Very sorry the accident happened. I also bought a china miter saw similar to Makita. Although I'm a trained metal machinist and aware of the importance of workpiece clamping securely before cutting, you reminded me of the danger and yes the 45 degree opening is a danger and I have seen another RUclipsr adding another piece of plywood to the fence to prevent tearout but now it is a good idea to prevent the work piece from pulling towards the gap. Very appreciative of your sharing your unfortunate accident to remind us all about the danger. Thank you and wish you a speedy recovery of your hand function. 🙏
Thank you for your kind words. My hand is continually healing and gaining strength but my range of motion is still an issue. However I am grateful that I didn’t loose any fingers.
I’m also recovering from a shop accident (motorcycle slipped off the lift and smashed my hand). 6 weeks in a cast and another couple weeks in a brace just like yours. I didn’t sever my tendons but they locked up solid and I’m doing the same exercises as you. BE PATIENT! The physical therapy and recovery take a long time. Be thankful, your fingers are still attached to your hand. Try to accept your hand will likely not be 100% again, but real close. Glad you’re on the mend.
Wow that sounds painful. Thanks for the advice on being patient with the therapy and healing process. I’m sure it’s going to take some getting used to a new norm. Thanks!
I'm sorry that this happened to you, and I'll be praying for your speedy recovery. Thank you for sharing this with us. It will go a long way in my efforts to be as safe as I can when using dangerous tools.
Oh wow!!! I know little about woodworking, but what you tried would have seemed reasonable to me. I wasn't quite clear exactly what happened. It sounded like you said it didn’t have a fence in the back, so the saw pulled it in when it hit a weird angle or suddenly a much deeper cut? Also, I was interested to hear that it almost sounded like the tourniquet hurt more than the cuts! But wow. I’ve cut myself in very dumb ways recently with kitchen knives and now I have scars to remind myself to use a cutting board! 🤦♂️ I hope your rehabilitation is going well.
Take ample rest and follow the treatment plan... i will pray for your speedy recovery ❤... Thank you for sharing this.... gentle reminders like these are essential to ensure i dont go cloud 9 in overconfidence....
you will get good range of movement if you keep working it. I took a big chunk out of the heal of my hand with an old jointer when i was 13 , 59 now but they pulled my hand in a cone shape stiched it up with 93 stiches and it took me several weeks to open my hand after removing them. glad your going to be ok.
Yikes that would be a nightmare experience. Hand injury stories always make me cringe but sharing them does help in knowing that I’m not alone in this experience. Thanks for the encouragement!
Most compound miter saws will have that angled fence to allow for tilting of the saw. However, if as in your case, you don't intend to angle it, you could use a piece of plywood screwed/bolted to the fence. It would most likely also allow you to have a taller fence. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
I did mount a 1/2 Baltic Birch plywood fence on that saw awhile ago and another kickback broke it off. Again there’s just not enough support to back it up. That Makita saw is not good for working branch wood. Thank you for the recovery well wishes!
So sorry you had such a terrible accident. Hope you have a speedy recovery. I don’t think it was the blade or the saw. I’ve used many different miter saws over the years and it doesn’t matter if it’s a slider or conventional they all have a tendency to grab the wood and lift it upwards if the piece isn’t flat against the fence and table at the same time. If the workpiece is warped or curved that’s when it gets sketchy. You probably should consider a different tool for what you’re doing. Save the miter saw for flat and square stock.
Thank you for your comments. I agree completely that the miter saw should only be used for flat and squared stock and moldings as it was designed to do. Wood is often unpredictable when moisture content, tension and various properties are factored in. Going forward, I will always approach my “green” woodworking projects with the tools that are best suited for that.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I've done cuts like this multiple times and I had no idea about the danger I was putting myself into. One thing I was curious about... isn't there a way to hold the material in place with a clamp so you don't have to use your hand?
Yes, I have this saw and it comes with a clamp that engages behind the fence. But also, would have a hard time holding something irregularly shaped such as this log.
