To stack cut-or not to stack cut. - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

wood-n-things · 09-30-2009, 12:18 AM

That is the question.

This morning started out as a fun morning. Brisk 45 degrees for my morning 1 mile walk around the neighborhood.

Then this afternoon I decided I really need to get those ornaments for the church started. Out to the shop, turn on air filtration. Start the cd player, gotta have tunes, dust mask, safety glasses.
Get table saw set up for continuous cuts of 3/16" plywood.

Got the plywood all set and thought to myself..You know cutting out 75 squares is going to be tedious....Why not stack cut them like I do on my scroll saw?

Got 4 pieces of plywood and ran them through lengthwise...ripping is a breeze. Got all the ripping done. This is going really fast.

Now the cross cutting...Now remember, place a spacer so I don't get the cross cut pieces bound. All set, miter gauge is dead on, fence is set with 1/2 inch spacer to prevent kick backs...Safety first...

Cut first stack of 4 and---- zing, bang-- bounce, careen off my left hand, off the wall and down to the other end of the room goes a hunk of 3/16" plywood 4" x 4" or there abouts..once I locate it I find it has a jagged corner that is way out of square...Shaking my hand and blue smoke curling under the garage/shop door..How stupid can I be.

Now with my left index finger in a splint, and x-rays taken, showing a broken finger. Thankfully no stitches even though the skin is broken----------------I'm here to tell you..

NEVER stack cut on your table saw!

You would think after all these years in the shop I'd quit experimenting...Dang I'm dumb.

KtownScroller · 09-30-2009, 12:27 AM

Sorry to hear about your accident Mike. I'll bet that broken finger doesn't feel too good right now. Thanks for the heads up. This is a good lesson for the rest of us to learn from. Glad to hear that you didn't cut anything off... other than wood.

Ocelot · 09-30-2009, 12:39 AM

Ooof. Sorry about the broken finger, but compared to what could happen on a table saw, I'm glad it wasn't worse. I've never tried stack cutting on mine and........Now I think I won't. Hope the finger doesn't keep you from cutting.

Ray

JohnB · 09-30-2009, 01:05 AM

G'day Mike,
a hard way to learn a lesson, but not a permanent injury, I'm glad to hear.

We all do stupid things from time to time, some are just more stupid than others, and outcomes vary widely.

Seriously, I'm glad you you're on the mend mate.

Sally · 09-30-2009, 01:30 AM

Oh Mike - I'm so sorry about your finger. Scary!! Take good care of yourself. Such a scary experience deserves -ICE CREAM!! Go treat yourself. And thanks for all the help with my puzzles.

wood-n-things · 09-30-2009, 01:55 AM

Thanks gang....another lesson learned..Ice Cream...that's the ticket...Oh Sue...have we got any Ice cream...<snivel>

marshall · 09-30-2009, 01:58 AM

Your like the rest of us , it want be the last wrong thing you do in your life , we all have those kind of days . Take care.............

Wood Dog · 09-30-2009, 02:05 AM

Sorry to read about your accident, and thanks for posting it. Makes us step back and remember safety first. I never even gave stack cutting on the table saw a thought, and now I certainly won't do it. Thanks for the info. Hope you don't have too much pain with the finger.

evilbadger · 09-30-2009, 03:38 AM

Mike

Sorry to hear about your rude awakening. Glad your mostly okay. I did that a few years ago and learned my lesson then. The ripping part is okay but the cross cut will get you.
If you have a miter saw you could stack cut them that way or setup a fence for the band saw. Don't try it on a radial arm saw either. (Go ahead ask me how I know this) LOL

Take care of yourself

Tim

lucky788scroller · 09-30-2009, 03:48 AM

I stack cut on my tablesaw often, and have never experienced anything like that.You must have done something different than I do.Then again, on my miter guage for crosscutting I have a hold-down on it that prevents the parts from binding. I set my fence 3/4 inch over from where I actually need my pieces cut, and use a small piece of 3/4th inch thick stock clamped to the front edge of the fence to butt the wood to, but it stops way before the blade enters my cut, then clamp the holddown, then cut. I hope everything heals up fine for ya!

