dull blade

Get you a decent new combo blade on that saw and it will probably surprise you how much better the saw will work. Then clean the old blade and keep it for a spare or a beater blade for when you are cutting questionable material.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

Bad arbor bearings??

That will happen with an expensive saw as well if not used correctly. Your blade may be too thin for the stock you are cutting, have too many teeth or be dull. Also make sure the guides are down close to the workpiece, and not way up exposing too much blade. I had a little Black and Decker 3 wheel unit that was all plastic, and for small work – nothing over one by thickness – it was fine. I made a lot of Adirondack chairs and birdhouses and such with it. Good luck.

hazelton – he’s talking about a table saw, not a band saw.

-- Joe

I occasionally have the same issue with my old dewalt saw with the rack and pinon fence. It sometimes skips a gear the fence is not parallel with the blade. As the board goes through it forces out the blade and bends it. I would put my money on this being your problem.

D’oh! Thin cheap blade or too much blade exposed still applies…

My money is on Loren. I had a Ryobi RTS10. The tilt lock DOES NOT stay locked. I had to check it before and after every cut. Pull the lever off and tighten it with a hex key. It’s a pain if you ever actually want to tilt the blade, but it will stop you from pushing it over.

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