Well… that was stupid…

[S854]

I recently retired from a rewarding driving career… the most memorable being the last 25 years as a mixer jockey (concrete truck driver)…

Getting ready for retirement I spent considerable time researching “How not to get bored”… especially during the typically frigid Montana winters (not necessarily this year)… one suggestion i found, which stuck in my head, was to become “ruthlessly organized”… I jumped in with both feet, purchasing numerous black-and-yellow totes for all the random stuff in the garage… I wanted to get that stuff off my workbench/waist-level shelves/floor… I also purchased lumber to make shelves for the wasted space over my garage door…

so far so good, eh? well here comes STUPID…

As I was ripping a 2x4 on my somewhat antiquated table saw (read no safety guards whatsoever … you can see where this is going…) I managed, somehow, to get a finger where it didn’t belong… Julie was kind enough to drive me to the ER as I tried my best to keep from fainting…

Fast forward to the next day, in the surgical center, where the doc was hoping to reattach the severed tendon and nerves… and my luck continued to deteriorate… the damage was so extensive, I had the choice of a rigid, basically useless finger with no sensation or amputation… what a choice…

Getting back into the garage today, to begin cleaning up the mess I so abruptly left behind two days ago, I was greeted by the Ryobi… which, in my mind, had taken on a cartoonish, evil grin… two days ago I had already decided to sell the offending contraption… then, as I looked at my bandaged hand and contemplated life with a “stump”, I had an epiphany… I couldn’t, in good conscious, place Another DIY’er in harms way… it was past time for Ryobi’s retirement…

I’ve already come to the realization the table saw is just an inanimate object performing exactly as it was designed…that it was my own irresponsible behavior which caused my plight…

once things are healed, I’ll spend considerable, quality time in my garage… this time, disassembling the saw… nut-by-nut, bolt-by-bolt until it’s a harmless pile of recyclable pieces… unable to inflict any more damage…

…I might even get some resolution out of my stupidity…

 

[SARG]

I share the shame of learning most lessons the hard way.

 

[scootr]

Sorry to hear about your accident. You could also resolve yourself to learning the safe operation of the tool?

 

[CH4Ohio]

Glad you'll live to fight another day, despite the setback!

My last table saw accident was when it grabbed a thin piece of waste material along the fence and launched it through a cardboard box about 10 feet away.

Can't say enough about keeping all guards in place, blade adjusted at the proper height, proper support for materials, and always using push-sticks, push-blocks, feather-boards, etc. Things can go WRONG in a hurry.

 

[jjeff]

For me anyway when a tool or pos equipment wrongs me cuz of my irresponsible cobblery or continued repair attempts to no avail, I usually gratifyingly at the time destroy it with a sledge hammer, large beating device, fire, occasionally have used my tractor loader and more recently my mini x. Lol in any case I feel for you.

 

[thclimer]

Ouch, sorry to hear that.

If your interested in safer type of saw there is a brand of table saw called "SawStop" when it detects a something like a finger it immediately stops the blade by slamming an aluminum block into the blade. I think it senses something conductive and the blade is destroyed. Not cheap, but then again, what is a finger worth?

 

[CH4Ohio]

Ouch, sorry to hear that.

If your interested in safer type of saw there is a brand of table saw called "SawStop" when it detects a something like a finger it immediately stops the blade by slamming an aluminum block into the blade. I think it senses something conductive and the blade is destroyed. Not cheap, but then again, what is a finger worth?

It's also a one-time use on that saw. They demonstrate it by sticking a hot dog into the blade and it STOPS immediately without cutting the hot dog. But the motor and mechanism has to be replaced.

 

[thclimer]

Wow the motor too! I thought it was just the blade.

 

[S854]

I don’t do a lot of woodworking… just small things around the house…

Right now the plan is to see what’s possible with my circular saw/demolition saw/jig saw… lots of good ideas available for: “do i really need a table saw”?

 

[CH4Ohio]

For me anyway when a tool or pos equipment wrongs me cuz of my irresponsible cobblery or continued repair attempts to no avail, I usually gratifyingly at the time destroy it with a sledge hammer, large beating device, fire, occasionally have used my tractor loader and more recently my mini x. Lol in any case I feel for you.

