I’ve been kicking this can down the road for years, but I finally got a job that involves cutting so much melamine board there’s no way I’m doing it with a circular saw.
I watched multiple safety videos before even opening the package, and now I’m just sitting here staring at it wondering whether I should fire it up and cut off a finger or two. I’m fucking terrified of this thing.
Nah, fear isn’t better than complacency because it can also keep you from doing things safely. Like being afraid to have a push tool too close to the blade means not having enough control over the piece you are cutting.
A healthy respect for the dangers and then taking the necessary precautions is the best course of action. Make sure you have the right tools to push stuff through it without needing to have your fingers close. Not the little plastic thing it probably comes with, but a large thing with a wider pushing part so you have more control. Then adjust the height and use the safety thing that keeps it from kicking back for flat stuff.