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My Festool circular saw has a splitter. In Europe it is required.
If you are ripping green and wet pressure treated lumber it is a real possibility.
No animals were injured or killed in the production of this post.
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I hold on and bog the saw down and don't let go. You should expect it and be holding the saw with a good grip. Using both hands is a great advantage.
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That blade sure was wobbling
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A good thing to add to the circular saw if the additional production cost is reasonable. Not every circular saw user uses both hands to hold the saw or knows about the danger of kickback. In fact, some table saw users know nothing about kickbacks.
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I've been using a circular saw for at over 3 decades. I guess I was fortunate enough to have a a dad who taught me the safe way to use it. I've never come close to anything resembling kickback with a circular saw. it's easy to avoid it and if Im not holding on well enough to bog it down, then I'm doing it wrong.
tablesaws are a different beast.
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I've been using a "skil-saw" (actually a Makita 5007) for over 3 decades too and never had a kickback like that one. Now I've been using the same model for a long time, so I know what to expect. I'm not suggesting you try, but I feel just as comfortable holding the saw backwards and pulling the trigger with my pinky finger. I do however have a few tips for beginners that watched the video. First of all, if the saw starts to bind, hold on to it. Don't let go! It's also not highly recommended to tape the guard up or put a zip tie on the trigger either. Now I have to be honest and say that, on occasion, I have felt the need to wedge a carpenters pencil in the guard handle, but if your lower blade guard doesn't work properly you're just asking to have your toes cut when you forget and put it down.
Sign at N.E. Vocational School Cabinetmaking Shop 1976, "Free knowledge given daily... Bring your own container"