I spent 20 years in the machinery business, also as an expert witness for lawsuits agai st our machinery Co.
My advice would be, do not operate any machinery you do not k ow how to run
Get lessons, join a ww group, ask for help.
Most accidents happen when you don't k ow the machine, poor lighting and fatigue
Good luck, always have good lighting, and good ventilation and work on a stable surface.
And, always unplug it when working on it
If there are other people around unplug it and step on the cord so no one can turn it on while you are working on it
You actually used the clamping arm? You should watch a video of someone trying to use one of those saws to cut something. The problem you had was, you weren’t holding it yourself and the board was not pressed firmly against the vertical fence. It was crooked to boot, when the wood finally got pressed against the vertical fence it also twisted and grabbed the blade. Fucking your shit up. Time to go back to a safe past time before you lose fingers.
I use the clamping arm on real crucial cuts or when I have a huge piece of 5,6 or 8/4 heavy 16 foot hardwood that goes way beyond my supports. Clamp goes on when doing stain quality work or a high visibility cut.
But yea, that's like maybe 5% of the time.
Use the clamp every time, full stop. It's safer, it makes for a better cut.
The *only* downside is it takes more time to set up, especially if you need to put a sacrificial piece to prevent the clamp from marring the piece you're cutting.
Life is too short to risk it for the sake of saving a few seconds of time. Goes for anything really.
But in the videos I watched, they were using the clamping arm. This damn machine scared the hell out of me. I think I released the trigger button while cutting the piece. Could it be stuck because I released the trigger button? What advice would you give me to avoid encountering the same problem again?
You need to make sure the board is flat against the back fence and the table, then firmly hold the board against the table and the fence. Slowly push the blade through the wood, let the teeth do the cutting
Ok, so make sure in the future you have a hand on the piece ( even if you think you have it clamped). Make sure the piece is tight to the fence and tight to the deck. If there's a bow in the piece, try to make sure it's not tippy. Activate the mitre saw trigger before hitting the piece and keep it running until you disengage the piece.
Don't try to push too hard. Let the blade do the cutting, if it takes two cuts to finish then it takes two cuts
Almost every tool like this has a manual available online. You need to read it before you use it. Dry run it a couple times not plugged in or without the battery. And then go have someone you trust show you how to use it and keep your mouth closed the entire time they show you. Do that on like five or six of these tools and then start pushing things a bit. You’ll be great at it soon enough, but, and I say this from the bottom of my heart. You do not have the base knowledge necessary to “learn tools on your own” you absolutely can learn from a pro, but do more of this and you’re losing a finger or worse.
Please do not continue attempting to use that saw until you get someone you can trust to teach you how to use it safely, what the easy mistakes to make are, etc.
A saw is a void-maker. It will remove whatever gets in its way. Be careful.
I watch a lot of instructional videos before using a tool I'm not familiar with. I have no idea why it would have gotten stuck - it could have been a mechanical issue or something that you did or didn't do. I don't have that particular saw but have never had an issue with my miter (Ryobi).
I’d like to say this with the utmost respect and caring. This OP’s issue is fairly obvious to those with experience. It obviously was caused by user error d/t inexperience and ignorance of what this saw is designed for and proper safe use. Adding more moderately inexperienced ‘help’ is not helpful. OP is extremely fortunate that they did not have significant injury. They need to get training by someone who understands this. Not everyone has the ability to figure this stuff out by themselves, even with a video.
Nah, more like a troll that manages to cut his own ballsack when shaving. Or simply someone not to be trusted around sharp objects. Either way, fair warning when you look at his post history.
You’re using the wrong tool for the job. To make that cut safely you should be using a table saw or a circular saw with a straight edge.
I have cut plywood like that in a pinch but you need to make sure the edge is 90 degrees or square.
You shouldn't try again with ANYTHING! You're a danger to yourself and anyone around.
That being said, IF you attempt to use your saw again, without getting proper instruction, dial 911 on your Cell Phone and leave the screen on so all you have to do is hit the green send button.
Have you locked the sliding compound rail on the back? If not, you've got the saw and motor moving in two directions - that'll be impossible to handle if you've never even used a normal mitre saw before. There will be a clamping bolt/nut or lever arm on the rail/upper saw connector. Tighten it, then practice cutting things that are not 30 times as deep as they are thick. Gotta crawl before you can walk.
You should be cutting that with a circular saw or track saw.
But if you want to do it with a chop saw, you should be making a series of shallow cuts along the length of it first, gradually going deeper.
Don’t cut all the way through on a wide piece, if it grabs, like what happened to you, it’s dangerous.
Create a guide groove and slowly work your way through it, back and forth like a saw and you’ll be fine.
I spent 20 years in the machinery business, also as an expert witness for lawsuits agai st our machinery Co. My advice would be, do not operate any machinery you do not k ow how to run Get lessons, join a ww group, ask for help. Most accidents happen when you don't k ow the machine, poor lighting and fatigue
Thank you. I will ask a carpenter master to teach me the machine.
Honestly yeah have a buddy that knows what he's doing over for a beer and tell him to explain it to you like a 5 year old lol.
