A miter saw blade jammed on me while cutting Brazilian walnut for a deck in Tampa.

I was cutting a 45-degree bevel on a 2x6, and the blade bound up, kicking back and snapping the board. I shut everything down, checked the blade for pitch buildup, and realized I'd forgotten to account for the wood's extreme density. What's your go-to method for preventing kickback on really hard, oily woods?

2 comments

2 Comments

west.wendy23d ago

Is kickback even that big of a deal? I've had my miter saw buck on me a few times with ipe and it just makes me jump. As long as you're not standing in the line of fire and you keep a good grip, it's just a loud scare. My old boss used to say a little kickback keeps you awake and paying attention.

barnes.mary24d ago

Just send it full speed, that's what the brake is for. Kickback happens, it's part of the job.