Caution When Making small Cut-Offs w/Blade Guard

[MBG]

Maybe everyone already knows this but I had a incident last night while cross cutting face-joined panel made of various hardwoods. I was using the Shark-Guard and was getting prepared to make several 1-1/4" wide cuts from the panel (for WOOD magazines end grain cutting board).

My first cut was to clean the end of the panel (the individual boards were not in perfect alignment). While making the cut the waste was trapped in the blade guard and the side of the guard must have pinched the cut-off against the blade and I had several small chunks of walnut, cherry, and hard maple violently bouncing around inside my Shark.

I've had this happen before on rare occasions but usually the cut off just bounces around a little. Lesson learned - if the cut off doesn't extend beyond the edge of the blade guard then this type of cut is best done w/o the blade guard in place.

Mike

[gsmittle]

Sounds to me like the Shark was doing it's job--trapping the little pieces so they couldn't become shrapnel.

Myself, I don't like cutting w/o the Shark unless I have to.

Home sick from work today; that means no shop time

g.

[Anna]

Shouldn't you be using a DC or shopvac on the Shark to suck up the small pieces that come loose?

Just wondering.

[MBG]

Shouldn't you be using a DC or shopvac on the Shark to suck up the small pieces that come loose?

Just wondering.

I did have my DC attached to the Shark but luckily the pieces were too large to be sucked up - might have damaged my DC's impeller.

Sounds to me like the Shark was doing it's job--trapping the little pieces so they couldn't become shrapnel.

Myself, I don't like cutting w/o the Shark unless I have to.

Home sick from work today; that means no shop time

g.

Yes and no. W/O a blade guard the pieces would not have had a chance to be broken up. (Sick from work - hope you feel better, but, why does that mean no shop time?)