Abstract: A table saw is disclosed comprising a main saw unit and an air table attachment. The air table is mounted adjacent a main support surface of the main saw unit, and includes a body portion and a generally planar table top. The body portion has a plurality of subsections formed therein. The table top is substantially coplanar with the main support surface, and is attached to the body portion to cover the subsections so that a plurality of holes through the table top communicate between the subsections and the exterior. A shop vacuum produces either a partial vacuum or a stream of pressurized air, and a manifold attached to the body portion selectively communicates the vacuum or stream of air to one or more of the subsections to respectively produce either a suction force or a supporting air cushion over a variable portion of the table top. Preferably, the air table is movable along the front and rear guide rails in a direction transverse to the direction of rotation of the saw blade.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotatable cutting head assembly (12), such as for a planer or a jointer, which planes a work surface on a workpiece (22). The cutting head assembly (12) comprises a rotatable elongate support block (30), a pair of blades (32), and a pair of elongate retainers (34). Each blade (32) has a straight elongate cutting edge (50,51) which extends parallel to and is spaced radially from the longitudinal axis (36) of the support block (30). Each retainer (34) is attachable to the support block (30) to clamp a respective blade (32) therebetween. Retainers (34), blades (32) and support block (30) have cooperating alignment ribs (64) and elongate slots (52). The slots (52) extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support block.

Abstract: A saw includes a mounting arm or linear slide area, a carriage mounted on the arm for linear movement in first and second directions along the arm or slide area, a saw blade mounted on the carriage for rotational movement relative to the carriage about an axis of rotation extending in a direction transverse to the linear direction of travel of the carriage, and power means adapted to rotate the saw blade about the axis of rotation for carrying out a sawing operation. A kick-preventing apparatus, which may be produced as a retrofittable device, is provided for limiting the maximum speed at which the carriage may be moved in the first direction to a predetermined speed, the kick-preventing means permitting the carriage to be moved in the first direction at any speed equal to or less than the predetermined speed while preventing the carriage from kicking along the arm or slide in the first direction at a speed greater than the predetermined speed.

Abstract: A radial arm saw includes a mounting arm having a carriage mounted thereon for linear movement. A handle is also mounted on the arm and carries out movement of the carriage. The handle is movable relative to the carriage through a limited range of movement when an operating force is exerted on the handle, but at least a portion of the operating force is transmitted to the carriage. A speed control assembly limits the maximum speed at which the carriage may be moved in the radially outward direction to the speed of the handle, the speed control assembly preventing movement of the carriage in the first direction at a speed greater than the speed of the handle. The speed control assembly is driven by a shunting assembly which also establishes the maximum speed at which the speed control assembly permits the carriage to be moved radially outward.