Milly should start the cut at the front edge of the board (the edge closest to her), then slide the saw back toward the fence as she cuts.

Safe starting position

  • Pull the saw head toward you so the blade is over the front of the material, not back by the fence.
  • Start the motor with the blade up and clear of the wood, let it reach full speed, then lower it gently into the front of the board.

Proper sliding motion

  • With the blade engaged in the front of the board, push the saw backward along the rails toward the fence to finish the cut.
  • Keep the board firmly against the fence and the handle under control the entire time so the saw cannot grab and kick the piece.

Why front‑to‑back, not back‑to‑front?

  • Cutting from the front toward the fence reduces the chance of the blade grabbing and pulling the saw forward into the wood (a common beginner mistake).
  • It also gives you better visibility and control over the cut line as you move through the board.

For a sliding compound miter saw:

  • Start at the front of the material.
  • Lower the spinning blade into the wood.
  • Slide the saw back toward the fence to complete the cut.

TL;DR: With a sliding compound miter saw, Milly should begin the cut at the front of the board , then slide the saw back toward the fence to finish, keeping the stock tight to the fence and hands clear.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.