Table saws and table saws designed to implement safety systems that detect contact between a person and a dangerous portion of the saw are disclosed. Table saw components, mounting systems for table saws, and table saw attachments are also disclosed. One embodiment may include a first clamp surface, a second clamp surface spaced apart from the first clamp surface so that a base portion of a riving knife or splitter can be placed between the clamp surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion generally parallel to the first and second clamp surfaces.

Table saws with safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems detect and react to dangerous conditions, such as contact between the blade and a person. The table saws may include a switch, a first light that illuminates to indicate the safety system is operable, and a second light that illuminates to indicate that the safety system is inoperable. The switch may not power the saw when switched on if the second light is illuminated.

Various embodiments provide a miter saw assembly including a circular saw detachably coupled to a miter base. The circular saw includes a circular blade, a motor, a power supply, and an attachment mechanism. The motor is operable to rotate the circular blade. The power supply is operable to provide power to the motor. The attachment mechanism detachably couples with a coupling arm of the miter base. The miter base includes a base and a support arm. The support arm includes the coupling arm, a vertical pivot, and a horizontal pivot. The vertical pivot is operable to pivot the coupling arm in a vertical plane. The horizontal pivot is rotatably coupled with the base. The horizontal pivot is operable to rotate the coupling arm in a horizontal plane.

Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

A miter saw includes a base portion having a mount surface, a cutting unit supporting a saw blade, a support portion, a relative displacement smoothening member, and a sealing structure. The support portion is supported to the base portion for supporting the cutting unit. The support portion includes a rod extending in a sliding direction in parallel to the mount surface and perpendicular to a rotation axis of the saw blade, and a slide-support portion through which the rod slidably extends. The smoothening member is provided between the slide-support portion and the rod. The sealing structure is provided between the slide-support portion and the rod and includes a first seal member provided at one end of the smoothening member, a second seal member provided at an another end of the smoothening member, and a third seal member positioned opposite to the smoothening member with respect to the first seal member.

Blade tilt mechanisms for table saws are disclosed. The disclosed tilt mechanisms provide easy and intuitive operation. They also provide auto-locking so that a user simply releases a component to lock the blade at a specific angle. The tilt mechanisms also provide defined incremental steps for the tilt of the blade and the steps are typically spaced at 1-degree intervals.

A chop saw includes a base assembly and a saw assembly pivotally attached to the base assembly. The base assembly has a workpiece-supporting plane. The saw assembly has a blade and a motor driving the blade. A hinged connection between the base assembly and a saw assembly allows a user to rotate the saw assembly from a position where the plane of the blade extends through the workpiece-supporting plane to a position where the plane of the blade does not extend through the workpiece-supporting plane. In such position, the plane of blade may be substantially parallel to the workpiece-supporting plane.

Table saws with safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems detect and react to dangerous conditions, such as contact between the blade and a person. The table saws may include a switch, a first light that illuminates to indicate the safety system is operable, and a second light that illuminates to indicate that the safety system is inoperable. The switch may not power the saw when switched on if the second light is illuminated.

A miter saw includes a base assembly, a bevel arm pivotably coupled to the base assembly, and a saw unit pivotably coupled to the bevel arm about a horizontal chop axis. The saw unit includes a saw blade rotatable about a blade axis and a motor having an output shaft inclined at an oblique included angle relative to the blade axis. The miter saw also includes a guide rail coupling the saw unit to the base assembly and a battery selectively electrically connectable with the motor to provide power to the motor. The bevel arm and saw unit are pivotable relative to the base assembly, from an orientation in which the saw blade is substantially vertical, in both a first direction about the bevel axis by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees and an opposite, second direction by a bevel angle of at least about 45 degrees.

Throat plates for table saws and table saws are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws have at least one securement mechanism to secure and prevent inadvertent removal of the throat plate from the throat of the saw. In some embodiments, at least one of the securement mechanisms also provides a height adjustment mechanism and/or prevents vertical removal of the throat plate. In some embodiments, the throat plate has an accessory mounting port that provides a portal for accessories, including safety accessories, to extend through the plate from beneath the table of the saw. In some embodiments, the port extends from the plate's outer perimeter to divide the plate's rear end portion into a pair of spaced-apart members. In some embodiments, these members are independently secured to the table saw and retained apart from each other by one or more of the securement mechanisms.