Does this look safe to you?

[Ajax]

Agreed.  It's safer to have your hand holding the piece against a stationary fence and moving the blade to the workpiece versus the other way (think of freehanding a small piece on a tablesaw...nightmare...ER visit guaranteed).

I made an idiot mistake last week while rushing to patch up a decayed door frame.  I held a very small piece of oak against the fence of my cheap Craftsman sliding mitersaw.  The piece kicked back and shot out like a rocket.  It almost dragged my hand into the blade.  After it happened I realized how stupid my mistake was.  I know from experience on my Kapex that small pieces must be cut with patience and care.  I had a small cut on my hand (where the wood split during kickback) but my ego was far more damaged.  I knew that in my haste I discarded all common sense and experience.  Woodworking should never be rushed. 

 

[jmbfestool]

I personally see nothing wrong with what he did in the video.

As mentioned i would feel safer bringing the blade towards to material.

The way he had his hand if the wood caught it would simply fly off and his thumb would just drop down onto the table top.

When i cutt small stuff i always think if this would suddenly jam up would it pull my hand in.
Would I instinctively try and keep hold of it in this position and so would cause my hand to be drawn into the blade.

If I believe it will ...I position my hand/s so im naturally away so the material should slip away out of my hand if it jammed up.

 

[GhostFist]

I own this saw. That's obviously a demo but the pull feature on this or say the festool equivalence issue incredibly safe.  He was pulling the saw rather quickly but this is something you control. Can you make that silly piece as easily with a mitersaw or a traditional table saw? My feeling is that this saw is both safer and more precise than either. I currently don't even own a miter saw.

 

[Jimdude]

It ~is~ unsafe. He's not risking his thumb though; it's the dangling lanyard that gives me the creeps...

 

[AlexThePalex]

It ~is~ unsafe. He's not risking his thumb though; it's the dangling lanyard that gives me the creeps...

Hadn't even noticed the lanyard. That's very unsafe indeed.

 

[MGB]

As a professional in a production environment. That is not standard practice IMO.

I would rather risk stuffing my hand into a router than a table saw any day.

I know its a demo, but you could easily make all those chamfers before you cut the piece 1.5" long.

 

[Kev]

Being critical .. a trade show or tool show is a good opportunity to demonstrate safe practice. A novice could watch that fellow and go home and cut his hand off trying to be "just as clever" [sad]

 

[Holmz]

Being critical ..
... A novice could watch that fellow and go home and cut his hand off trying to be "just as clever" [sad]

"Sharia Saw"... [eek]

 

[wrightwoodwork]

Simple rules if you don't believe something to be safe don't do. Just because someone else does doesn't mean other have to

 

[GhostFist]

And nobody buys this saw to make dice......if you do you have other problems. Lanyard is bad though