It's not fear, just respect for my tools, and knowing what they are designed for.
All it takes is that one time, and you might fear it enough to respect it.
Hand saws or sawzalls are safer as they let the waste piece fall away. If the piece is too0 small to hold use a vise.
Tim
I have been very pleased with Smokinlicious wood chunks.
After trying many sources of wood chunks and chips I have settled on Smokinlicious woods. Great service and chunks--I buy the double filet size, usually cherry, hickory and red oak.
I order their 3"x3" chunks. I like them over the bags in the stores because it is basically all chunks, no chips and scraps. I prefer nice chunks over smaller pieces.Fruita's specialty is fruit wood. Especially peach, which their website says is 60% of their volume.
Western Colorado is a big fruit growing area and is famous for producing Palisade peaches. Palisade peaches are everywhere in Colorado during the summer -- road side stands, farmers markets, etc. So I use their peach wood -- works well and is a cool local supplier for me to use. I plan to drop by their shop next time I'm on the western slope.
I've heard that fruit woods (unlike hardwoods like oak and hickory) smoke best if they are less seasoned. Fruita says they ship their fruit woods with more sap/moisture than others. YMMV.
Another question -- what size chunks do you use? All big? How big? Mix of big/small? Makes no difference?