Wrecked Aluminium from chopsaw

[CENTURION]

Originally Posted by Oblarg

[snip] Work pieces must be clamped on both sides if possible (we just use normal c-clamps), and if it is impossible to clamp either side then a mentor must make the cut.
[snip]

Usually clamping on both sides of the blade is considered to be a very bad idea (Blade binding and all that). We have had no problems clamping with the built-in clam and a C-clamp on one side.

If you follow the "Don't bring the blade up until it stops" rule, then I don't think clamping on both sides is an issue, but I would still stick to the one side.

I always try to remember that these are skills that the students will take with them, beyond my or any mentor's guidance. And in recognition of that, I try to avoid teaching the students things like this. That is; procedures that are unsafe, and only become safe under a narrow set of circumstances.

For instance, if the student is cutting a different material, where you can raise the blade under power, and they still clamp both sides, then something bad could happen.