All my shop safety training said "Never use a fence and miter at the same time." when cutting a board. I was watching a Youtube video and I saw a guy on a large bandsaw using both as tho it was standard practice. I am sure it is not a big danger, like the circular saw, but

Is it a good practice? If so ......why?

I think it will be safe on a bandsaw as the blade is constantly pulling the wood down to the table.  

 

On a table saw, the back side of the blade is coming up from the table and sometimes will grab a board on that side causing the board to rise up and possibly kicking up.  If you wish to make the cut with consistent lengths and angles, clamp a short piece of wood to the fence.  Place that piece of wood at the front edge of the table.  Set your miter guage to the desire angle, then push your stock into the clamped piece of wood.  The stock should clear the clamped wood before entering the blade.  This will get consistent lengths and angles without binding or kickbacks.  That's just my thinking and opinion.  

I've never had a reason to do that, but I think Steve is right....it shouldn't be a safety problem.

I still wouldn't do it. Murphy lurks everywhere! If one needs consistant and, precise length cuts, there are better tools than a bandsaw...IMHO.

Edited July 24, 20215 yr by Gene Howe

If both the miter and the fence were on the same side of the blade it would be fine.  The cut off piece binding between the fence and the blade is where the trouble starts.  Guiding the cut off piece with the miter takes a lot of the danger factor away but like Gene said.  There are better ways to do it.

It seems like blade tracking could become an issue.

Hey Ron, can we get a link to the video, sounds like a stunt I'd pull.

I’m with Gene.  I’ve had a bandsaw cut and they aren’t real fun.

I have heard it's generally OK if you are not doing a thru cut (on a table saw).

 

I don't think it's so much a problem with a band saw as there is not the force nor kickback potential.

 

But then again, I normally use a variety of crosscut tables on a table saw and rarely use the miter gauge.

 

Edited July 24, 20215 yr by kmealy

generally speaking, if something sounds or looks unsafe, it probably is.  so don't do it.

 

i cringe every time i see some TV show and they have someone cutting lumber on a little table saw, blade raised way higher than needed (board thickness plus a half a tooth) and the blade guard is nowhere to be seen.  or free hand cross cutting.

 

"guards removed for photographic clarity"  BS.  show the right use of tools.  trust me, the blade will cut thru that board, or your finger, without you having to see the board do so.  use your safety equipment.

7 hours ago, John Morris said:

Hey Ron, can we get a link to the video, sounds like a stunt I'd pull.

 

I agree.  @Ron Altier I'd like to see the video too.  Sure would make it easier to critique.

9 hours ago, John Morris said:

Hey Ron, can we get a link to the video, sounds like a stunt I'd pull.

I looked for the link and had no luck. I'll do some more looking.

At no time was the use of both 

9 hours ago, John Morris said:

Hey Ron, can we get a link to the video, sounds like a stunt I'd pull.

I'm having trouble findiing it.     will look again tomorrow

2 hours ago, Ron Altier said:

I'm having trouble findiing it.     will look again tomorrow

 

If it was YouTube, go there and choose history from upper left column.  Shows what you recently watched.