Lesson learnt table saw - brusing yet to come out :(

**Brian45** · 8th March 2020, 02:07 PM

Today I received a wake up call.

Project was ripping ply for screw boxes. Now, I've worked with timber for best on 40 years and have not had any issue to date. Today was a bad judgement call and pleased only my ego and body bruising the end result. Not that I've looked where I was hit, as its still smarting

.

So what happened,
Ripping ply down to 140 mm widths was fine, then I had to rip 400 mm long pieces into 75 mm wide. Not one to keen to run fingers that close to a spinning blade, so I went to get my push stick (good decision). Unable to locate any push sticks (should have been a warning sign). As I only had a couple to do I just grabbed a 400 mm x 50mm piece of ply to push the board through (bad decision). Subconsciously I was saying this is a dad decision nothing holding the front of the board down

. Ply I was ripping was about 80mm wide and 400 long, first couple were fine, last one YEP the front lifted up came up over the blade and spun like a boomerang and struck me at about warp 7. The thud was that load the missus came out from inside the house to see if I was ok.

Once her initial concern were eased, she asked what happened (another bad decision

) I told her, pleased I still had ear muffs on however I got her message load and clear.

So why am I telling you this - 1. our machinery we all use are not toys and a poor judgement call and a split second you may end up in the emergency department with a long road to recovery. 2. Hopefully my lucky outcome is a wake up call to others DONT TAKE SHORT CUTS. 3. If you don't want wife to ear bash you don't do the above.

At least I had the good judgement to not use fingers close to the blade, I also did use a push stick of sorts, just NOT the correct one, and yes I'm off with myself.

I've now stopped doing my boxes and making more push sticks

.

**BobL** · 8th March 2020, 02:27 PM

Thanks for sharing and reminding everyone.

A solid OH guard that holds workpieces down onto the table are an even better preventative

**rustynail** · 8th March 2020, 03:44 PM

Saws without guards - My pet hate.

**riverbuilder** · 8th March 2020, 04:39 PM

This is why most rip fences are adjustable forward and back, or are on decent saws. in this situation the blade end of the fence only needs to be at about the centre of the blade or even a little less, so once the ripping is cut it has room to move away from the back side (uplifting) part of the blade. but if you were doing it without a riving knife and a guard, well I’ll say no more. Learn your lesson.

**BobL** · 8th March 2020, 05:08 PM

The ordinary fence on my TS has a T-slot on the sides to which I mounted a short piece of Al extrusion to act as an add on fence that can be moved front to back. Usually I set it so the back end of the fence is just before the midpoint of the blade.

FF3nce.jpg Standoffs.jpg

**Brian45** · 8th March 2020, 09:48 PM

I should have said, this is a small portable table saw, an ELU guess its similar to a Dewalt in size. In hindsight and reflection of what happened there were many things I did wrong and short cutting was a major issue. At the end of the day while I feel stupid, if people read this and stops someone else from doing something stupid then I'm pleased I posted this.

I have looked at where it struck me and the bruise runs from the back of my kidney to just before belly button, and black as a bats as%.

**BobL** · 8th March 2020, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Brian45

I should have said, this is a small portable table saw, an ELU guess its similar to a Dewalt in size. In hindsight and reflection of what happened there were many things I did wrong and short cutting was a major issue. At the end of the day while I feel stupid, if people read this and stops someone else from doing something stupid then I'm pleased I posted this.

I have looked at where it struck me and the bruise runs from the back of my kidney to just before belly button, and black as a bats as%.

Ouch.

This website showing many hundreds of accident reports involving WW gear is quite sobering
WWA Accident Survey
A few years back I did systematic search through the 280 odd TS injury reports and found that about half were kickback injuries.

The one about getting hit in the head by a belt sander power tool is funny until you read about the serious case of acquired brain injury.

**Mobyturns** · 10th March 2020, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Brian45

In hindsight and reflection of what happened there were many things I did wrong and short cutting was a major issue.

Yours is not a unique story by any means, and good to hear that you escaped relatively lightly. It highlights just how complacent many wood workers become with tools and machines that have the capacity to inflict serious injuries when they are not operated "safely." Often its the "its only a quick job, it'll be OK" attitude that catches them out.

**dinosour** · 10th March 2020, 12:53 PM

My grandfather ( woodwork pro) always set fence exact at front of blade and slightly wider on th back of the blade giving a little clearance on the exit.

**elanjacobs** · 10th March 2020, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by rustynail

Saws without guards - My pet hate.

One of the main reasons I don't watch woodworking videos on youtube. That and saws without riving knives.

**Chesand** · 10th March 2020, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

One of the main reasons I don't watch woodworking videos on youtube. That and saws without riving knives.

Yes, they scare the living bejesus out of me too.

**woodPixel** · 10th March 2020, 06:04 PM

Using a good home made riving knife that fit the blade (minus a smidgeon) was the best thing I ever did.

The quality of the work improved incredibly. Safety - not one bog down, catch, dust or otherwise.

An impressive self-upgrade.

**AlexS** · 13th March 2020, 04:50 PM

You're far more likely to be injured by a kickback than getting cut by a blade, although a cut may be more severe. A guard will protect you if a mishap happens, but a riving knife and a correctly set fence will remove the cause of a kickback.

When I was at Sturt, the fibro wall behind the table saw had a number of punctures from kickbacks, each autographed by the perpetrator. There were some now well-known names there.

**rustynail** · 13th March 2020, 05:48 PM

Gees, I thought a knife was a given.

**elanjacobs** · 13th March 2020, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by rustynail

Gees, I thought a knife was a given.

Not in 'murica (aka Freedom Land). Ain't nobody gonna tell me how to be safe.

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