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A table saw is loved by many woodworkers because of its durability. It also cuts straight lines with a very high degree of precision. Getting one is a step towards accomplishing great woodwork projects.
Just like any other tool, a slight malfunction, like a wobbling, will affect the efficiency of the table saw. So, why does my table saw wobble at full speed?
Why Does My Table Saw Blade Wobble at Full Speed?
There are several reasons a table saw blade wobbles. The most common causes for the wobbling is an unflat saw blade or a bent arbor. Compressed debris, sawdust, or dirt can cause the blade to tilt between the washers and cause exaggeration of the blade while running. Loose arbor nuts may also cause the table saw to wobble at high speed.
It is important that you get to know some of the reasons that may cause a table saw to wobble, especially when running at full speed.
Causes of a Table Saw Wobbling
There are 5 main reasons why a table saw might wobble:
- Bad bearings
- Loose nuts and bolts
- A warped blade
- Poor mounting of the table saw
- Arbor hole out of round
1. Bad Bearings
You will notice this after your start the table saw and you hear a grinding noise. These cause the arbor to have play, and the table saw will wobble since they can change the pitch when the table saw is running.
2. Loose Nuts and Bolts
These will magnify vibrations when the table saw is running at full speed, especially the ones located under the tabletop. If there are loose screws, the shaft can be misaligned, which will result in a wobble.
3. Warped Blade
This is common if the blade is overheated especially during heavy cutting. The table saw blade ends up having a rough edge. If you are not using a proper blade, the blade will lose some teeth, causing a wobble.
4. Poor Mounting of the Table Saw
Wobbling may happen if the saw is not mounted correctly in its workplace, firmly placed, and legs straightened.
5. Arbor Hole Out of Round
Failure to properly tighten the blade collar allows the blade to rotate and the shaft to vibrate.
How Do I Fix a Table Saw Blade Wobble?
A table saw wobble would definitely interrupt the flow of work. Here are a few procedures that you may follow to eliminate the wobble.
- Unplug the saw.
- Make sure the blade is flat. It should lie flat on the ground when you lay it on its side on a flat surface.
- Tighten the arbor nut and all the other nuts and bolt you can find under the tabletop. Also, check on all bolts on tilt and depth adjusters.
- Check if the shaft is bent by rotating it. If it is, replace it with a new one.
- Do a thorough cleaning of the blade, arbor, and arbor washers to get rid of all dirt, debris, and sawdust. They may be causing the blade to tilt, causing the blade to run out at the tip where it is easy to notice.
- If the table saw still wobbles, get a new blade.
What RPM Does a Table Saw Run at?
The majority of table saws run at 3,000- 4,000 revolutions per minute range. Blade RPM can be decreased to 4,140 by an upward adjustment of the arbor pulley to 211/2.
This will not affect the saw performance. Slower speed reduces the heat of the blade, thus cutting down any warpage caused by thermal expansion. This also helps conserve carbide.
How Tight Should a Table Saw Blade Be?
A saw blade should be tight enough to eliminate any safety issues, such as the nut’s loosening when the blade is too loose or tampering with the saw blade’s flatness when it is too tight. It would be best if you found a balance between being too tight or too loose.
Under tightening the blade causes the blade to wobble as it spins in high rpm. Over tightening warps the blade, thus causing a slight wobble, which may compromise the quality of your cut.
How Does a Wobble Dado Blade Work?
A wobble dado uses a single blade mounted on an adjustable hub, which varies the angle of the saw blade to the arbor shaft. Varying the angle beyond the radial normal of 90° to the arbor will increase the dado cut’s width.
You may also mount the saw on the arbor to adjust the thickness of the dado cut. An accurate adjustment may not be possible because the tightening of the arbor nut changes the adjustment.
Conclusion
A wobble can raise concern regarding the efficiency of the table saw while performing woodwork tasks. This, however, should not be a cause for alarm. You only need to identify the cause of the wobble and address it. If the table saw is well maintained, it should give excellent service to you for a long time.