Yes there is a clamp to hold material down but in this case I think it would still have kicked back. The slightest shift in a short irregular piece like I was cutting would have grabbed it. Only benefit in that scenario is my hand would not have been cut but flying chunks of wood can be just as bad. The temptation is to do a quick cut with minimal set up. In these cases it’s best to use hand tools. Just don’t do what I did, getting away with it a few times isn’t worth it. Even if you always “get away” with it it is a bad habit that someone else might copy.
Dang dude, that’s a heck of an injury. Hopefully you get back to “normal” by the end of October. I gotta say, it makes me feel better that “old timers” like you still make mistakes and hurt yourself. If that makes sense. They’re always a lesson for the rest of us. I cut myself whittling this weekend and I needed 6 stitches. Could’ve been a lot less bad had I worn a glove, but NO, I knew better. Speedy recovery, my friend
Hey thanks for the well wishes. We never out grow our need for being cautious. My only hope in sharing my experience is that no one else would ever have to go through this kind of thing. And to remind myself be safe not let this happen again.
Perhaps I should have had an 80 tooth on that saw instead of the 40 tooth that came with the saw when I bought it. Still I would not do that same cut the same way again even with an 80 tooth blade.
I use mostly Japanese tools and I wouldn't use anything else because of the fun, joy, and pleasure of using Japanese tools. Besides not using tools for what they were not intended for, in my opinion you have to have a respect that goes beyond just practical reasons. These tools will draw blood from you or someone else if you don't offer some respect.
Thanks for sharing Tim - wish you a speedy recovery and many more happy days in the shop.
Thank you!
Very sorry the accident happened. I also bought a china miter saw similar to Makita. Although I'm a trained metal machinist and aware of the importance of workpiece clamping securely before cutting, you reminded me of the danger and yes the 45 degree opening is a danger and I have seen another RUclipsr adding another piece of plywood to the fence to prevent tearout but now it is a good idea to prevent the work piece from pulling towards the gap. Very appreciative of your sharing your unfortunate accident to remind us all about the danger. Thank you and wish you a speedy recovery of your hand function. 🙏
Thank you for your kind words. My hand is continually healing and gaining strength but my range of motion is still an issue. However I am grateful that I didn’t loose any fingers.
I’m also recovering from a shop accident (motorcycle slipped off the lift and smashed my hand). 6 weeks in a cast and another couple weeks in a brace just like yours. I didn’t sever my tendons but they locked up solid and I’m doing the same exercises as you. BE PATIENT! The physical therapy and recovery take a long time. Be thankful, your fingers are still attached to your hand. Try to accept your hand will likely not be 100% again, but real close. Glad you’re on the mend.
Wow that sounds painful. Thanks for the advice on being patient with the therapy and healing process. I’m sure it’s going to take some getting used to a new norm. Thanks!
Thank you for your encouragement. Healing will take time, therapy and lots of hand exercises to be sure.
I'm sorry that this happened to you, and I'll be praying for your speedy recovery. Thank you for sharing this with us. It will go a long way in my efforts to be as safe as I can when using dangerous tools.
Thank you for the encouragement. My purpose in sharing my accident is to help others to stay safe in the shop.
Oh wow!!! I know little about woodworking, but what you tried would have seemed reasonable to me. I wasn't quite clear exactly what happened. It sounded like you said it didn’t have a fence in the back, so the saw pulled it in when it hit a weird angle or suddenly a much deeper cut? Also, I was interested to hear that it almost sounded like the tourniquet hurt more than the cuts!
But wow. I’ve cut myself in very dumb ways recently with kitchen knives and now I have scars to remind myself to use a cutting board! 🤦♂️ I hope your rehabilitation is going well.
Thanks Amos. Yes the workpiece I was cutting was unsupported and it shifted mid cut. Quantum physics took over after that.
I'm glad you had what you needed when you needed it. I hope you don't need it again.
Me too. But I never want to use again that’s for sure.
Take ample rest and follow the treatment plan... i will pray for your speedy recovery ❤...
Thank you for sharing this.... gentle reminders like these are essential to ensure i dont go cloud 9 in overconfidence....
