I'm a big proponent of the spindle moulder, it has been my mainstay for many years as a wood machinist and architectural joiner. I've used all manner of spindle moulders great and small, from the venerable Kity 623 to modern computer-controlled memory function Martin T27s and I still get a kick out of pressing the "on" button every time no matter the machine, the sound of the cutter block whirling to life and the cutting action on the wood leaving a near perfect surface is sublime.
As Deema says, the dangers between a spindle moulder and a table router are much the same and the safety of these machines is purely down to the individual operator. I've seen quite horrific injuries occur with cordless drills being used by people with a severe lack of grey matter, but no one ever claims that the cordless drill is too dangerous and everyone should use egg-beater drills instead. So long as you practice good work etiquette and use modern tooling there is not much more to go wrong on a spindle moulder than there is on a router, yes, in the event of a kickback a spindle moulder may present a more severe kickback than a router because there is more torque, but to have gotten yourself into that situation to begin with you will have done something very wrong.
A training course is a good idea, but I suspect they are few and far between. My own training consisted of "here's the on button, we need all these put through by tea", a baptism by fire. Roy Sutton's video on the subject is a good starting point and shows very safe working practices, though the use of the old-style of Whitehill block is, by and large, redundant.
Anyone want a bargain excellent spindle moulder.
I'd be very suspicious of
this one
You'd be right to, all the telltale signs of a scam listing, grainy photos, cheap starting bid (the spindle moulder is about £8000 new, before you add on the tooling included), middle of nowhere, offering transport. The way they get you with these scams is that while you manage to get your money back from eBay, you won't get the transport costs back and that's what they pocket at £150 a go.
It used to be easier to spot them as they always used new accounts with no feedback, but it seems they're hacking accounts to make them seem more believable. I've seen the same machines sold several times, even sometimes the exact same machine being sold in the Highlands, Wales, and Ireland, all at once! Ask any of these sellers if you can see the machine before bidding you will never get a reply, ask for a shipping quote and they will reply within minutes.
This is another suspicious one, another very low starting bid for what is a £6000+ saw secondhand.
Martin T74 panel saw, Excellent working condition, Very clean | eBay