Before every cut
Read the current manufacturer manual. Disconnect power before adjustments or blade changes. Inspect the blade and workpiece. Confirm guards operate freely. Secure the saw, support the stock, and keep hands outside the marked hazard zone and projected blade path.
Calculated does not mean observed
Compound-angle and capacity calculations model a geometric envelope. They cannot detect fence or clamp interference, blade-guard contact, motor-housing clearance, warped stock, fasteners, knots, unstable offcuts, or regional model differences.
Evidence-qualified verdicts
Verified Yes means entered 90-degree dimensions fall inside a manufacturer-published capacity record. Calculated Likely is derived from published anchor values but requires physical verification. Reorient and Verify means another orientation may fit but must be safely supported.
Blade compatibility
Never install a blade based only on diameter and tooth count. Confirm arbor, maximum RPM, kerf, plate thickness, rotation direction, guard clearance, brake compatibility, material rating, and manufacturer requirements.
Test cuts
Use scrap of the same profile and orientation to prove compound angles, crown orientation, fence position, visible-face direction, and cutline alignment.
When to stop
Do not make the cut if the manual is unavailable, the model cannot be identified, the workpiece is unstable, capacity is unclear, a guard must be defeated, the blade is damaged or incompatible, or any part of the setup feels forced.