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Safety

2K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  MonteCristo 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
When coming home today I drove past a guy free handing on a table saw. There was no guard, fence or miter gage being used. I felt like stopping and yelling at him but I did not. Should I have informed him how stupid it was not to follow some type of safety procedure?
 
#2 ·
I don't think so. He'll likely find out soon enough and it will likely be mostly embarassing. That said, I believe that when it comes to safety, one size does not necessarily fit all. By that, I mean that there are some procedures that are safe for one guy and not another. Look at the late, great Sam Maloof, freehand bandsawer extraordinaire. I found it perversely amusing that he would do stuff in his Fine Woodworking articles that they admonished elsewhere in the magazine. But when it comes to table saws, the dude is certainly looking for trouble. If he had any sense, he'd use a bandsaw.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
A LONG time ago I tried it. Once! Picked myself up from the ground and swore that the TS was a device from the devil. I was too stupid to know that it wasn't the saw, it was the operator (me).
Sometimes it takes years to overcome ignorance/stupid. There is a difference, but it sure is hard to differentiate in some circumstances.
I now use ALL safety devices available. Mark that up to being old and still having (so far) all digits.
Bill
 
#4 ·
When I was working restorative construction we were doing a facelift to seven, three-story condo buildings. Down here on the gulf the usual choice is stucco and the reliefs on these walls is usually done with wrapped styrofoam. We had a set of workers who for lack of a better term were stupid. Everyday I used to pass by them and yell at them not to freehand their cuts on a table saw. Sure, kickback wouldn't be a real concern cutting styrofoam but you still have the very obvious spinning saw blade issue.

So about four weeks into the project one of these guys put a little too much downward pressure on his piece and crushed it, putting his hand almost straight down on top of the spinning blade. Poor guy didn't have any insurance and he pretty much lost use of it. I guess the only lucky part was that it was his off-hand.

A week after? The same little team of guys and one of them was working freehand. Some people never learn. I fired the whole group on the spot.
 
#5 ·
Woodmaster ? I think you did the right thing by not stopping there. Your post offers little information about what was really going on there. All I can say is that everything is not always as it appears. Are you a hobbyist? Was the person doing this a hobbyist, pro, what ? What was he cutting ? I dont do it, but have seen it on many jobs. If the guy here was on a job, its likely he knows the dangers and probably has more hours on the table saw than you will aquire in your remaining lifetime. Just saying.
Need more info. here, Lets talk ! JB
 
#6 ·
I do some occasional freehand cutting on my table saw. The only time a piece ever kicked back was some 20 years ago when I was younger and stupider, and it wasn't freehand cutting. But the thing is, I know what the wood is doing, what the blade is doing, and what I am doing. I would never suggest a novice try it, or many pros for that matter.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
JB, I have 37 years of teaching industrial arts and been using a table saw for 45 years. That kind of thing brings out the shop teacher in me. He was a homeowner with an old craftsman table saw, appeared to be in his late 20's early 30's. He was just cutting boards in half a few at a time. He was not a former student or I would have stopped and told him that I taught him better than that.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
JB, I have 37 years of teaching industrial arts and been using a table saw for 45 years. He was a homeowner with an old craftsman table saw, appeared to be in his late 20's early 30's. He was just cutting boards in half a few at a time. He was not a former student or I would have stopped and told him that I taught him better than that. Sorry for the double post.
 
#9 ·
I have a better understanding now sir. I still think you did good by not stopping and yelling at him as you suggested. Lots of ways to learn this stuff. Looks like hes choosing the tuff way, hey if it doesnt have the potential to impart imminent bodily injury or death its not worth doing . Thanks for the comeback. JB
 
#10 ·
You know when one does stupid things-stupid things happen. It doesn't matter whether one is a professional or not!!!!! So if it is a stupid thing to do then---don't. There is a saying that I like when seeing people do things like this---"YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID" Evem if he has done it for many years once a finger is cut off or carelessnes happens I hope he understands that the finger will not grow back.
 
#11 ·
I agree with TedW. Paraphrasing the slogan on local gambling adverts, "Know your limit, work within it". I have freehanded a couple of times on a table saw but rarely and as TedW says, you'd better understand what causes kickback or you'll experience it up close and personal.
 
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