safety guards

I still have all my fingers but don’t use a table saw saftey guard. It’s just impossible to put on and take of a guard . I feel if you can use one you should.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

I have all my fingers and do not use table saw safety equipment on my saw. I know that I should but after 40 + years of not using them, I feel it hinders me more than helps me. I like to see, feel and hear the blade when I am cutting. The hearing part is not so good any more! Some of you old timers might know what I mean by feeling and hearing the the blade. This might sound stupid and more stupid that I do not use safety equipment on the saw. The guards and splitters on the new industrial saws are outstanding and I highly recommend that you use them. This is one of those, Do as I say, Not as I do!

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

I must say even after losing part of a finger I doubt if I’ll put it back on. I am just too used to using the saw without one, I will however put the splitter on that was on the guard. That would have prevented my accident. Not the guard.

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

I’ve been woodworking since ‘83 and the saw guard is on all the time. Thru the years upgrades have given me anti-kickback pawls and a riving knife. The only time the saw is used without this guard is when dadoing or making non-thru cuts. Then I use a push block. I can’t even recall any “close calls”.

Apparently, most emergency room visits are made by experienced woodworkers and professionals. Disaster can happen in a split second, often with a chain of minor events and distractions. Murphy’s law is always in place.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

Still have all my fingers…knock on wood.. Been woodworking for 35+ years, never used any guards or riving knife on my table saw.

-- Mark, www.mrhudon.com

I still have all ten, although I did sharpen my left index finger a decade back. I used to never use a blade guard or splitter but with my current saw it takes less than a minute to take them off or put back on so I always use them.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

i have no guards – spending most of my life in the printing industry taught me to never take mt eyes off my hands – i’ve known many in the press room to be distracted for a split second and lose a hand or an arm – respect and focus can keep you alive – i get very annoyed when someone tries to talk to me while i’m operating. oh – yes i still have all my digits – several scars from printing – but no loses

-- -erik & christy-

I ALMOST lost my right index finger on my jointer… and that HAS a guard… well… kind of. It’s that thing that with the spring that covers the blades when nothing is passing over them.

—Bobby

-- Silence is golden... duct tape is silver

I don’t use a guard and I have never had a tablesaw accident in the 14 years I’ve had it. I do have a riving knife and I consistently use push sticks and I never get my hands close to the blade while the saw is running. I did cut myself twice quite some time ago on the band saw due to stupidity once and careless the other time. Never say never, but I think I’ve learned my lesson.

-- Mike, American in Norway

I have never used a guard and so far so good, but on a sad note one of my customers and good friend did loose 3 fingers yesterday, havnt gotten the details yet but they were able to sew them back on.

-- Randy I have the right to remain silent, just not the ability ; )

I use it when it’s not in the way. I can still count to 10 after growing up on a farm, then doing wood and electrical work for 40 yrs ;-))

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

I have all my equipment. I guess Im a coward….. i use all the guards and splitter.

-- where is the duct tape.....

I had the splitter, kick-back pawls, and blade guard on my TS when it took a bite out of my right thumb. I hate the blade guard, but use it when it does not interfere with the work/visibility. I am going to devise a quick release for the guard, so that I can keep the splitter/pawls in place most of the time. I never use the saw with the blade fully expended, but rather only about half the gutter depth above the stock, both for cleaner cuts on the wood and less damage to my hands if I do contact the blade again (maybe that’s why I still have my thumb).

When I upgrade my router table fence, I will install a bit guard on it. All other tools that came with guards have them in place and are nearly always used.

-- Doug, Bakersfield, CA - I measured twice, cut it twice, and it is still too short!

As Topamax said, use it when it’s not in the way.
I had my left thumb cut with less then a cm skin left – so it did not drop. That was 46yrs ago when I was 10.
I was cutting betel palm with big long knife (we called it parang) and surely no guard installed.

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

I was taught to always use all the safety equipment I could muster. So do that.

That being said, I find it a PITA to “feel” everything working and moving with the guards and safety glasses on.

When I turn on any power tool, I always remember what my 7th grade shop teacher always used to tell us. “Don’t you dare get my tools rusty!!”