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Safe Table Saw technique for short person

3K views 23 replies 17 participants last post by  CharlesA 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My daughter wanted me to build something today, so she decided to help me. She's 17 and I've taught her to use tools over the years. Today I demonstrated how to use the table saw. I use a Grr-ripper most of the time, so I had her use it. She is only 5-2, and by the time the Grr-ripper got past the blade, her forearm was a lot closer to the blade than I was comfy with.

I wouldn't normally suggest a stool, but she has a hard time reaching to the middle of the saw (I have a Shop Fox classic fence that juts out several inches from the table).

Any thoughts?
 
#2 ·
At seventeen and 5'2", I would not allow my daughter to use the saw you describe. It is just dangerous.
Now, if she really wanted to get into wood working, and would be useing the saw on a regular basis, I would recommend building a custom saw cabinet that is lowered so that she could more safely use it. Another option would be to build a peranent stool that would bring her up to a safe height.
With the saw lower, or her higher, her arm should easily be long enough to use the saw safely.
With all that being said, I would not feel safe for my own daughter to use a saw with a moveable stool. It would have to be large enough to be very stable, or permanently attached so as to provide stabilty. The mention of most stooles bring to mind images of what could happen if the stool was to slip while using the saw.
 
#3 ·
Bottom line is "if it doesn't feel right, don't do it." Someone of that size should find a saw that is suitable to their height and reach. Years ago I had an Inca model 250 (I think) that would be suitable for a smaller person. there is probably something on the market that will work for her. Stroll through the woodworking shops and the big box stores to get a feel for what will work. It just ain't worth the risk to try to jury rig something.
 
#7 ·
Long Push sticks and feather boards. The Gripper is not the solution because she'll always reach.
With a push stick designed for her, she will always remain behind the blade during a cut, and the feather board(s) will keep the wood against the fence.

Also hope your saw has a riving knife or jaws to prevent kickback.
 
#8 ·
As a 5'0'' tall woodworker, I can certainly understand your concern. For my table saw, I made a custom stand that lowered the saw a considerable amount. I doubt you want to lower the saw, so really your only option is to raise her up some. For her I'd make a box platform, a stool is too unstable to be used around a fast spinning blade. You want to make the platform is large enough so she can stand to the saw, but also take a step back without having to "step down".

As for people saying the gripper isn't a good push stick of that height, I love my gripper. :) and when you are at the appropriate table height it works just fine. (I also use long push stick, it all depends the type of cut).

As a completely unsafe alternative, tell her to wear 6'' heals :)

If you have any questions about how I use any specific tool at my height feel free to message me.

-jeremy
 
#9 ·
When I got my first table saw I bought a book by
Roger Cliffe. Terrible book by today's standards,
but I read it cover-to-cover and equipped my mind
to work with the tool.

Machines do what hand tools do, only much faster
and with less tolerance for user safety errors.

"Showing" somebody how to "use a table saw"
strikes me as an error. Would you do the same
with a car?

I'm being nice, actually, so take this nicely - the
machine can do a lot of damage and the best
way to avoid incidents is for the operator to
be intellectually aware of the risks and how to
mitigate them. I have found books to be the
best organized and most thorough sources for
safety and technique instruction in the use of
woodworking machinery.
 
#11 ·
A Platform is a way to go. I don´t agree that 17 is too early to start as Willian said. Actually she is used to the work in the shop, so she knew at leat a little about everything and has to go forward. Imagination and Ingenuity is the key. Sleds and customized push blocks will help.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for all the replies, especially from Jeremy as someone who has personal experience with this.

Loren, I know you're trying to be helpful, so I'm going to measure my reply. How do most of us learn to use a table saw? Not by reading a book cover to cover (although I do a lot of that in woodworking), but by having someone with experience show us. You read my short description too literally. We talked about kickback, splitters, blade height, how to push the wood through, eye and hearing protection, where to stand, etc. Her first two cuts were on a crosscut sled and went quite well. I was being very aware of safety, which is why we put a stop to it after her first rip cut and I was concerned about her arm and the blade.

She has experience with many tools and is very careful. I am much more confident with her than my 6'1" 20 year old son, who doesn't like direction and is prone to carelessness. I'm guessing that 10's of thousands of 17 year olds learn to use a table saw each year in shop class or from someone in their family.

