What Should You Never Cut on a Table Saw? 

A table saw is undoubtedly an amazing power tool for cutting wood on a large scale. But, you can’t go on cutting anything on a table saw, as the construction and blade used in the table saw make it unsuitable for specific materials and wood types and shapes. 

In this article, we’ll outline all those materials and wood types. 

The table saw is unsuitable for warped and round stock wood due to the risk of kickback and damage. Also, wood with loose knots and splits should be avoided to cut on a table saw, as the blade may ruin the workpiece. Additionally, PVC and ferrous metals should not be cut on a table saw, as they can damage the blade.

So, let’s dive into the article so that we may tell you why we won’t recommend cutting these things on a table saw and what may happen if you do so. 

Type of Cuts You Can Make With a Table Saw

To know which things you should avoid cutting on a table saw, you must understand the cuts a table saw can make on a workpiece. A Table saw can make rip cuts, curved cuts, miter cuts, Beveled cuts, and Dado cuts. 

Rip Cut – When you cut the wood along the grain (parallel to the grain), it’s a rip cut. 

Cross Cut – This type of cut is parallel to the grain

Learn More in detail: Cross-Cut Vs. Rip-Cut: Detailed Comparison (Which One is Better?)

Miter cut – Miter cut is a cross-cut but at a slightly different angle than 90 degrees. For making a miter cut, you need a miter gauge. You simply need to set the angle, slide the workpiece, and clamp it. 

Beveled Cuts – Beveled cuts are just like miter cuts but sloppy. For bevel cuts, you have to tilt the blade. 

Dado cuts – A groove is created on a workpiece in the dado cut. You will need dado blades to get this type of cut for this cut.

Types of Cuts You Can’t Make With a Table Saw

Curved-Cuts – The table saws are great for straight cuts but not curved ones. The dangerous thing about using a table saw for curved cuts is that you may get a kickback on your face when changing the direction of the workpiece (for making curves) during the cutting process. 

Want to avoid Kickbacks? Read Our detailed article on Kickbacks: Kickbacks In a Table Saw – 10 Reasons & Fixes + Prevention

Backward Cuts – Although it is obvious that it will not cut it. Some people still try to cut through this method, which is wrong. It is also known as feeding the piece backward, which may ruin the blade.

What Should You Never Cut on a Table Saw?

Now that you’re well aware of the cuts a table saw can or can’t create, it’s time to jump to the main crux of the article. Let’s uncover the things we never cut on a table saw. 

Related: Table Saw Blades For Cutting Plywood – Blades Selection Guide

1. Cutting Warped Wood On a Table Saw Causes Damages

Warped wood such as bowed, kinked, twisted, cupped, and crooked wood is not recommended for a project on a table saw. Oh, before we go further, you should know what these shapes are. 

Bow – Bow refers to a longitudinal warp on the wide face of the board, resembling the curve of a snow ski. 

Crook – Crook, on the other hand, entails a similar longitudinal warp along the narrow face or edge of the board, resembling the curve of a sword.

Cupping – Cupping involves warpage across the board’s width, causing the edges to curl upward, creating a concave or bowl-like shape. 

Twist – Twist occurs when the long ends of the board slightly rotate in opposite directions, resulting in a twisted or spiraled appearance.

As we’ve already outlined, the table saw is unsuitable for curved or angle cutting. That’s why you should not use a table saw to cut warped wood. When you cut a workpiece that is not straight, it will not align perfectly with the fence and may keep moving during the cutting process.

Also, for making straight cuts on these shapes of wood, you will need to change the direction of the workpiece. 

The results will not be pleasing: It will damage the wood, and the cuts will not be neat and fine. However, one of the most risky things is kickback. 

What do we do to cut this type of wood? We use circular saws and hand saws to cut the edges and make the wood piece straight again, and then we move on to table sawing them. 

2. Never Cut Wood With Splits on a Table Saw

Working on a split wood is not easy. There are many chances that you will destroy your workpiece while working with it. Mainly the reason is that the cracks are uneven, which should not be processed using a table saw. 

It has a high chance of kicking back at the person using the split wood on the table saw, which is dangerous. Not only the workpiece but it may also damage the blade of your table saw. 

What do we do to cut this type of wood? We usually never let the wood lumber get cracked. We usually cut trees in late winter, as the moisture content of wood is already less in winter, and they may require very little time to dry and will not go through significant shrinkage (that results in cracking). Also, we use some chemicals and salt while drying the wood (salt eliminates the risk of wood getting cracked). 

We’ve covered a separate article on how cutting trees in winter is beneficial. You should check this article (It’s full of facts).

You can also use a circular, reciprocating, or oscillating tool to remove the cracked part and then move onto the table saw for further cutting. 

3. Loose Knots in Wood Can Damage The Project

Damaged, broken, or dead parts of the wood that are still attached to the wood should never be cut with a table saw. Of course, a table saw can cut loose knots, but it will damage your workpiece (we’ve witnessed it many times). 

What do we do to cut this type of wood? We never cut wood pieces with loose knots through any type of saw. The best practice is to remove the area with loose knots with a saw (you can do it with a table saw) and then continue the cutting process with a table saw. Otherwise, get the neat lumber, and throw this one in the garbage container. (Maybe use it as firewood)

4. Cutting Round Stock on Table Saw Cause Uneven Cuts

Cutting round stock using a table saw is never recommended. Because the table saw is best for long cuts and straight cuts on the sheets. However, round stocks will only cause damage to the workpiece, and your safety is not assured. 

Obviously, due to the round shape, the workpiece will never be stationary while cutting, and you may end up ruining the workpiece, and there is a chance of an accident. 

However, you can still do it if you get it clamped (you can use wood clamps) on both sides so that it doesn’t move while you cut it. Most importantly, your hands should be safe. 

5. Cutting Plastic or PVC on Table Saw Is Not Safe 

Cutting a PVC or soft plastic material on a table saw is never a good idea. Although we didn’t try cutting the plastic ourselves, we’ve heard from our woodworker colleagues that it’s not the right thing to do.

These are some of the reasons:

• It is not safe. 
• It can damage the blades. 
• It is also possible that it will catch fire or get melted because of the high friction caused by the blade.
• You may burn your hands because of heat or molten PVC. 

Instead of using a table saw, you can use a hacksaw or manual cutters to do it. Why? Although it can be used on aluminum. 

6. Cutting Ferrous Metal on a Table Saw Can Damage the Blade 

We never recommend cutting a ferrous metal on table saws because it is not safe, nor is it ideal to do so. The reason is simple; the table saw blade is not made for cutting ferrous metals. Other possible dangerous incidents are:

• It may cause a spark when it touches the blade. 
• It may ruin your table saw blade
• Kickback

However, you can cut non-ferrous metal: aluminum, copper, silver, and brass. Make sure to get a suitable blade that suits the material.  

So, these are some of the materials or wooden shapes that we don’t cut on a table saw, nor do we recommend doing so. Maybe, you can still manage to cut these on a table saw, but again, your safety should be your priority, so avoid messing with your safety.