Sliding Miter Saw… forward or backward?
Hi. I just signed in and this is my first post…
I just purchased a Makita IS0714 Sliding Miter Saw and am 100% satisfied with the product. I have been in the cabinet business for 12 years. I slowly got into the custom picture framing business in 1982… almost 30 years. In the cabinet business i used an electric miter saw quite a bit. In the custom framing business, i purchased a 14″ Ledsome Air Hydraulic Double Miter Saw. After using it for a few weeks, someone offered me a decent amount for my used miter saws (i had two of ’em), so i took the offer. After all, in the picture framing business, with a double miter saw, what use would i have for one? I was wrong. Each time i needed to crosscut a board, i used my table saw. My double miter saw ONLY cut 45’s. A couple of weeks ago i decided to purchas a good miter saw. I read feedbacks on several miter saws. The best feedback was on Makita IS0714 AND on a couple of others. I decided to get the Makita. While i was waiting for the delivery, i searched YouTube to see one in action. Most videos showed the cuts being made, in what i call reverse! Instead of putting the board down and pulling in toward you, like i have always done in the past, they were PULLING THE MITER SAW TOWARDS THEM, SLIDE THE BOARD IN PLACE AND PUSH THE MITER SAW AWAY FROM THEMSELVES TO MAKE THE CUT! Why do people do this? What is the purpose? I doubt there is an advantage of doing this. I would like your feedback. Thanks. ajh
Replies
push vs. pull
"Pull" cuts are appropriate for radial arm saws, but not for sliding miter saws. Because of the different angle on the teeth of a sliding miter saw blade, a pull cut can result in a kickback, or the blade riding up on the material and racing toward the operator. For narrow material, a "chop" cut may be appropriate, after locking the sliding mechanism. The instructions for the saw usually cover how the cut should be made.
push vs. pull
I had noticed the same thing when I watched a video of a sliding miter saw.It seems if you wanted to pull it you would need to put the blade in backwards.I am not sure that would work. I know if you want to cut sheet metal with your skil saw you turn you rip blade backwards and you cut the sheet metal with no problem.
Reversing the blade is not a good option, since the blade isn't designed to cut that way. You could easily end up with the carbide teeth breaking off and flying in your direction. Worse, surgeons have a terrible time finding them inside your body. It's much better to use the proper blade.
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