Operating procedures – Powermatic 64A User Manual
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•
Check the operation of the anti-kickback
pawls before starting a cut. If the pawls do 
not stop the reverse motion of a workpiece, 
resharpen all the points. 
•
Keep your face and body out of line with
potential kickbacks when possible, including 
when starting or stopping the machine. 
3. Dull or improperly sharpened blades and
blades with gum or resin adhering to them 
may cause an accident with the tilting arbor 
saw. Never use a cracked saw blade. The 
use of a sharp, well maintained, and correct 
cutting tool for the operation will help avoid 
kickbacks. 
4. Support the work properly and hold it firmly
against the gauge or fence. Use a push stick 
or push block when ripping short, narrow (6" 
width or less), or thin work. Use a push 
block or miter gauge hold-down when 
dadoing or molding. (Figure 36) 
5. For added safety in crosscutting use an
auxiliary wood facing attached to the miter 
gauge using the holes provided. (Figure 37) 
6. Never use the fence as a length stop when
crosscutting. Do not hold on to or touch the 
free end or cutoff section of a workpiece. On 
through-sawing operations, the cut-off 
section must not be confined. 
7. Always keep your hands out of line with the
saw blade and never reach past the rotating 
blade with either hand to hold down the 
workpiece. 
8. Use the miter gauge on the left hand side of
the saw blade when doing miter or 
compound miter cuts to provide more hand 
clearance and safety. 
Operating Procedures
Ripping
1. Ripping is a sawing process where the
workpiece is fed with the grain into the saw 
blade using the fence both as a guide and a 
positioning device to ensure the desired 
width of cut (Figure 38). 
2.
Many manufacturers make blades 
specifically designed for this operation. 
Before starting a ripping cut,
be sure the fence is clamped securely and 
properly aligned. 
Figure 36
Figure 37
Figure 38