You must remain alert and follow all miter saw safety precautions any time you are working with a good miter saw.
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The safety features on your power tools, including a miter saw, are there to help protect you from injury. The following safety tips will help you find a miter saw with the latest and greatest safety features.
6 Safety tips for working with miter saws
Blade Guards
A blade guard is one of the most important safety features on any miter saw. This guard covers the outer edge of the blade. As the blade touches the wood, the guard lifts up. Blade guards can either be transparent or opaque. Transparent guards allow you to see where the blade is hitting, which many woodworkers find beneficial.
Safety Clamps
Safety clamps are one of the most important miter saw safety features when it comes to making cuts with your miter saw. Safety clamps help to secure the wood while cutting. If the wood slips during a cut, it can cause injury. Safety clamps or vise can prevent this from occurring.
They help to keep your material in one fixed location which allows you to make your miter cuts without worrying about the wood flying out from the saw. It will also ensure that each of your cuts is precise, even and smooth.
Lockout Triggers
This safety feature prevents the saw from accidentally being turned on. In order to turn your saw on, you will need to turn on the switch and depress the safety lockout trigger. Only then will the saw blade turn and you will be able to make your cuts.
The Electric Brake
Some miter saws have an electric brake; however, this safety feature is not found on all of them. If you are concerned about safety, this is one feature you should make sure that your miter saw has.
This causes the blade to stop rotating as soon as you let go of the safety trigger. When the miter saw’s blade is spinning, it spins at thousands of revolutions per minute.
Without an electric brake, the blade can continue spinning which can be a safety issue. With an electric brake, the saw will stop spinning in a few seconds, rather than a minute or longer.
Dust Extraction
Most miter saws do not have an effective dust collection system. A dust collection system is very important when you are cutting materials. This will prevent sawdust from flying up into your eyes, mouth and ears which can be dangerous.
If your miter saw has a dust bag, learn how to attach a shop vac to the miter saw for an effective dust extraction system. In addition to protecting you against flying debris, an extraction system can lengthen the life expectancy of your miter saw. Finally, sawdust can create a fire hazard if it is not removed from the miter saw.
Extension Cords
The last thing that you should consider when it comes to safety is extension cords. An extension cord does not come standard with a miter saw; however, most people will use an extension cord at one time or another. For safety sake, you should ensure that your extension cord is compatible with your miter saw.
Different extension cords can handle different current loads. To avoid a fire, make sure that the extension cord is rated to handle the amperage load of your miter saw. Finally, check to make sure that the number of prongs on your miter saw matches the extension cord.
Typically, a miter saw will have a ground plug (the bottom round prong on your miter saw’s power cord). If your miter saw has this prong, make sure that your extension cord has the correct number of holes to match your prong.
Miter Saw Safety Video
Wrapping up the miter saw safety rules
Hearing protection can prevent your ears from being damaged by the sounds of the saw running. You should also be aware of what you wear in the workshop. Wear tight-fitting clothing and remove any jewelry that can get caught in the saw. Finally, keep your work area clean to prevent accidents.