I'm really struggling to understand how this is an appropriate response . . . Especially if it's your fault . . . You just beat it to pieces with a sledge hammer? Hope you're not teaching this approach to others or impressionable youngsters . . .

Everyone deals with it in their own way, I guess.

 

[jjeff]

Ouch, sorry to hear that.

If your interested in safer type of saw there is a brand of table saw called "SawStop" when it detects a something like a finger it immediately stops the blade by slamming an aluminum block into the blade. I think it senses something conductive and the blade is destroyed. Not cheap, but then again, what is a finger worth?

Saw those it destroys the blade also, around both my old gaurdless table saws I have homemade push sticks everywhere. I usually just use a skill saw for most ripping anyway.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Wow the motor too! I thought it was just the blade.

I'm going to fact-check myself on that. Woodworker friend checked them out years ago and that was the story. I'll see if there's been improvements . . .


*******************

Correction to above -- Looks like activating the safety stop feature requires replacing a brake module for about $120 and "maybe" the blade. Motor is NOT affected on current units. That's MUCH better.

My bad . . .

Interesting though, as I was reading their FAQ, it mentioned that cutting wet or green wood could activate the system. There's a warning light that tells you if the material is "conductive" and you can choose to run it in "BYPASS" mode if you want to avoid activating the brake. Another safety to bypass / defeat . . .

 

[S854]

…I usually just use a skill saw for most ripping anyway…

I was ripping a 2x4 when the accident occurred…

Have you ripped something as narrow? Care to share any tips? (I’m not sure how to balance my circular saw on it)

 

[jjeff]

Well for me it prevents me from trying to use or repair it anymore. I repurpose a lot of stuff, sometimes I've had enough of something to the point of complete destruction.

 

[TractorTech]

Sorry for you and the accident you suffered. Accidents happen with any tool, powered or not. Safe operation and knowing the correct use of them is important, which I know you knew as it took this long to incur the accident. The accident happens usually due to a shortcut in proper procedures or lack of maintenance to the tool.

Safety improvements try to prevent us from having accidents, but they can still occur. One device that is a tool for table saws and radial arm saws is a simple pusher that can be made out of wood, but again, when we get in a hurry and shortcut doing something like this, the accident occurs. Don't beat yourself up!

 

[jjeff]

I was ripping a 2x4 when the accident occurred…

Have you ripped something as narrow? Care to share any tips? (I’m not sure how to balance my circular saw on it)

I've put my hand on the saw deck and use a finger as guide please don't attempt if you either don't completely understand or intimidated by using a skill saw. I used to be a rough framing carpenter.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I was ripping a 2x4 when the accident occurred…

Have you ripped something as narrow? Care to share any tips? (I’m not sure how to balance my circular saw on it)

I don't think the table saw is the wrong tool for this . . .

Somewhat depends on how long it is, but basically I'd just use featherboards to keep it lined up with the fence and push it through with push-sticks and/or push-blocks. Don't get your hands anywhere near the blade. Keep the guard in place so the spreader can help manage the kerf and you have some kick-back protection. Also helps you stay focused on exactly where the spinning blade is.



If you want to rip with a circular saw, lay 2 or more 2x4, 2x6, whatever, down side by side and let the shoe of your saw lie flat on those. Don't try to balance it just on the one. (A lot of saws have a handy little (not-often-used) L-bracket that slides into guides in front of the saw and you can hang that over the edge of the peice you're ripping. Helps keep you straight and it's easier than fooling with clamps and a long straight-edge. (It's a portable fence that clamps right on your circular saw. See if you might already have one.)

Just my 2 cents . . .

 

[S854]

My old (second-hand) saw doesn’t have a guard, or a splitter… the only thing protruding out the top is the blade (and the fence)

 

[jjeff]

Imo as others mentioned push sticks are the most important safety device when using a table saw.

 

[CH4Ohio]

My old (second-hand) saw doesn’t have a guard, or a splitter… the only thing protruding out the top is the blade (and the fence)

In that case, the suggestions above refer to your NEXT saw which I'm sure will have guards!