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Safety Instructions for Miter Saw
Dress For Safety
Any power tool can throw foreign objects into the eyes. This can result in permanent eye damage.
Wear safety goggles (not glasses) that comply with ANSI Z87.1 (or in Canada CSA Z94-3-M88). Everyday
eyeglasses have only impact resistant lenses. They are not safety glasses. Safety goggles are available
at many local retail stores. Glasses or goggles not in compliance with ANSI or CSA could seriously hurt
you when they break.
Do not wear loose clothing , gloves, neckties or jewelry (rings, wrist watches). They can get caught and
draw you into moving parts.
• Wear nonslip footwear.
• Tie back long hair.
• Roll long sleeves above the elbow.
Inspect Your Workpiece
Plan your work to avoid thrown pieces caused if the workpiece binds on the blade and is torn from your
hands.
Never Cut Freehand:
• Cut only one workpiece at a time.
• Brace your workpiece solidly against the fence and Miter/Angle Guide so it will not rock or twist
during the cut.
• Make sure there’s no debris between the workpiece and its supports.
• Make sure no gaps between the workpiece, fence and Miter/Angle Guide will let the workpiece shift
after it is cut in two.
• Keep the cut off piece free to move sideways after it’s cut off. Otherwise it could get wedged
against the blade and could be thrown violently.
• Clear everything except the workpiece and related support devices off the table before turning the
miter saw on.
•
Secure Work
.
Use clamps or a vise to help hold the work when it’s practical.
Use extra caution with large, very small or awkward workpieces:
• Use extra supports (tables, saw horses, blocks, etc.) for any workpiece large enough to tip when
not held down to the table top.
• Never use another person as a substitute for a table extension, or as additional support for a
workpiece that is longer or wider than the basic miter saw table.
• Do not use this saw to cut pieces too small to let you easily hold the work. Thumbs should not be
closer to the blade than the outside edge of the fence.
• When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your work so it will not slip and pinch the blade
and be torn from your hands. A piece of molding, for example, must lie flat or be held by a fixture
or jig that will not let it twist, rock or slip while being cut.
• Properly support round material such as dowel rods, or tubing. They have a tendency to roll while
being cut, causing the blade to “bite.” To avoid this, always use a fixture designed to properly hold
your workpiece.
Whenever Saw Is Running
WARNING: Don’t allow familiarity (gained from frequent use of your miter saw) to cause a careless
mistake. A careless fraction of a second is enough to cause a severe injury.
• Before starting your cut, watch the miter saw while it runs. If it makes an unfamiliar noise or
vibrates a lot, stop immediately. Turn the saw off. Unplug the saw. Do not restart until finding
and correcting the problem.
