...and it happened!

[mastercabman]

Couple days ago,i was installing a set of cabinets and i was cutting the under cabinet molding.The designer/homeowner put cabinets tight against some casing so i had to cut/cope/fit the trim to it.I had to do the crown molding also.
As i was trying to cut one pcs,on the Kapex,i guess i was not holding the piece good enough,so it kicked back really hard and broke some of the upper blade guard at the back.
One small piece broke off,so i saved it and now trying to glue it back on.I hope it holds.

 

[justinmcf]

looks nasty.

must have been a good old kick back to have made a crack like that.

is the saw still cutting true?

justin.

 

[mastercabman]

I think the saw is still good.I did finish the job with no problem.I just checked the part that i just glued and seems to be pretty strong.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I think I would have had to change my shorts before I finished the job. 
Glad to hear you and the saw and both ok.

I think there is room for improvement in how miter saws work, especially with small pieces on a bevel.  Maybe some Festool engineer is working on it now??

 

[Kevin D.]

Glad to hear you're OK.

What kind of glue did you use?

 

[mastercabman]

Glad to hear you're OK.

What kind of glue did you use?

I used an 2 parts epoxy for plastic.Got it from the "big orange box"  I think it's made by Locktite.

BTW yes i still have 10 fingers!!  Thanks  [laughing]

 

[AlexThePalex]

i guess i was not holding the piece good enough,

Festool advices that you should always use a clamp.

 

[Corwin]

...
BTW yes i still have 10 fingers!!  Thanks  [laughing]

You have ten fingers?  Well, better ten fingers than all thumbs.    [tongue]

 

[nickao]

Hehe, if I used a clamp every time I made a cut I would end up retiring on one job. Only with small pieces or certain angles or material do I clamp.  I suspect you knew ahead of time this was on of those"clamping" times. I use a clamp maybe once out of every 500 cuts or so on a miter saw.

Everyone does stupid stuff once in awhile, glad you are okay.  

 

[Brice Burrell]

I don't think this was necessarily a problem of not clamping.  This sort of thing seems to happen to a fair number of Kapex saws.  Hasn't happened to me......yet.

 

[justinmcf]

i've had similar kickbacks using other peoples makita, hitachi and dewalt saws.
i was not familiar with the saw and hence the kickback.

it certainly is a brown trouser moment when it happens to you...

justin.

 

[mastercabman]

I don't think this was necessarily a problem of not clamping.  This sort of thing seems to happen to a fair number of Kapex saws.  Hasn't happened to me......yet.

Maybe,maybe not,i think i was still moving the piece i was trying to cut(trying to rush!!) and it happened!!!!!!!!

 

[mastercabman]

Hehe, if I used a clamp every time I made a cut I would end up retiring on one job. Only with small pieces or certain angles or material do I clamp.  I suspect you knew ahead of time this was on of those"clamping" times. I use a clamp maybe once out of every 500 cuts or so on a miter saw.

Everyone does stupid stuff once in awhile, glad you are okay.  

Exactly!!!    I only clamp large/long pieces.

 

[peter halle]

I admit that I have a had a few pieces of wood go pinnnnnnng with my Kapex.  Usually when I raise the blade after the cut is done and the blade is not stopped.  Puckering is involved.

 

[peter halle]

I forgot to mention that I did pull Brian aside when I was at training for a week in July and explain my situation. He took the time to recreate the missile launch on a random Kapex in the training room.  Lift off was not achieved.  I couldn't make it happen either.  I ADMIT THAT I HAVE NOT FINE TUNED MY KAPEX SINCE I GOT IT and that I should.  That might have something to do with it.  I know mine needs a smidge of tweeking.

Since 1983 I have never had a miter saw cut as well as the Kapex.  I also have not had the projectiles prior.

I will tweek and see what happens.

Peter

 

[nickao]

Peter nailed it. A lot of times the kickback happens when the blade is coming up. Wait until the blade stops spinning before you bring the saw back up, you may get a better cut as well!

 

[Chuck Kiser]

In most cases the projectile piece is caused by not having a zero clearance insert for your miter saw. Prior to cutting these small pieces, take a piece of flat stock and clamp it to the miter saw table. Run the blade down to cut a kerf the angle you need. Presto, you are ready to cut small pieces with no missiles. Keeping the blade down until it stops is also a good idea. But when I'm on the job cutting all day that time adds up, and not in my favor.

 

[CABMEISTER]

Mr. Kiser hit it on the head ,Zero clearance.It will ,nine times out of ten get you if you are cutting either small or thin on any CMS . .
secure a right angled piece ,placed on the bed and the saw set to the correct depth of cut helps as well .

 

[mouppe]

Here is my kickback photo.

Router table. Bad technique. Bent steel. Brown trousers.

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