09-30-2009, 12:18 AM	#1
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,471 Blog Entries: 1	To stack cut-or not to stack cut. That is the question. This morning started out as a fun morning. Brisk 45 degrees for my morning 1 mile walk around the neighborhood. Then this afternoon I decided I really need to get those ornaments for the church started. Out to the shop, turn on air filtration. Start the cd player, gotta have tunes, dust mask, safety glasses. Get table saw set up for continuous cuts of 3/16" plywood. Got the plywood all set and thought to myself..You know cutting out 75 squares is going to be tedious....Why not stack cut them like I do on my scroll saw? Got 4 pieces of plywood and ran them through lengthwise...ripping is a breeze. Got all the ripping done. This is going really fast. Now the cross cutting...Now remember, place a spacer so I don't get the cross cut pieces bound. All set, miter gauge is dead on, fence is set with 1/2 inch spacer to prevent kick backs...Safety first... Cut first stack of 4 and---- zing, bang-- bounce, careen off my left hand, off the wall and down to the other end of the room goes a hunk of 3/16" plywood 4" x 4" or there abouts..once I locate it I find it has a jagged corner that is way out of square...Shaking my hand and blue smoke curling under the garage/shop door..How stupid can I be. Now with my left index finger in a splint, and x-rays taken, showing a broken finger. Thankfully no stitches even though the skin is broken----------------I'm here to tell you.. NEVER stack cut on your table saw! You would think after all these years in the shop I'd quit experimenting...Dang I'm dumb. __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

09-30-2009, 12:27 AM	#2
KtownScroller So much better :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 2,662	Sorry to hear about your accident Mike. I'll bet that broken finger doesn't feel too good right now. Thanks for the heads up. This is a good lesson for the rest of us to learn from. Glad to hear that you didn't cut anything off... other than wood. __________________ - Rick

09-30-2009, 12:39 AM	#3
Ocelot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY Posts: 486	Ooof. Sorry about the broken finger, but compared to what could happen on a table saw, I'm glad it wasn't worse. I've never tried stack cutting on mine and........Now I think I won't. Hope the finger doesn't keep you from cutting. Ray __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t=bdee7145.pbw

09-30-2009, 01:05 AM	#4
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 4,859	G'day Mike, a hard way to learn a lesson, but not a permanent injury, I'm glad to hear. We all do stupid things from time to time, some are just more stupid than others, and outcomes vary widely. Seriously, I'm glad you you're on the mend mate. __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" I got holes in both of my shoes Well I'm a walking case of the blues Saw a dollar yesterday But the wind blew it away Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

09-30-2009, 01:55 AM	#6
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,471 Blog Entries: 1	Thanks gang....another lesson learned..Ice Cream...that's the ticket...Oh Sue...have we got any Ice cream...<snivel> __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

09-30-2009, 01:30 AM	#5
Sally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Renton WA Posts: 1,021	Oh Mike - I'm so sorry about your finger. Scary!! Take good care of yourself. Such a scary experience deserves -ICE CREAM!! Go treat yourself. And thanks for all the help with my puzzles.

09-30-2009, 01:58 AM	#7
marshall Just love Being Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jonesboro AR Posts: 2,106	Your like the rest of us , it want be the last wrong thing you do in your life , we all have those kind of days . Take care............. __________________ Usually busier than a cat in a sandbox !!!!!!!!!!! { Dewalt 788 only }

09-30-2009, 02:05 AM	#8
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,445	Sorry to read about your accident, and thanks for posting it. Makes us step back and remember safety first. I never even gave stack cutting on the table saw a thought, and now I certainly won't do it. Thanks for the info. Hope you don't have too much pain with the finger. __________________ WD

09-30-2009, 03:38 AM	#9
evilbadger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 314	Mike Sorry to hear about your rude awakening. Glad your mostly okay. I did that a few years ago and learned my lesson then. The ripping part is okay but the cross cut will get you. If you have a miter saw you could stack cut them that way or setup a fence for the band saw. Don't try it on a radial arm saw either. (Go ahead ask me how I know this) LOL Take care of yourself Tim

09-30-2009, 03:48 AM	#10
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	I stack cut on my tablesaw often, and have never experienced anything like that.You must have done something different than I do.Then again, on my miter guage for crosscutting I have a hold-down on it that prevents the parts from binding. I set my fence 3/4 inch over from where I actually need my pieces cut, and use a small piece of 3/4th inch thick stock clamped to the front edge of the fence to butt the wood to, but it stops way before the blade enters my cut, then clamp the holddown, then cut. I hope everything heals up fine for ya! __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

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