Comments on: Well, Wood Shop Isn’t Complete Until Someone Loses A Finger

By: Winterfalke

Winterfalke — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:02:05 +0000

Never been in a shop where the safety guard was not removed immediately from the table saw. Too many cutting operations can’t be done with most guards in place, like dado grooving or partial cuts. And I have never seen anyone cut themselves on a table saw blade that was qualified to use one. Now kickbacks, on the other hand, are dangerous. I saw a commercial table saw launch half a 2×4 across the room, bounce off the workbench, and go through the drywall into the hall next door.

By: rickybobby

rickybobby — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:17:10 +0000

I used to do that with a belt sander all the time! It had a lock on the trigger to keep it “on”, too. I made about a dozen really nice custom knives that way, and still have all my fingers.

By: bum

bum — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:36:54 +0000

ever hear “ya’ can’t fix stupid !”?

By: Fixerdave

Fixerdave — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:34:37 +0000

HA! My Dad did that…. wired the trigger on and the guard back, clamped the thing upside-down in a workmate, and had at it, it being whatever it was that he was doing. Worked great. Then, about a month later, he went to use the saw again… put it on the ground, plugged it in… now… what do you suppose a circular saw will do when it’s plugged in, and the trigger is still wired on, and the guard is still wired back… Well, it went in a circle actually, really-really fast, right over my father’s foot… cut right down to the sole. Didn’t cut his toes off though, we still can’t figure out why. He must have curled them up real tight as they survived without a scratch. Me… I bought a bench-saw… and steel-toed boots. Man, this place reminds me of my Dad… so many things here just seem, well, normal.

By: kat 58

kat 58 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:05:02 +0000

I worked an industrial table saw for many years, 10 or more hrs a day, and believe me the huge metal guards are not just for looks. I cant really conceive of anyone using something like this as an actual table saw EVER: this is a SERIOUS safety issue.

Clamp failure while operating a unit like this would be more serious than even a three inch chunk of flying splinter aimed for your face without guards to deflect it. Which is what happens when the wood splinters unexpectedly and spins out on the blade, as can and does happen fairly often.

If the clamps go, the operator will be missing more than a few fingers: THAT contraption is truly a gut ripper. ABSOLUTELY NO humor intended.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:28:07 +0000

Today on the Wood Wrong workshop

By: Lancemann

Lancemann — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:47:32 +0000

What we have here is the rare “Alabama finger trap…”

By: Eddie

Eddie — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:35:49 +0000

I did almost exactly the same thing!

I eventually replaced it with a ‘real’ table saw, but it worked great for many projects over a couple years. No accidents.

Seems a lot of commenters don’t realize: Safe shop practices don’t rely on blade guards so much as keeping hair, hands, and loose clothing well away from the blade. Push sticks are your friend and save far more fingers than blade guards which are more for reducing sawdust and flying splinters (since the guards have to move out of the way for incoming wood, they’re usually out of the way of incoming fingers as well).

By: Lady Anne

Lady Anne — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:55:30 +0000

Scary! I told my husband that didn’t look safe, and he *assured* me that was how table saws looked. “Why is the guard underneath?” Hmmm. I only let him use my scroll saw, but I try not to look!

By: DIYKing

DIYKing — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:28:59 +0000

Where is badgirl when you need her?