Comments on: Table Saw Safety Hits Home http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/ An online source of information for the connected woodworker. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:11:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Claude Stewart http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/#comment-11287 Claude Stewart Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:44:34 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/#comment-11287 Randy I felt kind of bad after I pushed the submit button because I thought I was kind of harsh. I agree that most of the time that I use a push stick is when I'm within 8-10 in of the blade. And I also have done that same thing running 1-2 in. pieces by the blade with my hand and I did for a long time until my friend (who had the accident) made me a couple of push sticks and said use these and showed me his thumb. So now I guess that I'm a believer. But when I watched the episode of the picture frames and the carpenter was running those small pieces through by just hooking his fingers over the fence well that just made me cringe. A few years ago I'm sure I wouldn't have had a problem with it. I know when I had my kick back episode I wasn't using one and I felt that I got lucky that break any fingers because the piece hit in the stomach and left a bruise through about four layers of clothing (winter). So no I don't use a push stick all the time but I use one a lot more than I ever did. But this is neither here nor there. What is important is that some teenager or younger person might pick up a bad habit by watching your podcasts. I know I started using a table saw when I was about 12 and didn't have any kind of instruction but at least I couldn't point to an instructional video and say "dad he doesn't use one". So again sorry about my first post because I'm sure You will be beating yourself up over it for a long time to come. PS This might also be a liability issue. Claude Randy I felt kind of bad after I pushed the submit button because I thought I was kind of harsh. I agree that most of the time that I use a push stick is when I’m within 8-10 in of the blade. And I also have done that same thing running 1-2 in. pieces by the blade with my hand and I did for a long time until my friend (who had the accident) made me a couple of push sticks and said use these and showed me his thumb. So now I guess that I’m a believer. But when I watched the episode of the picture frames and the carpenter was running those small pieces through by just hooking his fingers over the fence well that just made me cringe. A few years ago I’m sure I wouldn’t have had a problem with it. I know when I had my kick back episode I wasn’t using one and I felt that I got lucky that break any fingers because the piece hit in the stomach and left a bruise through about four layers of clothing (winter). So no I don’t use a push stick all the time but I use one a lot more than I ever did. But this is neither here nor there. What is important is that some teenager or younger person might pick up a bad habit by watching your podcasts. I know I started using a table saw when I was about 12 and didn’t have any kind of instruction but at least I couldn’t point to an instructional video and say “dad he doesn’t use one”. So again sorry about my first post because I’m sure You will be beating yourself up over it for a long time to come. PS This might also be a liability issue. Claude

]]> By: Randy Maxey http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/#comment-11257 Randy Maxey Tue, 11 Dec 2007 01:35:23 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/#comment-11257 Claude, thanks for your comments. If I understand you correctly, you seem to think that a push stick is the answer to table saw safety. While I agree it is appropriate in some circumstances, it is downright dangerous in some situations. And it's really unnecessary on cuts where your hands are far away from the path of the blade. Common sense goes hand in hand with safety. I've already beat myself up over what I could have done differently. But I am convinced that accidents can and do happen in spite of our best intentions. As for our podcasts, we try to use our best judgement but we're forced to make some compromises at times so that the viewer can understand and see what's going on. But I'll pass your comments along to our presenters because you do raise some valid concerns. I'm sure we'll get a lot of comments here, and that was my intention. I want to raise awareness of this issue and you bring up some great points. Thanks again, --Randy Claude, thanks for your comments. If I understand you correctly, you seem to think that a push stick is the answer to table saw safety. While I agree it is appropriate in some circumstances, it is downright dangerous in some situations. And it’s really unnecessary on cuts where your hands are far away from the path of the blade. Common sense goes hand in hand with safety.

I’ve already beat myself up over what I could have done differently. But I am convinced that accidents can and do happen in spite of our best intentions.

As for our podcasts, we try to use our best judgement but we’re forced to make some compromises at times so that the viewer can understand and see what’s going on. But I’ll pass your comments along to our presenters because you do raise some valid concerns.

I’m sure we’ll get a lot of comments here, and that was my intention. I want to raise awareness of this issue and you bring up some great points.

Thanks again,

–Randy

]]> By: Claude Stewart http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/#comment-11248 Claude Stewart Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:35:14 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/12/08/table-saw-safety-hits-home/#comment-11248 well I've watched all your podcasts and I've [seen] more than one person use the tablesaw without using a push stick. It always made me cringe to see this and always wondered how you could [put] out material for people to download and watch and not use good safety habits. I just chalked it up to these guys have been using these tools all their lives and still have all their digits. I have been using a tablesaw for 35 years off and on have experienced kickback a couple of times and it scared me enough to change my ways. My father-in-law cut off one finger and my friend put his thumb into the blade during a plunge cut with his tablesaw. So I've tried to learn from them.  I now get real nervous whenever I don't use a push stick. So I'm looking forward to seeing some good safety habits in your future podcasts. Claude well I’ve watched all your podcasts and I’ve [seen] more than one person use the tablesaw without using a push stick. It always made me cringe to see this and always wondered how you could [put] out material for people to download and watch and not use good safety habits. I just chalked it up to these guys have been using these tools all their lives and still have all their digits. I have been using a tablesaw for 35 years off and on have experienced kickback a couple of times and it scared me enough to change my ways. My father-in-law cut off one finger and my friend put his thumb into the blade during a plunge cut with his tablesaw. So I’ve tried to learn from them.  I now get real nervous whenever I don’t use a push stick. So I’m looking forward to seeing some good safety habits in your future podcasts. Claude

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