Never use the wrong type of blade in your circular saw. Always match the type and rpm rating of blade to the material being cut.
Carpentry Tools
Soak Your Bits
Clean your drill and router bits often. Use oven cleaner or soak overnight in turpentine. Wipe clean then coat with light oil.
Changing Bits
Never change your drill and router bits without first disconnecting the power cord.
Kickback Dangers
Kickback is a leading cause of power saw injuries. A hazard inherent to all power saws regardless of brand or style, it occurs when the material binds or pinches the saw blade during a cut. In a split second, kickback can jerk the saw out of a user’s hands or shoot the piece of wood he’s cutting back toward him.
Miter Box Saver
If you just bought a manual miter box, a simple modification will extend its useful service life. Insert and fasten a piece of 1x stock to the inside bottom of the box. The saw blade will then cut into the false bottom, without damaging the miter box itself. Occasionally move the wood back and forth, or turn it over, to spread out the wear. When badly cut up, just replace the piece.
Measuring Square
A measuring or rafter square is a great addition to any tool box. You can use it to mark a board for square or angled cuts. It fits securely into a tool belt and can be used to check the trueness of an angle or as a cutting guide for a circular saw. It’s also handy when you’re working with large-dimensional lumber or when you’re laying out rafters.
Buying Tools
When it comes to buying tools, don’t compromise on quality. Inexpensive tools may seem like a bargain at the store, but will almost always cost more in the long run.
Tool Wind Down
Giving the power tool time to wind down after a cut is an often-overlooked safety mistake. Even without power, the spinning blade can still do a lot of damage.
Part Pick-Up
If you will be building something which uses small parts produced on your tablesaw, you can let your shop vacuum pick up the pieces for you. It’s fast, efficient, and safer than getting your hand close to the blade. Clean out the vac, then wire or clamp the suction hose so that the small pieces are drawn in as you do your cutting. Then, when you are done, simply open up the vac and collect the parts.
Square It
If you’d like your project to turn out as strong, solid, and lasting as if a professional woodworker built it, do what they do…use your tri-square to check for squareness after each cross cut. Edges on boards that will be edge-joined must be absolutely square, so carefully check all sides. If a cut is not exactly square, use a block plane to trim. It takes a little extra time, but the improved results will be well worth it.