Thread: Do any tools scare you?

As said fear is an emotion , just as joy is , there is no single definition for any emotion that is the same for everyone
Having worked with machinery that could kill you if you made a mistake , any mistake made me very carefull , was it fear that it could kill me or respect because I knew what the potential was .

If you do however have a real fear of a pices of machinery then don't use it until you have had some better instruction on how to use it safely, even if this means asking someone to show you how.
The fool who attempts cutting a tree branch with a power saw while standing on a ladder when he has a fear of heights, just to prove he's not scared, in my book is just that a fool.

Real fear will make you make the wrong decisions and will get you hurt but lack of respect will cause you to get hurt far more often.

There are some tools I have and use at home now that I take extra care when using and others I treat with less respect and these are the ones that bite. My last injury was a small puncture by a screwdriver that slipped and stabbed my finger ,

Wow, I had no idea what this thread would stir up such comments / thoughts / emotions etc

As said fear is an emotion , just as joy is , there is no single definition for any emotion that is the same for everyone

That's what I'm trying to work out - if when someone says that a tool or machine 'scares' them, are they really afraid, or just exaggerating for effect?

Usually when I say I'm afraid of something, it's because it's something I have no control over and has a real potential to hurt, maim, or kill. I'd be very afraid if I encountered a great white whilst in the surf, no question. I would cack my dacks. It brings on the fight or flight response, or you just freeze in terror. That's what fear means to me.

So when people talk about being scared of tools, I just can't help thinking that's a bad frame of mind to be in when using one.

Lou can call me a chest-thumping wanker all he likes, but I honestly do not experience fear when using any tool. The words I would use are cautious, careful, wary. But not scared. If I was scared of something, I probably wouldn't do it. Like jumping out of an aeroplane. No way would I do that.

Yes I know, I'm a chicken.

Originally Posted by Arry

Wow, I had no idea what this thread would stir up such comments / thoughts / emotions etc

Well maybe you can help clarify it. When you say you're scared of your circular saw, I see a picture of a bloke standing there with a look of terror on his face, ready to drop it and run. Is that what you mean, or are you just a bit nervous when you're using it?

Originally Posted by silentC

If I was scared of something, I probably wouldn't do it. Like jumping out of an aeroplane. No way would I do that.

Piece of cake Silent, best fun I've had with my dacks on.

Won't do it again though, 1 from 1 is 100% success rate.
9999 from 10000 is 99.99% success rate and I don't like those odds.

Besides I've crossed it off my bucket list, I don't need to do it again.

I might have done it in my 20's when I did a lot of rock climbing, white water rafting and that sort of thing. Sometime after I turned 30 the self-preservation sense kicked in. My idea of a thrill these days is driving our old ride on mower which has no brakes.

Originally Posted by silentC

Well maybe you can help clarify it. When you say you're scared of your circular saw, I see a picture of a bloke standing there with a look of terror on his face, ready to drop it and run. Is that what you mean, or are you just a bit nervous when you're using it?

Ok

I am not terrified of it otherwise I wouldn't use it.

I am nervous when using it and I would rather use any other method to cut the wood if I were able to.

Cheers

Fear can be dangerous. It can easily become all consuming to a level where other important considerations are ignored. Healthy respect, on the otherhand, is exactly that....healthy.
Any tool has the potential to injure. Some are obvious while others are quite subtle but dangerous nonetheless. Particularly in the hands of someone scared.

Use to be scared of my biscuit jointer
Attachment 216159
But I got over it.

I am not terrified of it otherwise I wouldn't use it.

I am nervous when using it and I would rather use any other method to cut the wood if I were able to.

Fair enough. Understandable to be a bit nervous with something like that if you've only used one 3 times.

Same with any tool, you just need to be aware of what can go wrong and make sure you're not standing in the firing line if it does. I haven't had one kickback but I know it can happen and you don't want it coming back into your leg or something. I think kickback is the most likely thing to happen and understanding what causes it in the first place will help prevent it.

Table saws are much more dangerous I reckon. I've heard of people being skewered when an off-cut contacts the back of the blade.

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

Use to be scared of my biscuit jointer
Attachment 216159
But I got over it.

I would have put a biscuit jointer among the safest bladed power tools around!

Originally Posted by Astrodog

I would have put a biscuit jointer among the safest bladed power tools around!

Not if you do something completely stupid, like holding a piece of wood in your hand whilst your excitedly try out the new toy, the fingers were only the second cut the machine had made.

Was wondering how you managed finger/blade contact, mine requires a fair degree of force to retract the guard.....