When the work is in a vise, and you are sawing, toward which jaw should you direct the chip?

When the work is in a vise, and you are sawing, toward which jaw should you direct the chip?

• A. Solid jaw
• B. Moving jaw
• C. Top jaw
• D. Bottom jaw

Answer: (A)

When sawing in a vise, directing the chips toward the solid (fixed) jaw uses the stationary surface as a reliable backstop for the waste. The fixed jaw doesn’t move with the work, so chips won’t get pinched or pushed back into the cut by a moving part. If you aimed chips toward the moving jaw, its motion can cause chips to accumulate and interfere with the blade or slow the cut. Keeping chips against the solid jaw also helps keep the work area clear and reduces the chance of chips snagging your fingers. So, guiding the chips toward the solid jaw helps maintain a smooth, safe sawing operation.

When sawing in a vise, directing the chips toward the solid (fixed) jaw uses the stationary surface as a reliable backstop for the waste. The fixed jaw doesn’t move with the work, so chips won’t get pinched or pushed back into the cut by a moving part. If you aimed chips toward the moving jaw, its motion can cause chips to accumulate and interfere with the blade or slow the cut. Keeping chips against the solid jaw also helps keep the work area clear and reduces the chance of chips snagging your fingers. So, guiding the chips toward the solid jaw helps maintain a smooth, safe sawing operation.