Small images enlarge when clicked My Experience with Kick Back
  • I can not stress enough the importance of using splitters or riving knives in a table saw.
  • The small 5.5" X 5.5" walnut board to the left is the one that got me. A couple of years ago, I was attempting to rip shims for a project on my old table saw which did not have a splitter or riving knife installed. I managed to complete the rip, but unfortionately I experienced what is known as "kick back". The dreaded kick back is probably one of the most common forms of table saw injury that can occur.
  • The board pushed away from the fence as I was ripping and caught the back side of the blade. The blade picked up the board and threw it at me at a very high rate of speed. If you're lucky the board will sail over your shoulder. I wasn't so lucky this day. The board hit me in the lower abdomen and knocked the wind out of me and left a VERY large hematoma. It felt like I was kicked in the stomach by a horse. It happened very fast and I was unable to react to it. The first thing I did was check and see if I still had ten fingers as I was gasping for air!
   
  What did I do wrong?
Wrong way to do it:
  • I did several things wrong this day. I was not using a splitter or riving knife.
 
  • I was also ripping a board that was too short. Today I would not rip a board this short unless absolutely necessary because it is more likely to push away from the fence.
Better way to do it:
  • As I stated above, I would not rip a board this short unless absolutely necesary. If I absolutely had to rip a board this short, I would definetly use a splitter or a riving knife AND a push block. With the push block make sure to keep the board pushed up against the fence for the entire cut.
   
  Push sticks
  • To the left is one of my push sticks. I like my push sticks to extend over the top of what ever I happen to be ripping. This keeps the board flat on the table and there is less danger of the piece lifting off of the table.
  • In the back of the stick there is a dowel that is glued in place and can be replaced with ease if needed.
   
  • The push stick to the left is the one I use for ripping thin stock. It is made from 1/4" plywood and has a small tail glued on that extends lower than the bottom of the push stick.