Replies

1. 
   bilyo | Apr 27, 2020 05:30pm | #1

   I assume you are referring to construction grade pine and cutting through the narrow dimension so that you end up with 1 1/2" x 1/4" strip. You should be just fine but, it will work best if you use a thin kerf dedicated rip blade and take your time. Don't try to force feed it. Also, use a feather board, especially for the last couple of cuts.

2. 
   Beasley7 | Apr 27, 2020 06:17pm | #2

   You can do it, but there is a lot to unravel here so let's start with the math. The normal kerf on a saw blade is 1/8". So each cut will use 3/8" of wood. A 2x4 is really 2.5"x3.5" or 20/8" x 28/8" so in a perfect world you could get seven 1/4" pieces from each 2x4 - but don't count on it.

   Now let's talk about the saw. The 15 AMP motor is probably strong enough. Make sure it is plugged into a big enough circuit, because you are going to be working at the upper end of the capability of the saw. Which will cause the motor to pull near max AMPS. If you are going to be successful and not ruin your saw you absolutely must to do two things. First, get a good ripping blade. You might even want to consider a thin kerf ripping blade. Second, make the cut in two passes. Set your blade height at about 2". For safety sake, yo should keep the fattest side of teh wood against the fence. It takes more measuring, but is safer (still dangerous, but safer).

   Now let's talk technique. Most important thing to remember is what your are proposing is a very dangerous operation. It is not what a table saw was designed to do. If you have a band saw, use it. If not, be very careful. Push sticks are an absolute must. Remember when you make the second cut, thing will get a bit wobbly and if you push to the side or behind the blade, you will get kick-back. Do not stand directly behind the blade and always push from the front. I can't remember if that saw has a riving knife or a splitter. The really bad news is you will have to take the guard off to make the cuts. If you have a riving knife that will let you make non-through cuts, use it. If not, be extremely careful. Kick back is no joke. It's not just the wood missile sent back at you, it's also the fact that the only thing keeping your fingers out of the blade disappears in a nanosecond.

   Best of luck with your project.

3. 
   user-7063600 | Apr 27, 2020 06:40pm | #3

   The big question is why. For what I read you are cutting them the wide way. This will require 2 passes, one from each size. This is dangerous. Construction lumber usually has a high moisture content and will shrink a warp as it dries. They will not come out flat or parallel. You will need a jointer and planer to make them right. You are better off with 1/4" plywood or find someone with a bandsaw and planer.

4. 
   geedubbee | Apr 27, 2020 07:05pm | #4

   I don't know if micksredtruck has checked back but, the message is good. Ripping unprepared stock on a tablesaw is an invitation to kickback and injury. If I were ripping irregular stock my choice would be the bandsaw.

   For really irregular stock like construction lumber a knife fence would be the ticket. This allows you to correct while making the cut (something you cannot do on a tablesaw) and follow a line you may have marked or 'snapped' onto the stock. Your resulting boards would reflect the irregularity of the original blank so this may not be what you are looking for.

   Maybe we could get a little more info now that you have gotten some responses.

   
5. 
   _mj_ | Apr 27, 2020 07:19pm | #5

   The short answer to me is No. That is not a good saw for the task, and without knowing whwt the project is...No, construction 2x4s are a bad idea. If you consider the rough outer surfaces and rather generous corner rounding a "2×4" will yield squared stock of 1×3" max...plus, it will likely have the tree's pith running through the center.

   Don't put the time and effort you are considering into "lumber" that sets you up for failure...again without knowing what the goal is.

6. 
   micksredtruck | Apr 27, 2020 10:19pm | #6

   Yeah I’m a truck driver and I was just now able to check back with this. I’ve been out for woodworking from about 20 years and have to relearn everything. I think I’ll just go with good 1/4 inch plywood for my project. Thank you all for your comments and advice