leofbyrne
Member
I agree about the Americans who post on YouTube. I was tempted to remove the guard on my table saw in order to trench as they do, but I cured myself of that madness.
Leo
Table Saw kickback and trimmed finger (Graphic description & images)
- Thread starter BarbaraT
- Start date
Help Support UKworkshop.co.uk:
Leo
leofbyrne
Member
And I am a violinist!!!! Madness, indeed.
spiritburner
Established Member
I removed the guard from day one to be able to use a sled, as the Americans call them. I came a cropper while using it and took off the tip of a finger. A trip to A&E for some treatment. Then I did the same thing, different finger, while cutting a piece of wood, too small to cut safely - but I thought it would be OK. Didn't bother with A&E that time. I knew what to do to treat the wound. The fingers repaired and I fortunate.
I still don't have the guard fitted and it is many years since those events. I made sure that the fence was correctly fitted to avoid kick-back and use push stiicks and a Gripper for most tasks on the table saw.
I learned the hard way. Took it on board and changed my working practices to improve my safety without having that damned guard. I don't recommend working without a guard; but, as long as a person knows the risks, it's a personal decision.
I still don't have the guard fitted and it is many years since those events. I made sure that the fence was correctly fitted to avoid kick-back and use push stiicks and a Gripper for most tasks on the table saw.
I learned the hard way. Took it on board and changed my working practices to improve my safety without having that damned guard. I don't recommend working without a guard; but, as long as a person knows the risks, it's a personal decision.
Had you not followed “the American way” it’s likely you wouldn’t have needed to learn the hard way.
Jacob
New Luddism. Awake and resist!
Exactly.
It's odd how so many ordinary electrical gadgets, even toasters, come with elaborately detailed warnings of the hazards, often in five languages, but woodwork machinery without.
Maybe that should change.
HSE info is also a bit slack and long overdue for revision.
Keith 66
Established Member
When i was about 6 i watched my dad cutting a short piece of wood on his table saw, it kicked back & the wood hit him on the chin & damn near knocked him out.
I use one regularly & have a rule, never cut anything shorter than the table is long & never ever put my hands anywhere near the blade, I have two good push sticks that live on the saw & they are used all the time.
I use one regularly & have a rule, never cut anything shorter than the table is long & never ever put my hands anywhere near the blade, I have two good push sticks that live on the saw & they are used all the time.
I did learn the hard way but, having learned, I can now use the saw with experience and relative safety and don't take the dangers lightly.
Can’t help but think that “the American way” is spawned by the prevalence of SawStop saws. Practically every YouTube woodworker has one, so I guess the “I know what I’m doing” hubris takes over when the stakes of being wrong are only receiving a minor cut rather than losing a finger.
I must admit, I wish SawStop would sell their saws over here. I know Jacob will be along shortly to tell me I don’t need one and that I should just use the saw properly, but it would be nice to know that if I am unwittingly using it incorrectly then at least I will keep all of my digits.
Little unsure what you mean by "located sideways by the riving knife" - could you be a little clearer please?
I think he means that it comes in from the side supported by what looks like scaffolding pipe.
Like this one: https://www.axminstertools.com/axmi...4504?queryID=57228b5d5196d0df4c24a607852684bd
Ah! Ta!
No I mean that the rear of the overhead guard is slotted to take the Riving knife so the guard rides up on it and does not move sideways into the blade unlike those without lateral support as shown on the picture above.
Any chance you could post a picture from the rear, please?
Hey ho!
Inspector
Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck!
The American way has been the North American way of working since the beginnings of powered saws. Tools that came with any kind of safety attachments like crown guards were usually pulled off and tossed then the tool was bought. They never mandated and adopted safer standards and work practices that the UK and Europe did. The SawStop was "spawned" as a result of the thousands of injuries every year working in the traditional American way.
I'd bet dollars to donuts the reason you see so many SawStops in videos is because the influencers are getting them for free to do reviews with and so they are seen in the three backgrounds of their shops when doing other stuff. Subliminal advertising.
There is another thread announcing SawStop saws coming to Europe and the UK in the future so you will be able to get one if you want soonish.
Pete
If there is anything you wish to know I may be able to explain?
Dont you have a table saw sled Paul ? I thought everyone did.
I'm not really a fan of riving knife mounted guards, it means if you want to cut tenons or use a sled it needs to come off. Much better are the ones mounted on a bar fixed to the far side of the table like on everyone's dream saw; the Wadkin PK
Thus.
No need for elaborate set ups, does the job perfectly and fully covered by HSE
Droool....
Last edited:
Similar threads
