Kickback
Affiliate link — we may earn a commissionKickback happens when a spinning blade or disc catches the workpiece and throws it back at the operator. On a table saw, kickback occurs when the wood pinches the blade or contacts the rising teeth at the back of the blade. The teeth grab the wood and launch it toward you at blade speed. On a circular saw, the blade can bind in the cut and kick the saw backward. On an angle grinder, a caught disc rotates the whole tool violently. Riving knives, blade guards, anti-kickback pawls, and proper technique reduce the risk, but nothing eliminates it completely.
Why It Matters
Kickback is the leading cause of serious table saw injuries. A board thrown by a 10-inch blade at 4,000 RPM hits harder than most people expect. Always use a riving knife, keep the blade guard on when possible, stand to the side of the cut line (not directly behind it), and never reach over a spinning blade.