Thread: Chop saws are powerful.........

I'm both stupid and blessed. I was cutting some 2x2 wood pieces to make some better internal braces for a cheapo wood cabinet I got for free in order to use the cabinet as a base for a workbench top.

Stupidly, I was cutting pieces that were too short which required me to clamp the piece by hand when making a 45 degree cut rather than having the piece long enough to be able to use the fence on both sides of the blade.

I was halfway through the cut and the small piece flew backward and was taken up between the carbide blade and the blade guard stopping the blade very quickly. I didn't realize until after I was inspecting that the wood block torqued the blade while in motion enough for the blade to actually cut into the metal blade guard before it stopped. I was shaken for a time after I realized what had happened.




Chris L

Oh man, that could have sucked BAD. Looks like you got off easy there. Glad to hear nobody was hurt.

cant tell much from the picks but I know my react when the chop saw sucks material away.

Originally Posted by kevint

cant tell much from the picks but I know my react when the chop saw sucks material away.

In the first picture if you look to the right side of the saw, you're looking at the outer shell of the metal blade guard; if you look closely, you can see how the blade cut far into the metal blade guard before stopping.

Yes, a very jarring experience.

Chris L

Man thats scarey, glad your ok.
Will the saw live to chop another day or is it toast?
G.

Boy your sure lucky that nothing else happened. I have a chop saw and the way it kicks out small pieces it's a wonder that nothing has happened.
Glad your ok .

Originally Posted by baldy

Man thats scarey, glad your ok.
Will the saw live to chop another day or is it toast?
G.

I'm not sure if it's toast at this point or not.

Chris L

Oh wow. Glad you're ok and it stopped where it did.

That reminds of of one time somebody was using a chop saw I was also using (two projects at once). The other person, somehow, managed to slice a 45 against the fence....went clear through the fence without even knowing it.

Cause this is what happened to me 2 weeks ago when I made a mistake that was not much less thoughtless than yours. I am truly happy that you were lucky, Chris.
I was less lucky, although things could have been much much worse.

It is in no way my intention to show off my injury. But I know that a lot of SRP-members are regularly using all kinds of power tools, and maybe my picture can help some of you realize what I forgot after 20 years of woodwork without any injury. That you must never neglect to take ALL precautions, even if it's just one a small 5 second job. Never work with power tools when tired. Never forget to take a step back and think again when you're about to start a saw (or a planer, in my case). If I had thought of those rules, I wouldn't have to write this post in the hope it can help someone else.

Kind regards,
Bart.

PS. Excuse me the stubbly appearance, the last stitches were only removed today. Shaving sucks with a finger in bandages that may not become wet.

Bart!!! My jaw was agape the entire time I was reading your post after seeing your picture! I'm very sorry about your accident. Wow. Sobering post is an understatement.

I'm not trying to find a cheerful lighthearted thing to say here; but I will say that I live in farming country and it seems as though I've lost count over the years of the number of people missing a fingertip or two or entire digits from farm related accidents. Even some of the women.

I hope you heal quickly, Bart.

Chris L