Cutting old maple

bdcues

bdcues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am currently cutting up the last of some 22+ year old maple boards. These are very tight growth ring birds eye, curly and staight grain boards that I will be offering squares and dowels from in the near future.
As I was pushing a waste piece off the end of the table saw the piece caught the blade and I was making the mistake of having about 8 inches of my body to the left of the blade. Below is the result of the small end flying back. Luckily the piece hit fairly flat.

Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com
 

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Table saws scare me

I picked up an old Sear's table saw a few years back. I only paid $50 for the saw and a planer that were in great shape. I figured I could save money buying boards and cutting my own turning blanks. After cutting up my first board (and having one piece shoot across the garage:eek:), I put the saw on Craig's List.
 
Bob,
Glad that you weren't hurt any worse. It goes without saying that almost every power tool that we use for our work is very dangerous, and should not be taken for granted. With that said, we're probably all guilty of being a little lax about shop safety more frequently than we'd like to admit. Maybe your little reminder will keep someone else from being hurt even worse. Thanks for posting.
Mr H
 
My g/f said I should not post pictures of my stupidity. But others have posted pics of their injuries and as your say hopefully it will help remind others to be very careful. I know better than to stand where I was standing because of the potential for kickbacks. Now I will remember even better and hopefully someone else will not get hurt doing the same thing.
 
bdcues said:
My g/f said I should not post pictures of my stupidity. But others have posted pics of their injuries and as your say hopefully it will help remind others to be very careful. I know better than to stand where I was standing because of the potential for kickbacks. Now I will remember even better and hopefully someone else will not get hurt doing the same thing.
Click to expand...

Table saws are always dangerous. I lost part of a finger to one. Although it still can occur, a properly set up saw makes them much safer as far as kick-back is concerned. There should be approximately 1/64 to 1/32 off-set from perfectly parallel to the blade at the rear of the fence and a splitter should always be utilized. Radial arm saws are the truly treacherous ones for kick-back when attempting to rip a board and should never be attempted if you value your life.

Dick
 
I am really sorry to see this, since I was the one asking to get some BE from you. So far the worst that has happened to me with a table saw was sending a 1X1X4 through a glass window that I just installed. I feel lucky just to have ten fingers every time I use one.

Larry
 
I have a short finger , but as any power tool commands respect ... Don't fall back in fear , just learn to properly operate your tools ...:cool:
 
Been there, done that. I was hit with a .25"x2.5"x10" piece in the upper right inside thigh; WAY too close to the family jewels. The mark and the internal blood draining took about 4 months to heal.

Scott <<== respects the table saw
 
i almost cut my pinky off the other day when i was squaring inner points and one got stuck and shot into the wall. i am very thankfull right now and havent turned that plainer on it a week :0)

I HAVE BEEN TURNING ROUND SOME MAPLE BARRY GAVE ME FROM GUS' STOCK. MAYBE 30+ YEARS OLD. THAT STUFF IS HARD LIKE EBONY. LOL SOUNDS LIKE IM TURNING CONCRETE ROUND LOLOLOL
 
A couple things about tablesaws:

- Never be timid while using one. It will sense your fear and bite you the first chance it gets. Seriously, if you are not 100% confident in it's use you'd be better off using a bandsaw (maybe).

- When using a fence to rip stock, know where the blade is but don't watch it, watch the edge of the board along the fence to make sure it is always in contact with the fence. If the board slips off the face of the fence is when you can start binding something. Once you start binding is when you start getting kickbacks.

- For safety sake, never have your blade more than 1/8" higher than the top of your board.

- Never put your hands directly behind or in front of the blade, always keep to the side if possible.

- Use a push stick when ripping small stock.

- It is best to use zero clearance inserts too. Make sure it is flush to the surface of the bed too.

- Always wear safety goggles.


The best way to learn how not to use a tablesaw is often a tough lesson to learn, but it is a good teacher, as those mistakes are seldom repeated thereafter. Thanks for sharing Bob, hopefully your example will help remind us all to practice safe useage techniques.

On a similar note however, please keep an eye on yourself and see a doctor immediately if you experience any blood in your stool or urine, or if you start swelling up and feeling poorly. I say this because I worked with a guy that got a kickback in the gut. He worked for the rest of the day, went home and went to bed. He woke up at 1 in the morning in extreme pain, had to call 911. Turns out he ruptured his bowel and was bleeding internally. Doctor said another hour and he would have been a goner.

Get well,
Frank
 
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bdcues said:
I am currently cutting up the last of some 22+ year old maple boards. These are very tight growth ring birds eye, curly and staight grain boards that I will be offering squares and dowels from in the near future.
As I was pushing a waste piece off the end of the table saw the piece caught the blade and I was making the mistake of having about 8 inches of my body to the left of the blade. Below is the result of the small end flying back. Luckily the piece hit fairly flat.

Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com
Click to expand...

Ouch!!!!!! I bet took the wind out of your sails for awhile.!!!

How are you feeling now?
 
Still very sore and the bruising is setting in now. I did continue cutting the boards and bandsawing about 290 squares the same day I was hurt. The next day I sorted them all and cleaned up. Tonight I am taking another pain pill and trying to get some sleep.
Thanks to all and remember - push sticks and opposite side the cutoff is.

Bob
 
I know exactly what table saws can do. I had a kickback that hit and spun my hand into the blade. I ended up cutting my right thumb down the middle of the nail completely in half, just past the first joint.
The joint is now fused, and will not bend.
Safety first, but accidents do happen. That's why they are called accidents.
I hope you are feeling better!:D
 
Thats a good reminder Bob. Last weekend I was cutting some 1" boards for a shaft caddy and as my face was being spattered with flying wood chips,
I was thinkin, why am I not wearing glasses. Of course I have a blade shield and anti kickback, but I take that off so I can see the wood better.
Willee can be the Barefoot Cue maker and I can be called, Patch, arrrrrrr!
 
Bill the Cat said:
I picked up an old Sear's table saw a few years back. I only paid $50 for the saw and a planer that were in great shape. I figured I could save money buying boards and cutting my own turning blanks. After cutting up my first board (and having one piece shoot across the garage:eek:), I put the saw on Craig's List.
Click to expand...

You can't be afraid of your tools. You have to use all safety precautions and work with confidence. I have been around power tools since I was a child and I know I should not say this, but I am not superstitious. I have never been hurt by a tool. I am a fanatic about safety. I had a friend who died a few years ago from complications of a broken hip. It was the result of a screw driver laying on his concrete floor. There is nothing worse the a round tool on the floor. He would be alive today if he had been more careful I am sure. When I first met my wife she didn't get it that I didn't want to be bothered when I was working. You can't be distracted by conversations and interruptions when you are working. It is not the same as working at a desk, distractions in a shop are dangerous. Now that she runs machines herself she get it. She may be more of a safety fanatic then I am now.
 
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