I’m embarrassed to be writing this. I have an Incra miter gauge on my SawStop. More than once I have moved the miter gauge to the other side of the blade and failed to slide the Incra fence away from the blade on the miter gauge. This results in the Incra fence contacting the blade. It’s an expensive mistake, with or without a SawStop. It’s not that noticeable with the fence at 45 degrees. Plus, my focus is on the leading edge of the workpiece and where the cut will be made.
I have only done this when cutting miters on both ends of a piece, never when first mounting the Incra on the saw. I move it because I’m doing something like a clamshell trim which is not flat on both faces (otherwise I could flip the piece over after rotating it). Besides paying closer attention and not being stupid, does anyone have suggestions for preventing this?
I’d like to attach something to the miter or the saw to prevent moving it without adjusting the fence. It needs to not interfere with a cut and not create a safety hazard. I’m considering a wooden miter bar in the unused slot, maybe orange, so I have to move it (swap sides with the Incra) as a reminder.
BTW – I have the Incra 1000SE and just love it for accuracy, making small changes to the angle of a miter, and repeatability. The SawStop works as advertised putting just a small nick in the aluminum fence.
Thanks for any tips.
Replies
I like your orange miter bar idea.
Or, you could buy a completely different miter gauge and dedicate it for use on the right side. Maybe a different model Incra than you already have or maybe another manufacturer. Just so they don't look identical.
Mike
I had not thought of two miter gauges. I'm going to consider that in the long term. Thanks for the input.
Maybe lock a MagSwitch down next to the opposite miter slot? (they're great to have anyway..)
I keep a small block magnet in the slot not being used, it sits below the table and forces a moment of thought when I try to use the other side. I move it back and forth as needed.
The magnet and Magswitch are better suggestions than my orange miter bar because I can store them on the miter gauge. Thanks for both replys.
One day I removed the Incra miter gauge from the router table to make a crosscut on the table saw, failing to reset the fence length on the gauge. As you can see from photo 1, Sawstop detected the metal and did what it was programed to do -- immediately stop without hesitation. My solution to that shocking experience was to tape a reminder in the recess of the gauge. Of course, the operator still has to read and heed the warning.
I have the same setup, but haven't made that mistake yet. My tip won't prevent this from happening, but maybe provide a visual cue to help remember: take a red sharpie and draw a wide line directly on the table from the front of the blade to the front of the saw. Renew as necessary. Anytime I cant see the line because of the gauge, I know I'm wrong.
In woodworking, particularly for someone like me with attention issues, you're going to screw up. But after thinking for a minute an coming up with a list of ideas, I realize that none of them are right. There's only one piece of advice you should follow above everything else, and it's harsh.
"...paying closer attention and not being stupid..."
Have a routine every time you make a cut.
Know that the fence will not hit the blade before you push, not just what miter track the gauge is in.
If you push an incorrectly positioned fence into a blade, you have made a safety mistake.
If you use a trick to make sure the gauge is in the right slot, you are not working safely. You're shortcutting safety. There are too many reasons why this could fail.
You can follow that advice, and you owe it to yourself to do so.
Paying attention to your safety on every single device should be a priority above getting the right cut or a fast cut. Yes, the SawStop might cost you no more than a nick and a new brake, but you won't always be using a SawStop, you might have to turn off the brake on the Sawstop anyway. Failing at the wrong time can cost you more.
We all fail at safety. These devices are complicated. There's nothing to be ashamed of if you use this to get better. You're asking how to fix this so you're trying. But you have to know that there's no cheat that's good enough if you don't know where the fence is in relation to the blade on every cut.
Slow down. If the saw is running, stop it before you but the gauge on. If you could have a gauge in the wrong place and push then you have not looked at the relation of the wood and the fence to the blade.
If you have removed the gauge from the table, the position may have changed even if the gauge is locked into place. Gauges can get loose. You may have forgotten how you used it (particularly if you ever switch sides intentionally). It's not hard to slide a gauge past a stopped blade when you put it in.
You need to know before you push that the cut is safe. Anything else is not good enough. You deserve better.
I'd like to thank everyone for suggestions. The magnet is far better than my miter bar idea, simple and a good reminder. I can't move the miter gauge without hitting it. Photo attached.
While I agree completely that paying attention and having a set procedure come first, it's always good to have a backup. That's why our car ignition switches don't work in gear, 220 and 110 plugs are different, there are guards on sawblades, and why some equipment has two buttons to activate (one hand on each button). That's partly why SawStop exists. We can't make things idiot proof, but we can reduce risk.
The administrative measures such as labels and instructions and warnings are the least effective safety measures. First comes the elimination of the risk, which Sawstop does . Then engineering measures such as using dedicated miter gauges for each side of the blade with a fence that cannot be extended to touch the blade and a unique track for each , guards also fit this category. Then personal protective equipment, then administrative measures.
Points well-made and taken regarding administrative versus engineering measures. I can work on my human behavior, but I don't have a way to create unique tracks or otherwise eliminate risk.
Is this thinking incorrect?
Suppose my chance of error with the fence is 1 in 1000 (easy, made-up
number for math). Now I add a magnet which must be physically moved as opposed to a label which I would not read. Now suppose I forget the magnet or otherwise ignore it 1 time out of 20. This should reduce my risk of error to about 1 in 20,000. I know it's probably not that much reduction because the 1 in 1000 and the 1 in 20 are not independent. Distractions and personal issues would increase both just as paying attention and being methodical would reduce both.
While not a personal injury issue, I use a written checklist with about 12 points (machine zeroing, bit, board placement, etc) on it before starting a cut on my cnc. This forces me to be methodical and it has greatly reduced mistakes. Yes, I could forget to use the checklist. The magnet is similar.
Again, your points are right on. In my original post I was hoping someone would have an engineering solution.
The statistical approach is a very good one, I have used it a lot with great success. The 1/1000 probability you first estimated could be relatively easy to assess with more precision. How many times have you forgot to retract the guide divided by the number of times you have used it on the left side, I think the probability will increase . The magnet reminder is an excellent measure but as you wrote, it can be forgotten, 1/20 sounds fair as a preventive method, and is a large risk reduction. As I think of an engineered solution stay safe.
This may sound a bit simple
(perfect for my brain) but what I do when switching my miter gauge from one side to the other is shut off the saw, make the switch, and run the miter gauge up past the blade to make sure it clears. Then I cut.
How do I remember to do this? I look at the slot in my incra put there by a saw blade when I failed to do this. It's a clean, partially cut slot that is a constant reminder to wake up and slow down. I don't own a saw stop, so I didn't destroy the blade or get a new brake. But I did learn to slow down and pay attention.
And I'll bet you and I are not the only two people to experience this. Sorry it happened. Thanks for sharing.
Haaaaa...why do you think I have a magnet in the miter slot?
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