How to Make Safer, Better Cuts on a Miter Saw

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Never Cross Your Arms

Sorry, lefties, but most miter saws are designed for right-handed users, meaning the saw is operated with the right hand and the material held down with the left. But sometimes the material will have to be held down on the right side of the blade. On those occasions, it’s tempting to still use your right hand to operate the saw, but doing so will cause your left hand to cross in front of the path of the blade—that’s bad. It will feel weird, but in this situation, use your left hand to operate the saw and your right to secure the material. Our expert knows carpenters who have ignored this advice and have the scars on their arms to prove it.

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Cut Wide Boards With the Best Side Down

Splinters and tear-outs occur where the blade breaks through the wood. That’s the bottom side when plunge-cutting narrow boards, so it’s best to cut narrow boards with the “show” side face up. But when you’re cutting wider material on a sliding saw, you’ll pull the blade toward you, lower the blade and then push it forward as you cut. In that process, splintering will occur on the top of the board, so cut with the board face down.