I am mitering some 21" boards for picture frames using a tablesaw. The first cut leaves a small off-cut to the right of the blade. Sometimes it goes flying, or even gets caught between the blade and blade throat cover. I am pushing the boards through with a mitre gauge. I cannot push the mitre gauge all the way past the blade as the off-cut then gets caught (drops into) in the slot past the blade, and prevents the mitre gauge from any more travel in its slot. Any ideas how to do this safely?
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I think I will just run the board through a couple times, so that the first off-cut is mostly saw dust.– handyguyCommented Aug 28, 2019 at 20:51
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Based on the tag (and the miter gauge) I'm assuming you're doing this on the tablesaw, but you don't state that anywhere in your question...– SaSSafraS1232Commented Aug 28, 2019 at 20:54
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I don't quite understand how the offcut is ending up in the miter gauge slot. The miter gauge should be on the opposite side of the blade from the offcut? Normally the offcut just drops off where it separates from the work piece, to the right of the leading edge of the blade...– SaSSafraS1232Commented Aug 28, 2019 at 20:59
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I am mitering on a tablesaw, with the blade at 45 degrees, so I cannot use a zero clearance plate, of which I have several. I am also using a sacrificial backboard to the mitre gauge, to prevent tear-out. This provides and extended support to the right of the blade that drags the off-cut with it. Their is a big gap in the throat plate to the right of the blade (being tilted at 45d).– handyguyCommented Aug 29, 2019 at 5:00
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1"could have used the m.gauge at 45, but that would not have made a difference." It would have made all the difference. And it's the 'correct' way to do the cut you're making. Sorry, we're not here to lecture but you did come here seeking advice. There is a reason for the standard way a frame mitre is cut, why would you want to do it differently? It's slower (setup takes longer, every time) and more risky (the whole point of your Q in the first place).– GraphusCommented Aug 31, 2019 at 5:40
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3 Answers
Make or buy a zero tolerance insert for your tablesaw. This will give cleaner cuts, and not give a place for the off cuts to drop into.
It sounds like your main problem is that you're cutting on the wrong side of a tilted blade. However, for cutting picture frame miters you should not have the blade tilted at all.
In general you should always have the work piece flat on the table if possible. This is a lot more stable (and therefore more accurate) than putting the piece up on edge. To cut "picture frame" miters you should have the blade straight, the miter gauge set to 45 degrees, and the stock flat on the table. (This usage is so common that the "miter gauge" is named after it.) This also has the advantage of allowing you to miter stock that is wider than your table saw's depth capacity.
The more typical use for tilting the blade of the table saw is in "case" miters, where you're making a box with no end grain showing. The stock should still be laying flat on the table surface, but now you'll cross cut it with the miter gauge at 90 but the blade tilted.
Any time you're tilting your blade you want the blade tilted away from the work piece. That way the small offcut rests on the table surface when it separates instead of falling onto the spinning blade. Depending on your saw's tilt direction this may mean moving your fence or miter gauge to the other side of the saw blade compared to how you typically work.
Making a zero-clearance insert (per LeeG's answer) is a good idea. Another thing I would suggest is using a miter sled. This gives a fully supported, non-moving place for the offcut to rest after it separates.
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This answer was made before OP clarified his setup... Commented Aug 29, 2019 at 15:55