In
woodworking, a rip cut is one that is made
parallel to the
grain of the
wood. Compare with
cross cut. Rip cuts are best accomplished with
power tools, although rip cuts can be done with a properly designed
hand saw. On a power saw (such as a
radial arm saw, or a
table saw), a rip cut is generally made by pushing the
board through the spining
blade, which is held in one location. The board is guided by a
rip fence to prevent side-to-side motion.
Making rip cuts with a power saw requires careful setup and close adherence to safe procedures to avoid dangerous kickbacks. Finger boards, blade guards, and of course, protective eyewear should be mandatory when making rip cuts.