Operating a Table Saw

[ssgp2]

I got this email and wandered if anyone on this site would put a finger to test the safety.

"Operating a Table Saw:

Before I read the intro, I wasn't going to watch this as I thought someone was going to get their finger cut off. Quite the opposite . . .
For those of you who use a table saw, you will find this fascinating. You are going to enjoy this one. Watch all of it!
If you have never seen "Time Warp," it's a show all about super-duper slow motion cameras capturing things we take for granted and never see as they really are. In this case, they take photos of this guy's new invention. What a combination!"


[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=E3mzhvMgrLE&NR=1[/video]

 

[Force_Multiplier]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

that's awesome

 

[Jer]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

As cool as that is I still wouldn't do it.

 

[flounderv2]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

My dad works at home depot and the manufactures that have those devices on their saws come in every so often and do this exact demonstration. I wish they would have had this when I was in woodshop in high school since it would have saved me a few stitches.

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

We watched that on Disco Channel HD when it was on. It was also on the show, 'Cool Tools'

 

[USMCj]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

That is cool! But I wonder how well it would work if he put his finger on it a bit faster, same pace as you would if you were cutting a 2x4 lets say.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

The technology is sound and it has been out for around 12 years to my knowledge. None of my three have them and it isn't a priority for me as it is a pricey feature. Kick back is a more likely source of injury when running a table saw than being cut by the blade though lord knows it can hurt you really fast!

But it is pretty amazing just the same!

QQ still has all ten of his digits intact after many years of running table, sliding compound mitre, radial arm, circular, reciprocating, chain, and many other types of saws.

 

[Mo_Zam_Beek]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

I wonder how the bearings and brushes in the motor are after that.

Good luck

 

[TLong]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

MZB...they are done! The guy that invented even says, a motor is cheaper than losing a body part.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

Yes, I am very impressed as to what it is, and does.

But yes, I too would like to see what happens during general use and with finger contact 'at speed'.

Not a slam, just a question.

 

[gei]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

I had a dentist that liked to do woodwork, one day he cut his finger OFF, tried to find it and go to hospital & have re-attached, he couldn't find it. His cat was in the garage and he thought the cat ate it.

Went to hospital and came back home and found the finger, cat didn't eat it.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sean the Nailer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, I am very impressed as to what it is, and does.

But yes, I too would like to see what happens during general use and with finger contact 'at speed'.

Not a slam, just a question. </div></div>

I went to a Woodcraft store and watched a demo. If you placed it in there at the pace you normally feed you are going to cut through about 1/4-1/2" of flesh. Still, that generally will save the digit. If you happen to have a bad accident where you were to fall across the table (it has happened) it would definitely be worth your while. I don't have the cheese for one but it is a great concept.

Josh

 

[Chiller]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

Better living through technology.

 

[wdebo]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

It's a great system I had one. Pressure treated lumber and that system doesn't work.

 

[Rhys]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

As I understand the guy who invented the system was turned down by most every company to make them standard equipment due to cost. Now he serves as an expert witness for people who cut fingers off pushing from the side of the saw manufacturer being neglagent because the technology was available. In other words a first class prick.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rhys</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As I understand the guy who invented the system was turned down by most every company to make them standard equipment due to cost. Now he serves as an expert witness for people who cut fingers off pushing from the side of the saw manufacturer being neglagent because the technology was available. In other words a first class prick. </div></div>

Sounds about right.

During my midlife crisis about 16 years ago, I went back to my roots, took a much lower paying gig at a friends cabinet shop and basically enjoyed myself doing millwork and finish carpentry for a year and a half. We had Delta Unisaws as our main table saws and smaller trim table saws for installation use, along with whatever else we needed. Every so often our insurance rep would visit and scold us for the lack of the absurd arm-safety guard available to install on most shop table saws. We had the clean Bismayer fences on our saws and they were great and unobstructed when handling the largest sheet goods and most dense hardwoods. They are impractical, cumbersome and in nearly every case I have witnessed where they are present, they are disabled.

It's rather like the absence of a safety on revolvers and some pistols and rifles: There is no escaping the explicit danger of such implements if one isn't exceedingly careful.

Sadly, we are encouraged to assume less responsibility for our actions and indiscretions.

 

[MBass300]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The technology is sound and it has been out for around 12 years to my knowledge. None of my three have them and it isn't a priority for me as it is a pricey feature. Kick back is a more likely source of injury when running a table saw than being cut by the blade though lord knows it can hurt you really fast!

</div></div>

+1. Kickback really sucks! This happened to me last year while I was feeding a piece of 1x6 maple through a table saw:

I don't know what hurt worse: the injury or being uninsured and getting a $1800 hospital bill.

(Actually I do know. The bill was worse, and it took longer to recover from.LOL)







9

 

[Maser]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

Anytime I see or hear anything related to a table saw, I can't help but to think of an accident that happened in my high school wood shop class. We normally had a partner when we were on the table saw and I was cutting a rather long length of wood and I let go of it so I could go to the other side to continue to feed it and the second I let go, the blade caught the wood and launched it through the office window like a spear. After that, I was only allowed to use the band saw from then on.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

Since you were a kid I won't bust your balls on that! But it is important to keep in mind that blade is flying at a high rate of speed with no small amount of torque.

One thing that pisses me off when using a table saw is when unsolicited "helpful" folks decide to assist me in the outfeed of long stock. I usually provide for this with a roller stand or some other means of supporting the weight of the stick and keeping it level. Sometimes the little trim table saws are employed for just a few rips like for fillers on cabinet corners or casings. These aren't terribly heavy but some people don't realize that their grasping of the end of the stick can cause a kick back.

Nevertheless, I often have to hurt some helpfully inclined person's feelings by waiving them away when they attempt to muckle on to the end of my rips. Again, another source of kick backs, cut limbs or a fu__ed rips!

SG,

That injury looks like it might have broken a a bone too. Was the piece that hit you the waste of a cross cut that was against the fence? There should only be air between the end of the waste cut and the fence but I bet you know that now!

Ouch!

 

[MBass300]

Re: Operating a Table Saw

No broken bones, no major veins or arteries, and no nerve damage. I was <span style="font-style: italic"> extremely</span> lucky.

When it happened, I was making some raised panel wainscoting for a dining room, and decided to fabricate my own outlet and swith plates out of the same maple as a little "extra" for the customer. I was pushing a piece of 1x6 through the saw sideways, to "slice off" a 1/4" thick piece of "stock" to make the plates out of.
The blade bound up and kicked it back with enough force to split the push stick I was using in half, and send the 1x6 flying back into my wrist. The "L" shape of the wound was caused by the corner on the end of the board.
Like I said, I was very lucky! I was playing guitar again before I even took the stitches out.

It was a learning experience, though. I am very careful when using the saw, and if I'm doing something that could potentially cause a kick-back, I make sure my body is to the side, and not behind the saw.