Thread: Microjig gripper causers hand/arm to end up over the blade. Is this ok or not?

I bought the grippr with some extras

My reservations were the same as yours as far as the arm/hand over the blade goes

I've started to use it more with smaller fiddlly bits and like it, I feel you need to give it a bit of thought and set it up for each particular cut checking the blade height as well,
I like to position it so I can apply pressure to the timber against the fence
I dont use it for bigger peices and prefer the traditional push stick

in saying all that, I've found it very comfortable when using it with the router table

Hodgo

Most Americans apparently LOVE to use tables saws without a blade guard and find many ways to work without one. Australian OHAS will never condone that. Old school safety such as demonstrated by Kelly Maher is a good place learn basics.

you can still use a riving knife with some degree of safety

I wouldn't use a TS without one, unless I had the entire safety guard in place

Like all tools, there are limits and caveats, and proponents / knockers.

I love the Microjig GRRipper and its flexibility for particular applications, particularly for narrow rips etc where the design of the jig means it is supported against the fence. It still requires significant user awareness and skill though. It is definitely not "the solution to all of your cutting problems."

However, there are some limitations and I have reservations about using it as a push block on wide boards or sheets which involve body parts passing above / over the saw blade, with or without a blade guard!!!!! Many "hobbyist" table saws are supplied with a dinky blade guard which offers about as much protection as a bride's nightie.

I'm a proponent of never having body parts passing over a rotating saw blade, cutter head etc. That said the Microjig GRRipper can only be used with a splitter / riving knife that must clear the underside of the Microjig GRRipper body, which generally means no blade guard.

I find that I'm using it less and less as my first preference is always a "safer" option, such as using a table saw sled for short pieces, or thin rips, etc, but the Microjig GRRipper does have a place in my shed.

I’ll give that Kelly Maher video a watch, thanks.

Yeah the need to remove the blade guard is the other obvious issue. I don’t want to remove mine but I also see very few people using them online, which makes it hard to find demonstrations of good cut technique WITH a blade guard in place. If anyone knows of some (in addition to Kelly Maher) please send them through.

What is everyone using then? Assuming the blade guard is in place, is it two push sticks? Custom cut pushstick? Something else?

Btw Kelly Maher is a boss! Whips up a cross cut sled like he’s slapping some vegemite on toast and in the process drills a bunch of flat head screws without the bit skipping out once! Legend.