The platform idea sounds really promising. If she decides to do more, we'll skip the table saw until we build a platform.
 
#14 ·
I agree with the platform idea. Since I missed it or didn't notice anyone offering dimensions of such a platform, Might I suggest something like 4ft long by 3ft wide by 8in high. IMO, that 3ft wide is most important in that that will keep it from tipping at all. I am thinking a simple box design of 3/4in ply with 2×8s as a wall, then flipped over.

Again, I am just brainstorming here but having TWO of these, one for the normal front use and one for the side of the TS might be useful. when not in use, store stuff in them…
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
I don't think you can get better advise than what you got from Jeremy. I've been in charge of safety at more than one company, and never had deal with an issue of a person's height. But that should be easier than dealing with someone being short on IQ.

My son and daughter are both in their 20s and have no interest in woodworking. My son has helped me a few times with cutting plywood before I got a sliding table for my largest table saw. I came home one day and there was this large plywood box in the shop that he made. I was pissed because I didn't think he knew how to use the saw safely. He came back with my word for word instructions on safety, and the comment "I've been watching you use table saws all my life !".

As for Loren's comment; I don't mean to sound harsh, books are great, but I don't know how else you would teach a person how to use a table saw other than by showing them, and telling them what not to do and why.
 
#17 ·
Agree with all those that wrote a platform is the best way to go. Also agree that it should wrap around the left side of the saw. Only drawback I see is how comfortable are you going to be standing on a 8 inch high platform? Do you have the additional space for a 3 foot wide platform? Do you have to store it somewhere when your daughter is not in the shop? Is it going to pose a trip hazard? I take it that 95% of the time you are going to be the primary user of the saw.

Charles, it's really neat that your daughter is interested in woodworking. I, for one, would do whatever it takes to enhance the skills she already has and to develop new skills as her interest grows.
 
#18 ·
I wish to correct something I said that maybe sounded wrong.
I was stating that she is seventeen and 5'2". I was not suggesting at all that the age to wrong to teach her to use a saw. The height issue is the only issue I see you need to overcome.
I apologize if anyone thought I meant that she was too young to use the saw. I wish I had worded that differently.
 
#19 ·
Thanks, William. The problem is that she's not going to get any taller (long story, but I'm 99% sure).
 
#20 ·
I under stand that some conditions, or genetics, cause some to remain with a short stature.
There are two things to tell from my point of view on this though.
I was 5'3" when I turned 18. I shot up to 5'11" before my 19th birthday.
My grandmother was 4'11". However, she was the one woman in the family that NOONE messed with. She was small, but she was also a firecracker!
 
#21 ·
All machines are set up for me in my shop. I am 5'10" (Use to be be 6'1" but things happen).
The wife is 5'2" with osteoporosis evident.
She uses my tools as needed, but takes her time and sets up her cuts for her…. not for me. She decides how she feels safe, she decides how to lay the cut, she decides if she needs a lift or an extender.

Have your daughter tell you what she needs to feel safe. She'll feel empowered and you'll be a hero.
 
#22 · (Edited by Moderator)
As a retired shop teacher, I agree with the platform idea. I built one when I had a student that was around 4 ft. 6 in. It was around 3 ft. square and 1 ft. tall made of 3/8 in. plywood. Put some non-slip traction tread material on it.

I used it with a number of short students, mostly girls. Never had a problem. Used the box for many machines; they just moved it to the location needed.

The one issue was cutting material such as a 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet of material.
 
#23 ·
I'm 5'5" and wife is 5'0" and we both use a platform at the band saw just to be able to see our cut lines better. It's made on three 6X6 Under carriage with a 3X3.5'
3/4' plywood top been in use since 1979 and we prop it against the wall by the saw when not in use. VERY stable work area!
 
#24 ·
thanks, Handtooler. That is really helpful.

Today we finished a little piece to hold her dog's food and water bowls along with a drawer to hold dog food. she routed out the rabbets around the holes to hold the bowls, a cove around the top and drawer front, did a couple of cross cuts, drilled some pocket holes, drilles in screws, and applied finish. It will math our cabinets. She's so into it.
 
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