Miter Saw Safety

Function:

To accurately make crosscuts on wood.

Why we use it:

The miter saw is the best tool to use to make virtually any crosscut in wood. It is far more accurate than the radial arm saw. The miter saw also has the ability to crosscut a board at an angle. The blade can also tilt, allowing you to crosscut a piece of wood with a bevel cut. Any time you need to accurately cut across the grain of a straight piece of wood, the miter saw is probably the tool you will want to use. The miter saw is also commonly referred to as the chop saw.

Safety Concerns:

-The board you are cutting on the miter saw needs to be flat and straight. If it is not, you first should make your board flat and straight using the jointer, the table saw, and the planer.

-Your board must be held firmly against the fence when making a cut with this tool. If it is not, it will jerk back towards the fence, and the saw will be forced toward you.

-Like the radial arm saw, this saw also moves along a track arm. You must make sure the saw is all the way at the back of the track arm before turning on the saw. If it isn't, it could be touching your board when you turn it on. This could result in the saw jerking forward, the board jerking backwards, and an injury occurring.

-You must keep your hands and fingers, including your thumb, at least 4" away from the path of the cut. If they are closer, they could easily get thrown towards the blade, resulting in an injury.

-Your board needs to be long enough so that you are able to securely hold it against the fence while cutting it. For this to occur, and in order to keep your hands a full 4" from the path of the cut, your board should be at least 12" long.

-This saw will force its way toward you as you cut, so you must hold the saw securely and control it in order to make a slow, controlled cut.

-Make sure there are no scraps of wood or piles of sawdust against the fence before you place your board on the table. If there are, they will prevent your board from being firmly against the fence where it needs to be.

-Do not try to rip (cut with the grain) a board on this saw. It is dangerous, and will do a lousy job. The table saw is a much better tool to use to rip a board.

-This saw moves not only back and forth along the track arm, but also moves up and down. In order to safely make cuts with this saw, you should follow the following sequence of moves for each cut you make:

-Bring the saw forward, towards you prior to starting the saw.

-Turn the saw on with it in the upright position.

-Lower the blade into the piece of wood.

-Push the saw away from you while it is cutting the wood.

-Release your finger from the trigger to stop the blade moving, but leave the blade down.

-After the blade has come to a complete stop raise the blade back to the upright position.

Additional Information:

-When using this saw, you must apply pressure toward the back of the saw when you push the blade into the wood. If you don't you will find that the saw will want to move toward you before it moves down.

-When using this saw make sure the blade is all the way down to ensure it is cutting all the way through the piece of wood.

-Do not try to cut a board that is too short, especially when cutting at an angle, as the saw will easily grab the board and throw it, sometimes at somebody else, and sometimes at you!

-Remember that your thumb sticks sideways out from your hand. Make sure it is at least 4" from the path of the blade. Having a thumb cut off is one the most common injuries from this saw.