"-MIKE-" wrote in message
...
On 10/15/12 6:11 AM, dadiOH wrote:
Roy wrote:

The problem is that a RAS will come to you (yes, I have one, too).

I was taught to pull the cutter head forward, insert and align the
board, turn on the saw, then PUSH the saw to make the cut. It will
never try to climb over the board to get you if you make your cuts
that way, just remember to keep your pinkies out of the way. Having
said that, I must admit I don't do this _every_ time, and I have at
least 5 degrees negative hook on my blade to help cut down on the
climb issue in those instances. Negative hook makes a big distance
in how aggressive the cutter head can be if you cut on the pull
stroke.

Unless your blade is rotating opposite to everyone elses, your saw won't
try
to climb regardless of the hook when you push rather than pull. What it
will do is try to lift the workpiece and pull it up and away from the
fence.
IOW, someone taught you wrong.


I agree. I think whoever taught that was (from fear) inventing a
solution to a problem that doesn't exist, and in the process, made it
more dangerous.

My suggestion is to never use a tool that makes you that afraid to use
it. Caution is a good thing to have around power tools, but fear is not.

This horse get revived and beat to death over and over again, but the
bottom line is that a RAS is no more inherently dangerous than any other
saw... possibly less so.

In order to be used safely, every power saw should be of good quality,
be set up/tuned up properly, have a quality, sharp blade, appropriate
for its use, and be used with proper, safe technique.

Another important part of the picture is how to cut wood that is not
completely straight. The board must lie flat on the table and be supported
at the stop, or fence, at the point where the board goes through the wood.
There is a way to turn every piece to satisfy that condition. If not, the
motor can jump or bind just as the last bit of wood is being cut.
--
Jim in NC