Miter Saw
Support the board against the fence, keep clear of the full blade path and use the cutting motion taught for the installed saw.
Crosscuts and angled ends: Category 3 in the woods lab
Crosscuts and angled ends: Category 3 in the woods lab
A miter saw cuts a board to length or cuts an angled end. The miter setting turns the cut across the table; the bevel setting tilts the blade. See How Saws Cut Wood and Choosing a Woodworking Machine.
Category 3 in the Woods / Construction lab. Follow category permission and supervision requirements. Complete Equipment Operating Procedure, Personal Protective Equipment and the guard and isolation requirements in Machine Hazards and Housekeeping.
Before starting: set angles, support the board and check clearance; Checklist
Before starting: set angles, support the board and check clearance
- With the machine off and isolated for setup, set and secure the miter and bevel angles. Mark the cut and check its alignment with the stationary blade's path; a laser, if fitted, is an alignment aid.
- Seat the board against the fence and table. Support long ends at the same height as the saw table so the board cannot tip during the cut.
- Check that the moving guard works and shields the blade. If a dust collector is fitted, check that it is ready for use.
- Check the entire blade path at the selected angles, including clearance from clamps. In our labs, keep all body parts at least 6 inches from the blade and never cut small pieces. If the piece cannot be supported while maintaining that clearance, stop and ask for another method.
Keep the work still and use the motion taught for this saw
Keep the work still and use the motion taught for this saw
- Secure the work against the fence using the trained holding or clamping method. Do not improvise a stacked-board cut; have the instructor establish the setup.
- With hands outside the blade path and the blade clear of the work, start the saw and let it reach cutting speed.
- Make the cut with controlled feed using the motion demonstrated for the installed saw. A sliding saw needs its own cutting sequence. Have that demonstrated before using the slide; do not interpret “pull through” as permission to pull a spinning blade toward you through the board.
- At the end of the cut, release the trigger, keep the head controlled and wait for the blade to stop before lifting it or removing the work and cutoff.
Use a blade and material combination approved for the installed saw. Changing the blade alone does not make a woodworking miter saw suitable for metal, masonry or wet cutting.
If the board shifts or the blade binds: release the trigger
If the board shifts or the blade binds: release the trigger
Keep clear of the blade and let it stop. Do not reach in to reposition the work or free a cutoff while it moves. Notify the instructor and follow the isolation procedure before clearing a jam.
If injured, move clear and follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Normal shutdown and cleanup follow Equipment Operating Procedure.