Trade education and workforce development are two initiatives we value highly here at Dunn Lumber, so it should come as no surprise that we have close ties with Seattle Central College's Wood Technology Center (WTC). With roots dating back to the early 1900s, WTC's history intersects with ours at Dunn Lumber at various points (our very own Ed Dunn Jr. took some classes at Edison), and we're proud to be connected with such an exemplary educational institution.

Throughout the episodes in this series, we'll be speaking with Dave Borgatti, a long-time faculty member at the WTC, about the center's history, program offering, and various topics in woodworking education. Dave got his start in woodworking as a boat builder in Portland, Oregon, for Schooner Creek Boat Works, and ended up at WTC as an instructor in 1992. Since then, Dave has helped countless students—from boat builders to carpenters and cabinetmakers—learn the woodworking craft.

In today’s conversation, Dave and I are joined by Yu He, Territory Manager at Milwaukee® Tool, to go over the features of the cordless Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 8-¼” Table Saw. Whether you’re considering purchasing this portable, compact tool or simply looking to learn more about table saw best practices, you won’t want to miss this video. 

We share key points from the conversation below, but make sure to watch the full video to get the most out of it—including a setup and use demonstration, as well as important safety tips. 

What is a table saw? 

Table saws are versatile tools where you can feed the work through to rip a piece of  wood or other material. After adjusting the blade height and angle, the operator pushes the material through the saw against a parallel fence that can be moved to  adjust the size of the rip.

Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 8-¼” Table Saw Features

Naturally, one of the Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 8-¼” Table Saw’s primary features is that it’s cordless, providing the user with more portability and accessibility to help them be more productive for a range of projects and job sites. It’s pretty impressive that this highly useful tool has been made easily portable, but that’s just the start. Yu covers the table saw’s unique features in the first part of our video. Some that particularly stand out include: 

  • The tool’s integration with Milwaukee’s proprietary One-Key™ technology, allowing the owner or user to customize, track, and manage the tool’s use through a mobile app 
  • A 24 ½” adjustable extended table with a quick lock to quickly adjust between cuts
  • The ability to cut 600 linear feet on one of Milwaukee’s 12-amp hour REDLITHIUM™ batteries 
  • A quick-release riving knife behind the blade, allowing the saw to make a clean cut while protecting the user (Dave talks more about this starting at 3:33 in the video)
  • A special compartment to store the blade change wrench (so you never have to worry about losing it!)
  • A basket-style rip guard with included storage location (go to 4:29 in the video to hear Dave explain how to safely use this kind of guard)

How to use a table saw

Unlike larger stationary saws found in wood shops, portable table saws can be set up anywhere. (Dave notes that it’s a useful tool if you’re having to do work upstairs, and he’s even seen it set up on a roof.)

So, how do you use a table saw? Starting at 16:00 in the video, Dave demonstrates how to properly set up and use the Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 8-¼” Table Saw. His recommendations include: 

  • Never rip warped or rough lumber. 
  • Set the saw up on a stand and provide outfeed support. 
  • The throat plate surrounding the blade should be flush with the table top.
  • Check that the fence is parallel to the blade or a “kickback” may result.
  • Raise the blade only ¼” above the thickness of the stock to be cut. 
  • When the distance between the blade and the fence is less than a fist, use a push stick to keep your fingers away from the blade. Conversely, if the distance is greater than a fist, DO NOT use a push stick as it is difficult to keep material up against the fence. 
  • When cutting, always push the stock past the throat plate so it doesn’t accidentally come back at you. 
  • If you encounter “reaction” wood that causes the blade to bind in the cut, stop  feeding, hold on, and knee the safety switch to the off position.

Interested in Milwaukee® Tool’s other cordless power tool options? Check out this video on impact drivers and drill drivers, featuring the M18 FUEL™ ½” Hammer Drill/Driver, or this video on how to use a miter saw, featuring the Milwaukee® Tool Dual Bevel M18 Cordless Miter Saw. You can also always find more tool-focused tips in previous Wood Technology Center Series episodes as well as our power tools archives.