John
First rule of radial arm sawing, fingers are NOWHERE near the blade area. When cutting aluminum or brass the stock is clamped firmly onto the table
and pressed firmly against the back stop. I first lower the blade so that it just clears the top of the piece to be cut, and starting with the blade pulled to
the front of the saw lower the blade for a first small cut of around .060" no hands are anywhere near the part or touching the table. Turn on the saw and
slowly move the blade across the top surface of the material by pushing the saw towards the rear of the saw until I have fully passed over the part being cut.
I then pull the saw back to the front of the table and repeat the process of lowering the blade, usually in 1/8 to 3/16 increments. If there is any sign of resistance
or binding back the blade back out and reduce the cut depth and start at the cut over again. Note, the only body part touching the saw is the hand on the saws
handle, well away from any blade. I've made cut as light as a couple of thousandths of an inch to upwards of a quarter of an inch. With this blade, aluminum
and brass cut like butter. I feel a lot safer than when working around a lathe chuck thats for sure. This blade has lasted far longer than I ever would have
expected, a couple of years of fairly light use, and is still plenty sharp to cut plywood.
Chuck the grumpy old guy