When I was in shop class in the late 50s, our instructor empathized safety. His always said LOUDLY,  Never, Never use the fence and miter on the same cut. It can cause binding and kickback. Bad things happen.  I have never done that.  This evening I was watching  some YouTube videos on cutting boards and a guy was cutting up the pieces using the fence as stop for width and the miter to push the piece thru.  A definite NO NO by my old teachings. 

 

Has something changed to make this a safe procedure or Was he pushing safety a bit

often I use both of mine together. with a twist. I made a tennon straddle that I use as a stop block which gives me an additional room so cut-offs cannot get caught between the blade and fence

 

Things have not changed, well, one thing has.   Any idiot can post on the internet; quite a few do.

Not sure but, wouldn't the physics change for a wider piece like a cutting board. 

The cautions about not using the miter gauge in conjunction with the fence are so ingrained in me that I'd never do it but, how is using the miter gauge to cut a wide piece against the fence different than using pushers or hands?

I'd still use the block on the fence method, anyway.

I agree that is an accident waiting to happen. But I'll use the miter gauge and the fence together when the cut isn't a through cut....such as cutting a dado.

25 minutes ago, kmealy said:

Things have not changed, well, one thing has.   Any idiot can post on the internet; quite a few do.

Agreed!

I stay with the original do not use the full fence as it can cause binding.  My fences can slide back and forth as well as side to side.  So I can safely use the fence in the retraced (end of fence is 2" min behind blade) position.  Then no binding is possible.  Or just add a stop block and clamp to your stationary fence (retraced) and then the wood is not trapped in two planes.

The other thing that often happens in videos is they remove guards to show the work but should explain to never do that.   

He'll make another video on the proper way to do it after the accident.

2 hours ago, kmealy said:

Things have not changed, well, one thing has.   Any idiot can post on the internet; quite a few do.

So true - and there are others out there who since they saw it on the internet, it must be true

Stuff seen on YouTube, and the internet in general, cannot be relied on as gospel.

But then, there's the gene pool to consider.

43 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Stuff seen on YouTube, and the internet in general, cannot be relied on as gospel.

But then, there's the gene pool to consider.

 

I do believe that the gene pool needs a bit more chlorine.

Edited September 1, 20169 yr by Allen Worsham

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

Stuff seen on YouTube, and the internet in general, cannot be relied on as gospel.

But then, there's the gene pool to consider.

 I am not for getting rid of ALL of the idiots, but lets take some of the warning labels off everything and let nature take its course.

i cringe every time i see a show using a power tool with the safety equipment removed or disabled.

 

there are very few cuts that need to have the TS guard removed.  put it on, use it.  always.  taking 5 min to re-install your blade guard is far less time over your lifetime than having to spend many hours in the ER getting patched up and possibly the rest of your life missing some body parts you would like to use.

 

i got fed up with Wood Mag years ago, they ran a story about a lawsuit against a TS mfr.  some idiot got cut up on their TS, didn't use the guard (i think he was making a free hand cut), and won the case for many, many $$$$.  and in the same issue, they show someone making a cut on a TS (cross or rip)....with the guard removed....

 

show and discuss safe use of tools.  a little "guard removed for clarity" doesn't cut it.  there is not need to watch the blade on a rip cut.  watch the fence to maintain good contact.  the blade will cut, really.  on a cross cut, watch to ensure your piece doesn't slide as you cut it.  don't watch the blade, it will cut without being watched.

 

and whatever you do, do not try to flick away cutoffs while the blade is turning.  if they are in the way, hit the STOP button and wait for the blade to come to rest.

8 minutes ago, DAB said:

i cringe every time i see a show using a power tool with the safety equipment removed or disabled.

 

there are very few cuts that need to have the TS guard removed.  put it on, use it.  always.  taking 5 min to re-install your blade guard is far less time over your lifetime than having to spend many hours in the ER getting patched up and possibly the rest of your life missing some body parts you would like to use.

 

i got fed up with Wood Mag years ago, they ran a story about a lawsuit against a TS mfr.  some idiot got cut up on their TS, didn't use the guard (i think he was making a free hand cut), and won the case for many, many $$$$.  and in the same issue, they show someone making a cut on a TS (cross or rip)....with the guard removed....

 

show and discuss safe use of tools.  a little "guard removed for clarity" doesn't cut it.  there is not need to watch the blade on a rip cut.  watch the fence to maintain good contact.  the blade will cut, really.  on a cross cut, watch to ensure your piece doesn't slide as you cut it.  don't watch the blade, it will cut without being watched.

 

and whatever you do, do not try to flick away cutoffs while the blade is turning.  if they are in the way, hit the STOP button and wait for the blade to come to rest.

Sometimes they show the cut being made without the guard(s) for clarity. Most reputable people will state that upfront - Guard(s) removed for Clarity, Always use blade/bit guards, etc. But, on the other hand, sometimes they do not put out that disclaimer.

 

It is sort like what I see in my hunting magazines - a guy packing out the head of a monster buck or bull with the horns UP. It makes for a nice picture, especially when there is a backdrop of scenery in the photo, but they NEVER, EVER mention that you DO NOT PACK your animal head this way. That is just asking to get shot (either gun or bow) by some nose pickin', booger eating moron that does not take the time to identify EXACTLY what they are shooting at. 

monkey see, monkey do.  you don't have to teach the experts how to do it safely, you have to teach the novices how to do it safely.  if they see unsafe practices, and no one loses any blood, they figure it's ok to do likewise in their garage.