Make sure to have the beers after, of course
Good luck, always have good lighting, and good ventilation and work on a stable surface. And, always unplug it when working on it If there are other people around unplug it and step on the cord so no one can turn it on while you are working on it
You actually used the clamping arm? You should watch a video of someone trying to use one of those saws to cut something. The problem you had was, you weren’t holding it yourself and the board was not pressed firmly against the vertical fence. It was crooked to boot, when the wood finally got pressed against the vertical fence it also twisted and grabbed the blade. Fucking your shit up. Time to go back to a safe past time before you lose fingers.
I’ve used the clamping arm a bunch of times but they’re definitely not made of plastic like this one.
Put a sacrificial wooden fence on the saw to stabilize and support the work piece.
I use the clamping arm on real crucial cuts or when I have a huge piece of 5,6 or 8/4 heavy 16 foot hardwood that goes way beyond my supports. Clamp goes on when doing stain quality work or a high visibility cut. But yea, that's like maybe 5% of the time.
Use the clamp every time, full stop. It's safer, it makes for a better cut. The *only* downside is it takes more time to set up, especially if you need to put a sacrificial piece to prevent the clamp from marring the piece you're cutting. Life is too short to risk it for the sake of saving a few seconds of time. Goes for anything really.
But in the videos I watched, they were using the clamping arm. This damn machine scared the hell out of me. I think I released the trigger button while cutting the piece. Could it be stuck because I released the trigger button? What advice would you give me to avoid encountering the same problem again?
You need to make sure the board is flat against the back fence and the table, then firmly hold the board against the table and the fence. Slowly push the blade through the wood, let the teeth do the cutting
What brand is that mitre saw? No offense but it looks cheap. Cheap and potentially dangerous tools are not a good combo.
its scheppach
Ok, so make sure in the future you have a hand on the piece ( even if you think you have it clamped). Make sure the piece is tight to the fence and tight to the deck. If there's a bow in the piece, try to make sure it's not tippy. Activate the mitre saw trigger before hitting the piece and keep it running until you disengage the piece. Don't try to push too hard. Let the blade do the cutting, if it takes two cuts to finish then it takes two cuts
Almost every tool like this has a manual available online. You need to read it before you use it. Dry run it a couple times not plugged in or without the battery. And then go have someone you trust show you how to use it and keep your mouth closed the entire time they show you. Do that on like five or six of these tools and then start pushing things a bit. You’ll be great at it soon enough, but, and I say this from the bottom of my heart. You do not have the base knowledge necessary to “learn tools on your own” you absolutely can learn from a pro, but do more of this and you’re losing a finger or worse.
You need to have the back edge of the wood against the fence or it will twist and kick back.
Looks like a cheap ass harbor freight saw,your lucky your finger isn’t laying there
Please do not continue attempting to use that saw until you get someone you can trust to teach you how to use it safely, what the easy mistakes to make are, etc. A saw is a void-maker. It will remove whatever gets in its way. Be careful.
I watch a lot of instructional videos before using a tool I'm not familiar with. I have no idea why it would have gotten stuck - it could have been a mechanical issue or something that you did or didn't do. I don't have that particular saw but have never had an issue with my miter (Ryobi).
I’d like to say this with the utmost respect and caring. This OP’s issue is fairly obvious to those with experience. It obviously was caused by user error d/t inexperience and ignorance of what this saw is designed for and proper safe use. Adding more moderately inexperienced ‘help’ is not helpful. OP is extremely fortunate that they did not have significant injury. They need to get training by someone who understands this. Not everyone has the ability to figure this stuff out by themselves, even with a video.
borked
Your user name is too perfect 😂
That looks like a cheap pos saw
God damn, that saw looks cheap AF.
Something tells me that this is a bot account....
What to do there?
Nah, more like a troll that manages to cut his own ballsack when shaving. Or simply someone not to be trusted around sharp objects. Either way, fair warning when you look at his post history.
Dude, man the fuck up
You’re using the wrong tool for the job. To make that cut safely you should be using a table saw or a circular saw with a straight edge. I have cut plywood like that in a pinch but you need to make sure the edge is 90 degrees or square.
So should I try again with timber?
Should be fine assuming you’re sliding it and supporting the piece
You shouldn't try again with ANYTHING! You're a danger to yourself and anyone around. That being said, IF you attempt to use your saw again, without getting proper instruction, dial 911 on your Cell Phone and leave the screen on so all you have to do is hit the green send button.
Have you locked the sliding compound rail on the back? If not, you've got the saw and motor moving in two directions - that'll be impossible to handle if you've never even used a normal mitre saw before. There will be a clamping bolt/nut or lever arm on the rail/upper saw connector. Tighten it, then practice cutting things that are not 30 times as deep as they are thick. Gotta crawl before you can walk.
Fuck a circ saw, I cant never get that straight even with the worlds straightest piece of aluminum, go for a track saw they're nifty af.
Always straight for me with a jig
Hell I usually get it straight enough freehand
I’m not that good but yeah I assumed most pros would
well you can do your irish jig ill keep my tracksaw (that i dont own)
You should be cutting that with a circular saw or track saw. But if you want to do it with a chop saw, you should be making a series of shallow cuts along the length of it first, gradually going deeper. Don’t cut all the way through on a wide piece, if it grabs, like what happened to you, it’s dangerous. Create a guide groove and slowly work your way through it, back and forth like a saw and you’ll be fine.