Keeping safe!!!

[Arc Light]

O.k. I'm the new guy with a table saw and I have been doing lots of reading on table saw safety and wanted a good explanation for table saw KICKBACK    In my search I came across a fabulous safety video on kick back and wanted to share it with the group.

It never hurts to have a refresher course.  Have a look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVpGi85HfnY

Everyone keep safe!

[Johan Heyns]

Hi Peter

Unfortunately there is no medicine or advice or whatever for stupiduty or letting your attention wander when you are busy with these machines. 

Ask me: I cut off the tip of my left thumb on Wednesday morning with my table saw.      Luckily I did not strike the bone or nail, it is only the meaty part of the tip that is gone.  The wound is about 20mm in diameter.  It was just plain stupidity and not paying attention to what I was doing. 
$#&%^U%$*$*&%(&^ 

Boet, instruct Pinhead to keep quiet.    I'm embarressed enough as it is. 

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[Chinnomotto]

Hope you are feeling better Johan, very lucky, buy a lottery ticket

I've had a few kickbacks in the past, 100% absolutel attention,

and it happens in a split second. I tend to avoid the Scream of Death, when possible

Just looking at the spinning blade scares me

Good luck with the healing

[Johan Heyns]

Thanks Chinney.

[Arc Light]

Johan, Ouch! sorry to hear of your accident.  I  at first wasn't sure about posting the safety video, because I know the group are all experienced wood workers, but accidents can happen even when your experienced.  My only wish is that I had made the post two weeks earlier and it might have helped to prevented your accident

I came across another video that had a seasoned woodworker talk about all his accidents he has  ever had in his shop and why the accidents occurred.  It was great for someone like me, because some of the senarios had me surprised that they would cause an accident.  Always informative to learn from an accident.  I'll try and find the video again to post here.

It might be great to let this thread become a posting area for accidents people have had, and why they occured.  I am sure we could all learn from each others mistakes

Hope you heal up fast my friend!

[Arc Light]

Here is the other video I mentioned http://thewoodwhisperer.com/episode-52-my-mistake/

While I am at it I will add a close call scenario I had with my miter saw.  I was cutting a compound angle and not thinking place my hand over the fence to help hold my piece in place (the thumb held the piece as the fingers overlapped the fence)  Well half way through the cut I realized the blade was heading directly for my fingers hanging over the back.  What's interesting about the miter saw is that most of your attention is up front at the bed area of the saw and where your piece is being cut, what I didn't take into account is the blades position is quite different than a 90 degree angle, and the area behind the fence where on a 90 degree cut would be safe was now a very bad place for fingers.

I realized this before it was a big mistake, but now know that on a miter saw anywhere behind the fence is a no no for putting body parts.  Just my two cents for everyone next time your using your miter saw.

[Canuck]

Yeah, like Peter mentioned you should never use fingers, hands as hold downs!  Use sacrificial pieces of wood for that purpose at all times.  Toggle clamps are very cheap compared to finger surgery!  Push sticks should always be used on the table saw, without exception!!!  Zero clearance inserts should always be used as well 

[Roby]

Hey no fair.  Pinhead railed on my when I cut my finger.  Why does Johan get off so easy. 

As far as kickback, you know I take all kickback feeders off of my equipment on day one, but I once did have a board fly across the room and embedd in a carboard box full of bullets.  That could have been bad.

[Canuck]

Here is the other video I mentioned http://thewoodwhisperer.com/episode-52-my-mistake/

I just have to mention, the first incident from that video is a good example of even after realizing the error of his ways he still came up with a bad way of cutting that plywood...that's a perfect example of the use of a sled...you should never run something between the blade and fence that can be pinched!!   

[Canuck]

Hey no fair.  Pinhead railed on my when I cut my finger.  Why does Johan get off so easy. 

Yeah, Ou Toppie can be thankful it's our 13th wedding anniversary today, otherwise 'Pinhead' would be all over that one 

[Johan Heyns]

Well Boet, Happy anniversary!!  Great, keep it up.   Thanks for keeping Pinhead off my back.  I've had enough stick from this side!!

I married when I was 22 so I'm now in my 28th year.