Accident - beware of rushing with a table saw...

[rwalkerphl]

Well guys,

I just got back here - I was working on my second O10 last Saturday, had the two horn baffles attached, and was about to attach the tweeter baffle. When I looked at the piece, it was cross cut, and I wanted the grain going with the length, as it would then be easier to cut the hole for the tweeters. I had left the blade high from cutting 30 degree angles, and 60 degree angles with the jig (all cut from arauco). I was on a timeline,a as I had already applie the glue to the other boards. I grabbed an off cut of baltic birch play, measured it up and put it on the table to rip. I was almost through, and the board kicked back. Before I knew it, I had cut my index finger down to the biggest nuckle in half, and taken a piece of top of my second finger off on my right hand...

I ended up in hospital for 2 days, but, very fortunately, an awesome orthopaedic surgeon saved my finger, and I may lose just the tip.

Lesson learned: more haste, less speed, and keep the blade down as low as possible at all times...

If there happens to be any kind soul in the south Atlanta area who could help me get the last few pieces cut and assembled, I should be able to do most of the rest... if not, I think I will have at least a 3 month delay...

Robin.

[Tim A]

That is awful. My best wishes for a speedy recovery. This is a lesson for everyone here. There's not a day goes by that I don't fire up a saw, and think about 'what if'? Please people, let's be careful. A piece of wood or bead of glue is NOT WORTH AN APPENDAGE.

[rwalkerphl]

Thanks Tim. So true...

I just had a friend of mine call me, and will be helping me finish up my project, so I am good to go!

Robin.

[Harley]

Ouch!!!

Sorry to hear that. I hope you recovery is speedy, full and without infection.

[MYork]

Ouch!!!

Sorry to hear that. I hope you recovery is speedy, full and without infection.

Harley said it all! Mark

[LelandCrooks]

Oh man, you have my sympathies. A little over a yr ago I got off VERY lucky. Cutting a dado using a standard blade, making multiple cuts. Kicked back, cut my third finger from the tip to the first knuckle about half through. Could easily have been as bad as yours. Patched it up myself, as it was unstitchable due to the nail. Butterfly bandages and gauze. The nail still isn't right, and the tip is very sensitive.

Anyway, after patching it, I immediately set out to get something for safety. Saw Stop saws are just out of budget, I found these:


I make no cuts without them. None, ever. Even using the sled. They are worth every penny, and are awesome on the router table.
http://www.microjig.com/

[rwalkerphl]

Hey Leland,

These are awesome! I wish I had them before last weekend...

Which do you have, the basic or advanced?

Thanks!
Robin.

[LelandCrooks]

I have one advanced and one std. I use the std most of the time.

Until you've experienced the instantaneous damage that can occur, it's really hard to appreciate just how dangerous a table saw is. These things will apply enough force to stop the blade if you get in a pinch. At least on my 1 hp belt drive. Dead true rips that never walk away from the fence, never a burned cut.

[Harley]

....A little over a yr ago I got off VERY lucky..../[/url]

Same here. A piece ( about 10" x 15" of wood got jammed for some reason, I turned off the saw, left the wood in place, bent down to make a few adjustments to the saw height, pressed the green switch and I could feel the ply skim over my scalp. pulling strands of hair as it whistled past and crashed into a table about 4 metres ( 12'-0" ) away.

If I had had my head another two inches higher, I'd have never got to drive your truck and meet your lovely better half, that's for sure- you'd have been sending a sympathy card to The War Office!

[David Carter]

Robin, so sorry to hear about your accident. Back in February I took a chunk of finger and nail off the tip of my middle finger on the right hand. It was very painful and the next 2-3 months were very frustrating because of all the things I couldn't do (I looked kinda funny playing bass with my pointer and ring fingers with a big white bandage on the middle finger ) But I was lucky compared to your situation. I will live with a sensitive spot on the tip of the finger for the rest of my life, but, other than that, I'm no worse for the wear. I sure wish you the best for a speedy recovery!

[Chris_Allen]

I'm absolutely terrified of my table saw and it's one of the few things I take my time over. Even if I work half the speed compared to using a circular saw, I can still do it in half the time.

I hope this injury hasn't ruined any instrument playing, but if ever you needed a reason for being late, that's a damn good one. Even though it was a serious injury for you I think it's great that you reinforced the safety issue.

I sincerely hope it heals well and you get back to cab building in good time.

Chris.

[Chris_Allen]

The micro jig looks really good, but I simply don't have the balls to run my saw without the guard. It's a really good reminder though, if the guard is in the way of the cut, the cut is too dangerous.

[LelandCrooks]

That's one thing the european saws have all over the american ones. The guards are well designed. Most of ours are completely in the way. The saw I use was built before the guys who design guards were born.

[rwalkerphl]

Hey All,

Thanks for the good wishes. I feel like I have come across a great community of people here... as an aside, I do play trumpet, but no on a regular basis. So the accident does affect my playing, it is not a large enough part of my life to be an issue...

Anyhow, I am going to order a couple of the Microjig grippers. I won't be able to use them for a while, but I will be all set when I do.

Thanks again.
Robin.

[Tim A]

The micro jig looks really good, but I simply don't have the balls to run my saw without the guard. It's a really good reminder though, if the guard is in the way of the cut, the cut is too dangerous.

I took mine off, no choice if I want to rip smething less than an inch wide. I learned to use a table saw while working as a carpenter, and everything I learned was wrong. That doesn't stop me from doing some of them, when Harley was here he lit into me for ripping a very narrow piece of wood with no gaurd or push stick. I try to use a stick all the time, but sometimes and old habit gets the better of me. Still, nothing less than 2" wide without a stick. Please don't ask me how I do that safely. First of all it's not safe, and secondly I'm not going to lend to anyone else's injury.

One good point for those learning a table saw: The blade height adjustment isn't just there to make the blade higher, it makes it lower too. I know it's difficult to make yourself lower it when going from 3/4" to 1/2", or 1/2" to 1/4", but the blade should be adjusted so it is just high enough to clear your workpiece. If you did happen to slip and have a catrastrophe, the lesser exposed blade will be of huge benefit.