Thank you for your prayers. Much appreciated! Stay safe.
you will get good range of movement if you keep working it. I took a big chunk out of the heal of my hand with an old jointer when i was 13 , 59 now but they pulled my hand in a cone shape stiched it up with 93 stiches and it took me several weeks to open my hand after removing them. glad your going to be ok.
Yikes that would be a nightmare experience. Hand injury stories always make me cringe but sharing them does help in knowing that I’m not alone in this experience. Thanks for the encouragement!
Most compound miter saws will have that angled fence to allow for tilting of the saw. However, if as in your case, you don't intend to angle it, you could use a piece of plywood screwed/bolted to the fence. It would most likely also allow you to have a taller fence. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
I did mount a 1/2 Baltic Birch plywood fence on that saw awhile ago and another kickback broke it off. Again there’s just not enough support to back it up. That Makita saw is not good for working branch wood. Thank you for the recovery well wishes!
Hey, mend soon Tim. I never did like Makita chop saws.
Every woodworker should have 1st Aid kits to handle this kind of injury. May your new tourniquet never get opened.
best of luck with the recovery! just in case, don’t neglect gentle exercises for the Extensors as well
Good advise.
So sorry you had such a terrible accident. Hope you have a speedy recovery. I don’t think it was the blade or the saw. I’ve used many different miter saws over the years and it doesn’t matter if it’s a slider or conventional they all have a tendency to grab the wood and lift it upwards if the piece isn’t flat against the fence and table at the same time. If the workpiece is warped or curved that’s when it gets sketchy. You probably should consider a different tool for what you’re doing. Save the miter saw for flat and square stock.
Thank you for your comments. I agree completely that the miter saw should only be used for flat and squared stock and moldings as it was designed to do. Wood is often unpredictable when moisture content, tension and various properties are factored in. Going forward, I will always approach my “green” woodworking projects with the tools that are best suited for that.
I hope you're feeling better soon! We'll be glad to see you back but please take your time to heal
Thank you for sharing your experience. I've done cuts like this multiple times and I had no idea about the danger I was putting myself into. One thing I was curious about... isn't there a way to hold the material in place with a clamp so you don't have to use your hand?
Yes, I have this saw and it comes with a clamp that engages behind the fence. But also, would have a hard time holding something irregularly shaped such as this log.
Yes there is a clamp to hold material down but in this case I think it would still have kicked back. The slightest shift in a short irregular piece like I was cutting would have grabbed it. Only benefit in that scenario is my hand would not have been cut but flying chunks of wood can be just as bad. The temptation is to do a quick cut with minimal set up. In these cases it’s best to use hand tools. Just don’t do what I did, getting away with it a few times isn’t worth it. Even if you always “get away” with it it is a bad habit that someone else might copy.
Dang dude, that’s a heck of an injury. Hopefully you get back to “normal” by the end of October.
I gotta say, it makes me feel better that “old timers” like you still make mistakes and hurt yourself. If that makes sense. They’re always a lesson for the rest of us. I cut myself whittling this weekend and I needed 6 stitches. Could’ve been a lot less bad had I worn a glove, but NO, I knew better.
Speedy recovery, my friend
Hey thanks for the well wishes. We never out grow our need for being cautious. My only hope in sharing my experience is that no one else would ever have to go through this kind of thing. And to remind myself be safe not let this happen again.
That's sucks man, I run an 80tooth blade on my mitre saw, don't know why but it's a smoother cut and doesn't kick as much cutting branch wood....
Perhaps I should have had an 80 tooth on that saw instead of the 40 tooth that came with the saw when I bought it. Still I would not do that same cut the same way again even with an 80 tooth blade.
I use mostly Japanese tools and I wouldn't use anything else because of the fun, joy, and pleasure of using Japanese tools. Besides not using tools for what they were not intended for, in my opinion you have to have a respect that goes beyond just practical reasons. These tools will draw blood from you or someone else if you don't offer some respect.
Point taken. Thank you for your comments.
Get CAT to sponsor you.
If it weren’t such a pain I’d think about it.