Table Saws: 10 Essential Safety Tips
- by Diane Rixon (RSS feed) on Jan 25th 2010 2:00PM
- Filed under recalls and safety, Tools, remodeling, wood working, Know-How
Now, ideally we'd all own something like the SawStop table saw, which cuts out when the blade comes within 5 milliseconds of detecting human skin. (Don't believe it? Check out this YouTube clip in which SawStop's inventor demonstrates the cut-out mechanism using his own finger!).
But for all you basic table saw owners, we offer these 10 essential safety tips -- some obvious, some surprising. Did we miss any? Leave a comment and let us know!
1. Dress Wisely. Don't (that's right: don't) wear gloves. They're no match for a spinning blade, so they do nothing to protect your fingers. In fact, their extra bulk actually reduces your dexterity and increases the risk of your fingers being pulled into the blade's path. Also, ditch loose or dangling clothing or jewelry, and keep your hair covered or tied back.
2. Protect Your Face. Don't forget to protect your eyes and ears with safety glasses and ear plugs each and every time you reach for the on-switch. If you're expecting to create a lot of sawdust, don a face mask, too. Think it's cool to go without face protection? Have fun at the ER getting that huge splinter dug out of your eyeball. I've seen it happen and it's not pretty.
Push sticks come in many shapes and forms. Photo: NewWoodworker.com
Continue reading Table Saws: 10 Essential Safety Tips








