Miter Saw

This activity is listed as:

To start the process, please:

1. Check below to see that your use falls within guidelines
2. Develop a safety plan: MIT's 
3. Contact us to discuss your plan and use mit-making-at-home@mit.edu

Minimum required PPE and precautions (more may be required based on circumstance)

Most important safety considerations (issues, resources, advice, warnings)

• Tool specific:

  • Workpiece should be secured tightly against fence before cutting

  • When using a stop, secure the workpiece between the stop and the blade

  • Hold trigger until blade is completely clear of work piece

  • Cut and offcut should be fully supported before cutting

  • Keep hands out of path of the blade

  • When using a sliding miter saw, you should always cut down and in, not down and out. Spinning blade should always move back towards its housing while cutting.

• General:

  • Woodworking machines and tools shall not be used without the proper machine-specific training

  • Safety glasses must be worn, hearing protection should be worn with most power tool use.

  • No loose fitting and untucked clothes.  Tassels should be tied or tucked in.

  • Hair and beards should be tied back.

  • Do not wear gloves if the machine or tool has moving parts.

  • Use of powered machines and tools requires a buddy

  • Never use tools other than for their stated intention

  • Use care when operating machines or tools with high velocity and/or sharp parts

  • Never cut towards your own body. Your hand is a part of your body.

  • All appropriate guards that allow you to perform the desired action must be in place 

  • Ensure your setup has adequate dust collection

  • Unplug and control all cord powered tools before changing blades, or making adjustments to cutting tooling

  • Use water based finishes whenever possible. 

  • Always dispose of finishing implements properly by laying them flat on non-combustible surfaces to dry before disposal

Most important considerations in the use of the tool/technology (issues, resources, advice, warnings)

• Measure thrice, cut twice

Links or info about video/images and complementary or alternative tools/tech to consider

• Adhesives

• Paper/foam/cardboard

• Painting

• Interesting woodworker videos

  • https://www.youtube.com/user/6488jesse

• Miter saw safety

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVpmjX1DjmI 

Forms and contact information required to obtain approval to use this technology/tools

• Develop a safety plan: MIT's  (link)
• Q&A and Discussion (email)