Kapex kick

[them700project]

I just finished a parquet top for a console table for my wife. it was made out of obnoxiously small and off angle pieces of pallet wood. As I was cutting these pieces the blade would catch the offcut and kick it.

I know this is user error. but how can I prevent this? Zero Clearence on fence?

 

[leakyroof]

On any Miter saw, small pieces can go flying.  A zero clearance fence can help.

 

[them700project]

I figured that may be my only real solution. The offcuts were my keepers and 1 out of every 10 or so would get pulled into the blade. 

 

[Cheese]

Make sure the blade is fully lowered into the cutting recess. Here's an earlier discussion.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/kapex-kickback-42394/msg416306/#msg416306

 

[Birdhunter]

Did the kick back happen as you were lifting the blade?

 

[Stone Message]

I just finished a parquet top for a console table for my wife. it was made out of obnoxiously small and off angle pieces of pallet wood. As I was cutting these pieces the blade would catch the offcut and kick it.

I know this is user error. but how can I prevent this? Zero Clearence on fence?

There are two things to do....

  1.  Zero clearance fence at the rear.

  2.  After a cut allow the saw blade to come to a halt before attempting to raise the motor arm. I appreciate that if you are doing tons of cuts in quick succession this seems like a pain but it will cure the problem. It also improves the cut faces.

As a matter of interest, I tried to include a piece about this in my recent video about zero clearance fences. I tried to do the demo of things flying by moving the two rear fences well apart and raising the blade - I did 10 cuts in a row and not one caught. I gave up and did not include it in the video.

Peter

 

[them700project]

I enjoyed that video Peter and will build your rear zero clearance pieces this weekend.

Another point is the off cut was not always making contact with the rear (as in I cut a 47degree right than a 2 degree left on the same piece while keeping offcut to the right If that makes sense)

 

[kevinculle]

You could rig up a hold down on the offcut side clamped to the fence and notched at the offcut end so the offcut runs under the notch to hold the offcut steady as you finish the cut.  When the workpiece is small enough the breeze from the blade can move it enough to cause contact with the blade and there she goes!

 

[waho6o9]

View attachment 1

HTH

 

[Stone Message]

Hi [member=46015]them700project[/member]

The post above from [member=60975]kevinculle[/member] is absolutely right. Those small pieces can get picked up by the draft from the spinning blade. If time is not critical, but the small offcuts are, then use some double sided tape to secure them to the surface below.

Peter

 

[them700project]

Draft seams like it could likely be the culprit. Pieces were as small as 1 1/2" x1 1/2" right triangles

I will start with zero clearance and move to some sort of hold down. Even if I just notch a scrap piece and use the kapex's hold down

 

[nickao]

When I see small parts flying it's virtually always the person not letting the blade stop before they lift the saw. It's very rare a piece flys out on the down stroke and it only happens on the down stroke when the material isn't flat to the table and stable and/or the  saw is brought down way to fast.

If your material is flat and pressed into the backstop and doesn't wiggle I am betting dropping the saw slowly, letting the blade stop 100% while its in the down position solves the issue without doing anything else.

 

[Doug S]

One method I use is to stop before I have cut right through and finish the cut by hand. You only need to leave an 1/8" and it's quicker then looking for the bit that has flown off or having to cut another because it got pulled in to the blade.

Doug

 

[Birdhunter]

I learned my lesson on letting the Kapex blade come to a complete stop before lifting the head. I have had zero flying pieces since adopting that rule.

 

[jaguar36]

My solution was to ditch the Kapex.

I spent a long time adjusting, checking and trying to find solutions and finally just gave up and got a Dewalt.  I was never able to figure out what was causing the kickback, but I've used numerous miter saws and have only ever had it continually be an issue with the Kapex.