Miter Saw

How To

Video / Tutorial

Instruction

  1. What it does best:
    • Makes clean straight cuts in properly prepared and allowed materials
  2. Allowed Materials:
    • Solid wood, plywood, some plastics, and MDF. Other materials possible with TA/Staff approval, including aluminum
    • Ideally, the material being cut has one flat face and a long straight edge, similar to the table saw.
  3. Basic use:
    • Align your material onto the saw using the machine base and rear fence to secure it firmly in place. Hold the material in place with your hand (or clamp, if required) a safe distance away from the cutting area.
    • Use your index finger on the trigger to release the saw arm and power on the saw with your thumb.
    • Move through the cut in waves- moving into, and then fully out of, the cut each time. Finish the cut in 3 or 4 passes.
  4. Safety Reminders:
    • Always keep your hand a safe distance away from the blade. Refer to the hand symbol on the base of the machine for the correct distance
    • Do not cut stock that is too short to hold safely
    • Do not make freehand cuts with the chop saw
    • Cut in waves to reduce the chance of kickback
    • Orient warped or twisted stock correctly to reduce the chance of kickback
    • Firmly clamp any round stock over 1″ diagonally into the base/fence to hold it in place before cutting
    • Do not use a firm stop that leaves an offcut wedged in between the blade and the stop. Use a removeable spacer in between
  5. Finishing:
    • Clean work area and machine

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Eye Protection: Safety glasses
  • Ear Protection: None required
  • Respiratory Protection: None required
  • Body Coverings: None required, and gloves are never allowed when using power tools

Engineering Controls

  • Dust collection system
  • Retractable blade guard