Miter Saw Safety Question

[Robert Strasser]

Using a miter saw, how do you safely cut off one inch or less at a 45 degree bevel? I’ve had the blade catch these small cut offs and send them flying or actually smash the miter saw table insert.

[Mike Berndt]

Very simply, you don't!!!! That is an accident waiting to happen!!

[Dino Makropoulos]

Using a miter saw, how do you safely cut off one inch or less at a 45 degree bevel? I’ve had the blade catch these small cut offs and send them flying or actually smash the miter saw table insert.


I use air to push the small pieces away from the blade.
I hit the blade from the top. The air hits the blade and pushes the small pieces away.

Use a zero clearance backer board on the fence.
Don't lift the saw while the blade is spinning.

[Peter Quinn]

I use air to push the small pieces away from the blade.
I hit the blade from the top. The air hits the blade and pushes the small pieces away.

Use a zero clearance backer board on the fence.
Don't lift the saw while the blade is spinning.

I think Dino nailed it with the ZCI backer thing. I use a ZCI made of two pieces of plywood, one that sits on the table screwed to the other which is screwed to the fence. Use the depth stop to raise the blade a bit so it just cuts into the new bottom table, then run the blade through the ZCI fence, and voila, small cutoff's such as for mitered returns on moldings too wide to cut upright fall harmlessly away from the blade. And don't raise that blade until it stops. That part is in most saw's instruction manual.

[Jason Beam]

I use air to push the small pieces away from the blade.
I hit the blade from the top. The air hits the blade and pushes the small pieces away.

Use a zero clearance backer board on the fence.
Don't lift the saw while the blade is spinning.


What he said!

I've never had a small piece go flying unless i raised the blade while it was still in motion. Two reasons not to do that: It sends the little pieces flying and it actually can muck up your crosscut surface.

[glenn bradley]

ZCI backer and insert. Don't lift the blade till it stops. If you're on level ground you should have no problem.

[Dino Makropoulos]

Hi Guys.
We cut aluminum and plastic every day.
At first we use a miter saw. No time to look for a better way.
After few close calls, we made a renewable zero clearance for the table.
Better but not 100% safe.
We started using air to push the small pieces away from the blade.
Much better but not 100% safe.
Next step was to make a renewable backer board ZCI. ( zero clearance)

We stopped using air and learned to wait for the blade to stop. 99% safe.

We don't cut crown moldings. Only straight and few angle cuts.

Please, take a look at this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC5m1vl90fo

To make a cross cut saw 100% safe was to get rid of it.
In this video you will see few ways to work safer.
Ripping, cross cutting, routing with the Dead Wood Concept idea.

This is our production setup and not an item for sale.
Note the safety of the cross cutting section. No Miter saw.

[Jeff Duncan]

I do the same as Peter, which has at least 2 other benefits also...
1) Once you have the backer clamped on, you have something to screw angle stops to for cutting crown molding.
2) Much easier and quicker to line up pieces as you know exactly where the blade kerf is.

I make mine out of scrap plywood and replace them as needed. If you do a lot of angle work they'll get chewed up pretty quickly.
good luck,
JeffD