Shopsmith Forums

ddvann79 wrote:What does TBTG stand for?

Thanks Be To God!:) Similar to TGA, TBFTGOGGI.

After buying a 1980 Mark V Shopsmith with SPTs at the Tampa, FL store, a 2 day training course was offered. The 2 instructors went partying the first night after class that day. The next day was a hair raising day. We made it with many close calls for the instructor's until around 3:00pm. All we had left was the 6" belt sander. Doing the break, we are all discussing all the close calls but believed any danger was over.

Somehow the belt sander table edge was left with about 1/4" between it and the course sanding belt. The one instructor was able to get his fingers caught between the table and sanding belt. There was blood and bone on the ceiling, walls, floor and some of us students. He lost almost all of the 4 fingers on the trapped hand before a student was able to shut the Shopsmith off. One of us had been standing by the ON/OFF switch all day waiting for an accident. Still, this occurred within a second or two. This experience, which I will never forget, still reminded me that any simple task can be very dangerious if you are not aware or playing attention to what you are doing.

JPG40504 wrote:Thanks Be To God! Similar to TGA, TBFTGOGGI.

Ah, that's a good one. TGA - Texas Golf Association? I presume that's "Thank God Almighty." Google didn't find that last one, though.

I didn't mean "funny" in the ROTFL sense.

To be intellectually honest, I don't think this an either/or issue. Using guards where possible makes good sense. Taking your time makes good sense. So does situational awareness, as Bill's example illustrates. I don't want to exclude any good practices just because I'm emotionally vested in my prior statements. That's kind of difficult at times, ain't it?

But now I'm getting into and human foibles and the essence of political debate so I'll stop. See what you started, Farmer?

[quote="ddvann79"]Ah, that's a good one. TGA - Texas Golf Association? I presume that's "Thank God Almighty." Google didn't find that last one, though.

I didn't mean "funny" in the ROTFL sense.

To be intellectually honest, I don't think this an either/or issue. Using guards where possible makes good sense. Taking your time makes good sense. So does situational awareness, as Bill's example illustrates. I don't want to exclude any good practices just because I'm emotionally vested in my prior statements. That's kind of difficult at times, ain't it?

But now I'm getting into and human foibles and the essence of political debate so I'll stop. See what you started, Farmer? ]
You gotta understand that when an 'original thinker' Makes up an acronym, it will not be in google!(ask MickyD) There but for the grace............ Also you can use Praise rather than Thanks as desired.

Yes 'funny' in the strange/unusual 'sense'. I did not think the sheet goods pix/this thread was 'ha-ha' funny either. That pix has been 'discussed' b4! As expected, there be two camps! Old fogeys in one, ???? in the other!(as well as some in the opposite camps):D

Emotional vestment is what makes saying 'I was wrong' so 'difficult'. Actually saying it is easy, recognizing it not so easy. Trouble is sometimes when expressing a 'personal' opinion, one gets interpreted as recommending the same to the world. There is when both 'sides' are both right and wrong to some extent.

I think we CAN all agree with Farmers original point that a publication/video/program should not display what APPEARS to be unsafe practice. However I dislike seeing all those things included just to fend off the potential litigants.

billmayo wrote:After buying a 1980 Mark V Shopsmith with SPTs at the Tampa, FL store, a 2 day training course was offered. The 2 instructors went partying the first night after class that day. The next day was a hair raising day. We made it with many close calls for the instructor's until around 3:00pm. All we had left was the 6" belt sander. Doing the break, we are all discussing all the close calls but believed any danger was over.

Somehow the belt sander table edge was left with about 1/4" between it and the course sanding belt. The one instructor was able to get his fingers caught between the table and sanding belt. There was blood and bone on the ceiling, walls, floor and some of us students. He lost almost all of the 4 fingers on the trapped hand before a student was able to shut the Shopsmith off. One of us had been standing by the ON/OFF switch all day waiting for an accident. Still, this occurred within a second or two. This experience, which I will never forget, still reminded me that any simple task can be very dangerious if you are not aware or playing attention to what you are doing.

I'm told in the good ole days possibly before when you bought this machine that if a Demo'er got injuried it was reason for immediate dismissal from the company.

I have watched many Shopsmith demo's and attended many Shopsmith classes and schools and I have never seen a close call.

I will say at about the time of the Shopsmith store in Tampa, Shopsmith as a company was making some really bad decisions and frankly I believe hiring a guy like the one you describe was just another bad decision.

By the way the store was in Tampa in late 80's early 90's. I worked there one day until I found out part timers didn't get employee discounts.

When they come up with a guard that protects you against lapses in concentration, I'll buy two (in case I forget where I put the first one).

But seriously, this is an individual thing. I don't recommend that anyone else should use the methods that I do but I also don't like being called a fool because I don't use theirs.

After all these years, I'm not uninjured simply because I'm lucky and my time hasn't come yet. It's because I value my skin just as much as the next guy and for that reason safety is top of mind at all times in the shop. I just do it differently, not better or worse, differently. And yes, I may have an accident after all this time accident free but it will be caused by me not paying attention and not by my methods and I doubt that a guard would protect me.

I'm pretty sure there as many stories out there of accidents to experienced people who were using their "safety equipment" as there are of those who weren't. Inexperienced people however would be a different statistic.

I don't recommend that people should be taught the way I was, I'm simply saying that there's more than one way to keep your fingers and toes attached.

This will be my last post on this topic. We can agree to disagree.

Paul M

shipwright wrote:When they come up with a guard that protects you against lapses in concentration, I'll buy two (in case I forget where I put the first one).

But seriously, this is an individual thing. I don't recommend that anyone else should use the methods that I do but I also don't like being called a fool because I don't use theirs.

After all these years, I'm not uninjured simply because I'm lucky and my time hasn't come yet. It's because I value my skin just as much as the next guy and for that reason safety is top of mind at all times in the shop. I just do it differently, not better or worse, differently. And yes, I may have an accident after all this time accident free but it will be caused by me not paying attention and not by my methods and I doubt that a guard would protect me.

I'm pretty sure there as many stories out there of accidents to experienced people who were using their "safety equipment" as there are of those who weren't. Inexperienced people however would be a different statistic.

I don't recommend that people should be taught the way I was, I'm simply saying that there's more than one way to keep your fingers and toes attached.

This will be my last post on this topic. We can agree to disagree.

Paul M

'We' do not disagree!:)

Best keep this website in your favorites if your reading jpg's text....

http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/TBTG

shipwright wrote:When they come up with a guard that protects .......

This will be my last post on this topic. We can agree to disagree.

Paul M

Awe come on Paul....one more please??:D

mickyd wrote:Awe come on Paul....one more please??:D

I'll do one more on the acronyms. PB&J
Yep, I'm eating lunch...


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