A riving knife would have all but eliminated that threat, and they are so simple to have in place but many folks don't. Most saws, even cheap models, have riving knives already included, but folks just don't install them because they're part of the dust/chip shield mechanism. Take the time to put those things on. It prevents the wood from closing up on the blade, which in turn prevents the binding that causes it to raise & eventually throw the wood. Zero clearance inserts are also a must for chip & dust control. Again, table saws don't have to be scary. You just gotta use them properly.
Quarterly Reminder - Work Safe!
- Thread starter GBCues
- Start date
A riving knife would have all but eliminated that threat, and they are so simple to have in place but many folks don't. Most saws, even cheap models, have riving knives already included, but folks just don't install them because they're part of the dust/chip shield mechanism. Take the time to put those things on. It prevents the wood from closing up on the blade, which in turn prevents the binding that causes it to raise & eventually throw the wood. Zero clearance inserts are also a must for chip & dust control. Again, table saws don't have to be scary. You just gotta use them properly.
That's what I was told about dirt bikes when I was a kid. As soon as you become comfortable with it, stop riding because you're about to hurt yourself.
All we can do is minimize risk. There's no way to eliminate it altogether. Your friend was victim to a freak accident that almost couldn't have been prevented. It was an accident, not due to stupidity or inexperience, but a board slipping from a guy's hands. Accidents are going to happen to anybody who works with live tooling. Just be as safe as possible and be ever conscious of what's going on. It's the best we can do, and still somebody will get hurt.
Here's some interesting stats regarding table saw injuries:
http://tablesawaccidents.com/
Yes, fully half of the injured had removed the safety equipment, but at least 28% of those surveyed had these in place. In my professional experience, nearly 100% of professional woodworkers eventually removed the anti-kickback mechanism because they find it gets in the way of the things they want to do with the saw.
http://tablesawaccidents.com/
Yes, fully half of the injured had removed the safety equipment, but at least 28% of those surveyed had these in place. In my professional experience, nearly 100% of professional woodworkers eventually removed the anti-kickback mechanism because they find it gets in the way of the things they want to do with the saw.
My accident was a real freak, too. A hidden split in the wood at just the right angle for the blade to flip the chunk up and back rather than straight back. The real reason I want to get rid of it is that there's no longer a need for it in my shop. Why use a potentially hazardous tool when there are other safer ways to do the same job?
I'm really not saying to avoid them or to be afraid of them at all. Hell, me and my wife do chainsaw carving, how nuts is that? I'm not the least bit afraid of my saws, even the big ones. I don't even use safety chain, it's way too slow. Still, I'll always have a healthy respect for the power of these monsters. The average chainsaw accident requires something like 100 stitches to close. Knowing that, it took me a long time before I would allow my wife to operate a saw without standing right there watching her.
Yes, accidents will happen using power tools even in the best of situations, it's the nature of the thing. Being vigilant without being timid is the safest way to operate them. If you're afraid, better off staying right away from them IMO.
Pretty scary Buddy. Glad it just grazed you.
My table saw sounds like a 747. I took the blade guard off one day and of course, with it, the kick back dogs.
Was cutting some one inch nailing strips and one kicked back and hit me in the chest.
Left a nice bruise and lucky it didn't hit me in the face.
Just the other day, I had a look at a table saw that was set up with one of those wiener stoppers.
You know the one where the guy touches the blade with a wiener and it crunches the blade etc.
Quite the set up it was.
My table saw sounds like a 747. I took the blade guard off one day and of course, with it, the kick back dogs.
Was cutting some one inch nailing strips and one kicked back and hit me in the chest.
Left a nice bruise and lucky it didn't hit me in the face.
Just the other day, I had a look at a table saw that was set up with one of those wiener stoppers.
You know the one where the guy touches the blade with a wiener and it crunches the blade etc.
Quite the set up it was.
The only saw I have that scares me is the 084 when it's equipped with a 36" bar or larger. No such thing as safety chain for that saw
I'm a big strong guy & that saw scares me. My 460 is a breeze to use and is my daily saw for felling/bucking/limbing. Sometimes I use 170 for limbing, and I keep an old 029 in the truck for those unexpected burl moments :wink: I'm more comfortable using chainsaws than almost any other machine I have.
The only saw I have that scares me is the 084 when it's equipped with a 36" bar or larger. No such thing as safety chain for that saw
I forgot you cut your own wood, so chainsaws are just another tool to you.
Ya, that 084 would scare anybody. A real man killer. Way too much saw for this old dude. I doubt I could even start it.