Get More Out of Your Chop Saw

Once you've made a good amount of cuts on your chop saw, your abrasive disc starts to get smaller.  Have you swapped out your chop saw abrasive disc to make a 45 degree miter cut, after you found it didn't completely sever the cut, even though the disc had plenty of life left in it for 0 degree cuts?  I'll show you an easy trick on how you can get more 45 degree miter cuts out of your abrasive discs! 

Step 1: Get the Work to the Disc

Like I said, very simple.  Just move the piece to be cut under the blade.  You can do this by taking a scrap piece of square tube and putting it in the vice.  Make sure you use a square tube, that isn't flimsy or bent, so it doesn't pop out when cutting.  This is most helpful when going back and forth between making 45 degree cuts and 0 degree cuts, so you don't have to move the back, or "fixed" jaw of the vice.
I do most all of my metal work, and woodwork at TechShop in Menlo Park.  If you haven't been to a TechShop before, check one out.  Go to www.techshop.com to see if there is one close by to you.  This is my chop saw that I have at home.  When I use the chop saw at TechShop, the back jaw is on a slot, so it makes adjustments super easy!
Well, I hope this helps someone!  I thought it was pretty cool, and saved me a bunch of time on my last project!

-BM