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Post by beagles on Dec 27, 2009 10:39:45 GMT -6
I've been working with my router (both in a table and not), planer, jointer, and TS.
I got to be wondering which tool is most dangerous.
Of the four, my planer seems most benign. The jointer comes next... But I am of a mixed mind regarding the router and the TS. The TS can do a lot of damage and throw things fast and far. The router can toss things too -- Try the inadvertent climb cut with the board between the bit and the fence. It seems more can go wrong with a router set-up than a TS set-up.
I recognize that the safety question is largely determined by the user's mind set & attitude, but with that as a given, what do you think?
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Post by dcarter636 on Dec 27, 2009 11:05:13 GMT -6
I check and double check the table saw far more often than any other power tool because it can remove all your fingers and half of your hand before you know what happened, while most others will just take apart a couple finger tips before you reflexively yank clear.
A lot of folks say they are afeared of the radial arm saw but it's blade path is obviously visible and it doesn't really sneak up on your left thumb or hand unless your attention is elsewhere.
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Post by Leo Voisine on Dec 27, 2009 12:43:15 GMT -6
All cutting tools are created equal
Do NOT underestimate a single one of them.
EVERY one of them will do serious damage to the body.
Add to the list of dangerous tools ---- HAND tools -- even a screwdriver.
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Post by larryh86gt on Dec 27, 2009 12:54:14 GMT -6
. Add to the list of dangerous tools ---- HAND tools -- even a screwdriver. Leo has this right. I managed to stick a screwdriver in my right eye way back around 1976 or so. Larry |
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Joe Lyddon
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Post by Joe Lyddon on Dec 27, 2009 13:18:44 GMT -6
I always heard that the Jointer was the most dangerous...
If the grain isn't just right, the board can Flip taking your hand into the cutter... Sam Maloof got caught like that on his jointer; "a stupid mistake" as he described it.
Treat ALL tools with respect... powered or hand tools!
... it's so easy to get caught with a chisel it isn't funny!
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Post by TDHofstetter on Dec 27, 2009 13:20:05 GMT -6
Leo has this right. I managed to stick a screwdriver in my right eye way back around 1976 or so. I... can't... my puckerparts CANNOT pucker hard enough to read that twice! |
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Post by TDHofstetter on Dec 27, 2009 13:26:11 GMT -6
I've been working with my router (both in a table and not), planer, jointer, and TS. I got to be wondering which tool is most dangerous. Of the four, my planer seems most benign. The jointer comes next... But I am of a mixed mind regarding the router and the TS. The TS can do a lot of damage and throw things fast and far. The router can toss things too -- Try the inadvertent climb cut with the board between the bit and the fence. It seems more can go wrong with a router set-up than a TS set-up. I recognize that the safety question is largely determined by the user's mind set & attitude, but with that as a given, what do you think? The tool most dangerous is that one you underestimate the worst. No matter which it is. The shaper is generally regarded as the most inherently dangerous in terms of number & severity of injury among those who use one, mostly because it's got a large (often unguarded) cutterhead FULLY on TOP & available to become a large horizontal chipper/shredder when it's running. Also, it's relatively quiet. The jointer & router table (large bit) typically come in next in terms of severity of injury, but the table saw in terms of frequency of injury. While the table saw slices off parts you can sometimes put back, you CANNOT put back any of the stuff you lose to a jointer or router table - just like a shaper, they'll spray YouBurger all over the back wall. Table saw for frequency, though, 'cause so many run one unguarded & they very often run very quietly & it's so easy to forget that the blade is there & moving & hungry. |
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Post by sachbvn on Dec 27, 2009 14:10:39 GMT -6
I guess one could say that the DC system is most dangerous.... or....lack there of - wood dust is really not too good for you. Anyways....that's not really my answer.
They are all very dangerous - I'd agree - TS accidents tend to be more maming than other tools.... the router table is probably up there pretty good on the list too.... of course - you aren't likely to lose an entire hand.
ALSO - I think table saws are much more common in DIY-ers shops than a router table, jointer, etc.... SO - I think a lot of "weekend warrior" remodel guys who sometimes may not have the best safety habits - get hurt on TS who would probably hurt themselves (or be inclined to due to their work habits) if they owned them. Make sense?
Zac
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Post by larryh86gt on Dec 27, 2009 14:47:15 GMT -6
Leo has this right. I managed to stick a screwdriver in my right eye way back around 1976 or so. I... can't... my puckerparts CANNOT pucker hard enough to read that twice! I was the dock foreman at a trucking company. I went in on a Saturday morning to feed the German Shepard we had on the dock as a robbery deterrent. I was either lengthening or shortening its chain, holding the chain down with 1 foot and pulling up the chain in one hand, screwdriver in the other hand prying on a link, it slipped out and up into the corner of my eye. Drove myself to the hospital. Fortunately no blindness in the right eye as the result of being careless. Hey Tim, Did you notice spell check thinks tdhofstetter should be changed to tightfisted? Larry |
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Post by TDHofstetter on Dec 27, 2009 14:50:36 GMT -6
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sawduster
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Post by sawduster on Dec 27, 2009 16:02:53 GMT -6
The power tool that is the most dangerous is the one you are using at any given time. They all got sharp metal parts that are moving (except for the lathe and that is more of a jig for hand tools than a power tool) and any of them fast moving sharp metal parts can make your blood flow and even cut your bones if you are using it improperly or not paying 100% attention to what you are doing.
