This guide is by Nick Starrett, where he walks through ten of the most common and dangerous table saw mistakes woodworkers make — and how to avoid them.
Nick’s video includes demonstrations of both safe and unsafe behavior, including two eye-opening tests on gloves and kickback. The lessons are direct, practical, and a solid reminder that safety in the shop is mostly about consistent habits and awareness.
Watch the full video and subscribe to Nick’s channel:
Why Table Saw Safety Is So Critical
Table saws are one of the most versatile tools in the shop, but also one of the most dangerous. Each year, tens of thousands of injuries are reported from table saw use — most of them preventable.
Nick’s video is a brutally honest breakdown of the habits that lead to these injuries. This article recaps those top ten mistakes and adds practical advice to help you build safer routines around your saw.
#10 – Wearing Gloves or Loose Clothing
Loose sleeves, long hair, jewelry, and gloves can all catch the blade in a split second. Once the material snags, it pulls — not cuts — and that can lead to serious injury even on saws with safety stop technology.
✅ What to do instead:
Wear snug clothing, remove rings and bracelets, and tie back long hair. If you need extra grip, use push sticks or blocks rather than gloves.
#9 – Blade Not Aligned with Fence or Miter Slot
If your blade isn’t parallel to the fence or miter slots, the wood can bind between the blade and fence, triggering kickback. Even a small misalignment increases the risk of damage to both the board and the operator.
✅ How to fix it:
Mark a single blade tooth and measure the distance from it to the miter slot at both the front and back of the blade. Adjust until it’s consistent across both points.
#8 – Incorrect Blade Height
A common myth is that the teeth should barely peek above the wood. But setting the gullet — the valley between the teeth — just above the surface offers cleaner cuts and reduces tear-out.
✅ Why it matters:
Too low = rough top surface.
Too high = more exposed blade and greater kickback risk.
#7 – Removing the Guard, Riving Knife, or Pawls
These safety components are there for a reason. The riving knife helps prevent the kerf from pinching the blade. The blade guard keeps hands out of danger. The anti-kickback pawls grip boards that try to reverse direction.
✅ Best practice:
Only remove these features when absolutely necessary for a specific jig or cut — and reinstall them immediately afterward.
#6 – Hands Too Close to the Blade
Pushing material with your bare hands near the blade is never worth the risk. And reaching over a spinning blade to grab offcuts invites disaster.
✅ Rule of thumb:
If your hand gets within a hand’s width of the blade, switch to a push device.
#5 – Freehand Cutting
Feeding material without a fence or guide removes the key reference point that keeps cuts straight and safe. Freehand cuts increase the risk of twisting, binding, and kickback.
✅ Use the right tool:
If you need curved or free-form cuts, use a band saw or jigsaw instead.
#4 – Crosscutting Without Support
Trying to crosscut wide or long boards without a sled or miter gauge can lead to twisting, poor cuts, and kickback. Relying on the fence alone can be dangerous.
✅ Fix it fast:
Use a crosscut sled or extend your miter gauge with a sacrificial fence for better control.
#3 – No Outfeed Support
Letting long boards hang off the back of the saw creates a teetering effect that can bind the blade. This instability can lead to lifted cuts and sudden kickback.
✅ What to use:
Set up an outfeed table or roller stand that’s level with the saw surface before you begin.
#2 – Getting Too Comfortable
Experience can be dangerous if it leads to complacency. Nick points out that repetition builds muscle memory — but that doesn’t mean the saw becomes less risky.
✅ Stay alert:
Slow down, go through a mental checklist, and never assume a “routine” cut is risk-free.
#1 – Standing in the Line of Fire
Kickback is violent and unpredictable. If you’re standing directly behind the blade, you’re putting your body in the path of a high-speed projectile.
✅ How to position yourself:
Stand slightly to the side of the blade’s feed path. Keep your balance and make sure bystanders are also out of harm’s way.
Live Demonstrations That Drive It Home
Nick performed two key demonstrations in his video to reinforce these points. First, he pushed a glove into a spinning blade to show how quickly material can be dragged in and mangled. Second, he set up a kickback test using a wall-mounted board — the impact showed just how dangerous a simple piece of wood can be when launched at speed.
Both tests were stark reminders: these aren’t hypothetical risks. A single mistake can lead to real injury.
Final Takeaways
Nick’s video reminds us that safety starts with respect for the tool, not fear of it. The table saw is powerful — and with the right habits, it’s incredibly reliable. But all it takes is a moment of inattention or one bad setup to cause damage you can’t undo.
✅ Recap of key habits:
- Dress appropriately and avoid gloves
- Align the blade and fence
- Set blade height thoughtfully
- Use safety features
- Keep your hands away from the blade
- Avoid freehand cuts
- Use a sled or miter gauge for crosscuts
- Support long stock
- Stay focused
- Don’t stand behind the blade
Please support Nick by visiting his website here: https://www.nickscustomwoodworks.com/.