The right way to use a sliding mitre saw ?

[mailee]

A very dangerous piece of equipment! As they all are! I was always taught to use the "travelling head crosscut saw", pulling by the left hand, but the right hand was on the motor ready to control any "snatch" in which case the saw was meant to pass on my left, and not damage the user.
By cutting on the "return" (away) from you, the timber being cut has the tendancy to lift the work piece. Looking at the saw action the return cut is UPWARDS, in the same way as taking off the riving knife and pushing the saw bench through the work piece, on an ordinary circular saw. Always use pulling towards the user and NOT Away from the user. 2 hands always! Clamp any larger or denser timbers. Another overlooked item is the blade. ENSURE it is a CROSSCUTTING blade! regards Rodders

I take it a 'Travelling head crosscut saw' is a Radial Arm Saw? in which case that is correct it is pulled. A sliding mitre saw should be pushed. Both of these machines should be fitted with a zero or negative rake blade which will reduce the blade lifting the timber off the table. If the timer isn't clamped or held in place it will likely lift with both of these machines. :wink:

 

[Myfordman]

The big difference between a RAS and SMS is that the height of the blade on a RAS is fixed and so it can be pulled towards the operator safely.
The blade can kick upwards on a SMS and so should be push away from the operator.

MM

 

[Grahamshed]

This is becoming like a sharpening debate only in this case someone HAS to be right. How is a newbie to SCMSs supposed to decide ?
I guess I am going to have to wait for it to arrive and get SWNBO to try it both ways while I watch to see which looks safest :twisted:

 

[SteveF]

i still have my hands \ fingers
towards the fence

Steve

 

[blackrodd]

A very dangerous piece of equipment! As they all are! I was always taught to use the "travelling head crosscut saw", pulling by the left hand, but the right hand was on the motor ready to control any "snatch" in which case the saw was meant to pass on my left, and not damage the user.
By cutting on the "return" (away) from you, the timber being cut has the tendancy to lift the work piece. Looking at the saw action the return cut is UPWARDS, in the same way as taking off the riving knife and pushing the saw bench through the work piece, on an ordinary circular saw. Always use pulling towards the user and NOT Away from the user. 2 hands always! Clamp any larger or denser timbers. Another overlooked item is the blade. ENSURE it is a CROSSCUTTING blade! regards Rodders

I take it a 'Travelling head crosscut saw' is a Radial Arm Saw? in which case that is correct it is pulled. A sliding mitre saw should be pushed. Both of these machines should be fitted with a zero or negative rake blade which will reduce the blade lifting the timber off the table. If the timer isn't clamped or held in place it will likely lift with both of these machines. :wink:[/quote

A travelling head saw, is the original sliding mitre saw, it does everything, including compound mitre's. By pushing the saw, it is going to lift the workpiece, It's going to rip out the top face of, say, the picture framing or architrave mitre. And the reason for the negative rake blade is to sever the wood fibres as in crosscutting. not to stop the wood lifting! I did 18 months in the saw shop As part of 5 year apprentice ship in the timber mill, This is what i was taught, but please Use you're machinery however you feel safest and the most comfortable. regards rodders

 

[nathandavies]

sharp blade, straight timber pushed against the fence, good grip on it, or if you have plenty of time on your hands clamped, firm grip on handle and push.

 

[Mark A]

A very dangerous piece of equipment! As they all are! I was always taught to use the "travelling head crosscut saw", pulling by the left hand, but the right hand was on the motor ready to control any "snatch" in which case the saw was meant to pass on my left, and not damage the user.
By cutting on the "return" (away) from you, the timber being cut has the tendancy to lift the work piece. Looking at the saw action the return cut is UPWARDS, in the same way as taking off the riving knife and pushing the saw bench through the work piece, on an ordinary circular saw. Always use pulling towards the user and NOT Away from the user. 2 hands always! Clamp any larger or denser timbers. Another overlooked item is the blade. ENSURE it is a CROSSCUTTING blade! regards Rodders

That is the case for a Radial Arm Saw, however the original post was regarding a Sliding Compound Mitre Saw which should never be used by pulling the blade towards the operator. Climb cutting, unless done intentionally with care is an accident waiting to happen.

Mark

 

[devonwoody]

Grahamshed, this you push the salesman to a massive discount and he decided to get his own back?
:wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :shock:

 

[Grahamshed]

Grahamshed, this you push the salesman to a massive discount and he decided to get his own back?
:wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :shock:

It was a pretty good discount but I didn't have to push. He was talking about cut accuracy rather than safety and as a member of the design team you would assume he knew what he was talking about.

Anyway, the saw turned up this morning ( sort of, there was supposed to be two boxes, one for the saw and one for the stand/trolley. There were two boxes alright but both contained saws )

On reading the instruction manual it clearly says to cut when pushing the blade away from you - So that is what I will be doing.

 

[Racers]

I take it you signed for them quickly and said nothing :-"

Pete

 

[MMUK]

This is becoming like a sharpening debate only in this case someone HAS to be right. How is a newbie to SCMSs supposed to decide ?
I guess I am going to have to wait for it to arrive and get SWNBO to try it both ways while I watch to see which looks safest :twisted:

I'm a newbie, in the forum sense anyway.

The safest method on a SMS is to extend, plunge and push.


There, definitive answer made. End of debate :mrgreen:

 

[Grahamshed]

I take it you signed for them quickly and said nothing :-"

Pete

I guess you could say that. I didn't notice until I started unpacking them.
But I am an honest fellow and I wanted the stand / trolly so I contacted D&M. They said they would talk to Bosch ( it was delivered direct from Bosch ) and call me back. That was 6 hours ago and still waiting.

 

[Grahamshed]

I'm a newbie, in the forum sense anyway.

The safest method on a SMS is to extend, plunge and push.


There, definitive answer made. End of debate :mrgreen:

Ahh, yes, but.... You have to give the definitive, not arguable with, reason as well