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Post by beagles on Dec 27, 2009 17:16:18 GMT -6
So...
If you read my original question and then mix in some of your responses, your conclusion must be that the jointer is something I should look out for. It ranks up there with the router table... and I tend to place it on the lower end of the risk scale.
It makes me wonder what I don't know about it... or how limited my experience with it might be...
Broadening the discussion to hand tools, as some of you did, leads me to state that the most severe and common injuries have been on the receiving end of hammers, hand saws, and then chisels.
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rrich
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Post by rrich on Dec 27, 2009 17:29:14 GMT -6
I saw the comment about the work between the router bit and fence.
I understand HOW that could happen without one realizing it, however when used with the words "Climb Cut" is absolutely terrifying in my mind.
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Post by TDHofstetter on Dec 27, 2009 17:54:11 GMT -6
It makes me wonder what I don't know about it... or how limited my experience with it might be... The jointer LOOKS and SEEMS really benign, and it IS pretty benign most of the time PROVIDED you use well-constructed push blocks for any face-"jointing" work... religiously. No, more than religiously, 'cause for most people "religious" means "sometimes". I mean EVERY time, without fail. The guard (US-model jointers) swings away from the cutterhead, which is whirling at thousands of RsPM. That means at the beginning & end of a pass, there's nothing between you and those glittering invisible howling teeth except air. It also means that if your hand slips anywhere on that workpiece's journey across the cutterhead, or if the workpiece jumps ahead suddenly, your right hand's integrity is in serious question if you're not using a most excellent push block... because your right hand will follow the workpiece right across the cutterhead. Into. Around. Pbbblew. YouBurger. Once in a while, too, something funny can happen if your hand (on top of the workpiece) passes directly above the cutterhead. If the workpiece slips leftward (face-"jointing") or tips over (edge-jointing), your hand is again directly exposed to the Maw of Maim. English-model jointers are required to have a very different guard in place - one which solidly prevents crossing the cutterhead with one's hand. While it may be a bit of a PITA from time to time, it's a good design & wouldn't be a bad thing to retrofit on jointers here. A knot, if it's not a good tight knot, can get kicked loose & come at you like a bullet. Lots of stuff to be aware of when you're working at a jointer. |
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Post by beagles on Dec 27, 2009 18:03:04 GMT -6
Rich... That is one of the "mysteries" of the router table. One thing is safe... something almost but not quite the same is very dangerous. This morning I was going to use the router table to widen a groove cut into the end of a 0.75" thick panel. The existing groove was a bit under 0.25" wide and 0.375 deep. I wanted it to be 0.375 wide centered once again on the edge of the panel. I have a 0.25" up-spiral cutting bit. I planned on making two passes -- one for each side of the new groove. You can set the fence to make this cut either of two ways: 1) Set the distance from the bit to fence at 3/16ths and have the bit cut the side of the groove next to the fence. 2) set the distance from bit to fence at 5/16th and cut the near side. Feeding right to left in the normal way, the first is a climb cut -- the second is not. In the first instance, the router will take the piece out of your hands. Ask me how I know.  I used the second set-up with a feather board and all went fine. It just took thought... If I had a 3/8ths bit, that would have been simpler. |
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Post by imahic on Dec 27, 2009 18:11:48 GMT -6
I have to agree with Rich, I can't imagine anything I could make that would require me to run a piece of wood between the bit and the fence on a router table. That just makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Maybe I misread it though.
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Post by sdb777 on Dec 27, 2009 18:18:50 GMT -6
Not to get too far off topic, but I'm sure everyone has at least heard of this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnQwVZOrUUNow, it may cost a few bucks(think $250) to replace the bar that breaks loose....but hey, it's only your finger! Anyone got one of these? As a beginning, beginner(is that correct). I don't have most of the tools/power tools being talked about. But I may one day, and safety is always the first corcern! Scott (wife would hate to see no fingers) B |
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lexrex
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Post by lexrex on Dec 27, 2009 19:50:30 GMT -6
Your brain is the most dangerous tool.
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lexrex
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Post by lexrex on Dec 27, 2009 19:51:48 GMT -6
Not to get too far off topic, but I'm sure everyone has at least heard of this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnQwVZOrUUNow, it may cost a few bucks(think $250) to replace the bar that breaks loose....but hey, it's only your finger! Anyone got one of these? As a beginning, beginner(is that correct). I don't have most of the tools/power tools being talked about. But I may one day, and safety is always the first corcern! Scott (wife would hate to see no fingers) B Take a gander here: worldofwood.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ampers&action=display&thread=871 |
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Post by triplefreak on Dec 28, 2009 8:51:46 GMT -6
WTH is a "Tailed tool"?
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