Shopsmith Forums

Thanks guys. I will admit to being a little intimidated by the machine, but it's more concern over messing up wood than myself. The saw's the tool that scares me the most. In my younger days I watched one of the guys I was working with push his middle finger into a saw blade tip first. There wasn't enough of anything left to reattach. Every time I walk up to the saw I have vivid memories of cleaning bone chips and meat out of that saw. I've been a firm believer in push blocks and pads ever since. I own two of the micro jig grrripper blocks and use them religiously. Great push blocks by the way if anybody is looking for one.

Ok guys and gals I'll share a story about my Mark 5 driven jointer that happened about twenty five years ago. One cold Saturday morning I was jointing wood after having ripped it on my contractor's saw. I was appropriately dressed in a plaid cotton work shirt, but inappropriate in that I hadn't tucked my tails into my pants. I think you see the picture. I was walking the cuts through the jointer when all of a sudden it felt like I was hit with a 2x4 across my shoulders. It staggered me and at first I thought some tool fell out of the ceiling joists and clobbered me. When I looked down I saw that the right side of my shirt was gone. You know that little proverb to not wear loose clothing in the shop...well lesson learned and never forgotten. This is especially true for the jointer.

P.S. I have the Gripper and it is a great tool for working smaller parts, or larger, on the table saw.