Shopsmith Forums

The recent woodworking accidents reported on this forum, both suffered by very experienced woodworkers, certainly make me feel less invincible. I find SawStop technology very interesting, both as an engineer and a woodworker, and have read a fair amount about both the equipment and the legal wrangling. But one valid criticism of SawStop technology is that it does nothing to protect you from a piece of wood fired by a kickback.

I once had a very small piece of wood, maybe half a cubic inch, kick back and strike a glancing blow to my temple. Despite the small size and the shallow impact angle, it still hit me hard enough draw blood. It was a dumb newbie mistake, but I was wearing goggles, so there was no real risk of serious injury. Nevertheless, that experience gave me a lot of respect for a rotary saw as a potential missile-firing machine.

Some say that the only thing that can completely protect you from both direct blade contact and workpiece kickbacks is a power stock feeder. Most that I've seen are priced in the $1K range, but there's at least one "baby feeder" that is priced at around $300. Eithe way, they're a lot cheaper than a SawStop.

The problem is, those things just don't look real practical for a typical home shop. Does anyone here has any experience working with them?

I thought this thread was about farm labor .....

I have been around dangerous equipment (but not woodworking) all my life. I do respect these machines ability to do you damage, but I also know the machine doesn't think, I do. One of these accidents was a chop saw (if that is what WW's call it LOL). SawStop doesn't address that.

I say, just do like Dusty, make saw dust safely and think about what you are doing .....

JMHO

Not to worry! Erlover is touting brooder lamps on another thread.

Hi Dennis,
Back around the time dirt was invented, and I was too young and foolish to know how foolish I was, I was given a set of the yellow wheeled hold downs. I mounted them on the flimsy fence on my trusty old Craftsman. I think I trusted them too much! Ripping a wide board, the cut closed (or twisted) and the board pushed so hard it bent the upper saw guard. That was during a time when my only safety "gear" was how fast I could get out of the way
I was pissed that the feed mechanism caused a bent saw guard and blade. I unbolted it, tossed the mangled upper guard on the bench, bought a new blade and went back to it. Operator error or carelessness was never considered as the problem.

Fast forward a few millennia..

Recently someone posted about the new Jessem hold downs. I was interested but not to the point I would consider them. For me I believe I would trust too much in their "perceived" capabilities. I think I trust my precautions more now. Maybe its because the neuropathy has caused me to press harder and make more certain of positioning of the push pads (and I do trust the Gripper pads MUCH more than anything previous).
I guess I might compare it to all the safety devices in a new auto. They do have a valid and useful function, but should I trust them to be more aware of the surroundings than me?? If I begin to trust them more than my senses will it cause me to have an accident that I wold have otherwise avoided?

My "practical experience" such as it was, is decades ago and very short lived. It was not a positive one but then again I was probably too stubborn / foolish / impatient to giver it a fair trial.

Not sure any of my rambling offered ANY usable advise!

Be well,
Ben

I haven't used the Jessem table-saw guides, but I do have a set of their router-fence hold-downs. I absolutely love them. I didn't buy them as a safety device, although I suppose they do make things safer. But I had about 300 linear feet of variable-width hardwood to tongue & groove. The boards were straight, but not terribly flat. Those Jessem hold-downs not only held the boards tight against the fence, they also squashed minor bows down tight against the table, rather like a planer. I got near-perfect results with very little effort. Now when the boards are joined, the T&G pulls the edges into perfect alignment.

Later, it dawned on me that I've never heard of anyone getting mangled by a planer. Presumably because they all have a built-in power feeder, and thus the cutter can be fully guarded. That combination of performance and safety was what got me curious about power feeders.

I have had the Jessem table saw hold downs for the better part of a year now and love them. I have used hold downs starting with the Ripstrate many years ago on my SS and only do unassisted cuts when the width of the cut won't allow it. I only have one hand so and very careful with the other one. Don't believe they have made me too comfortable as someone mentioned earlier but I still have my remaining 5 digits and no near misses that I can recall in 30+ years of hobby woodworking.

Jack

My understanding is there is not good Waylon make a table saw safe. That is why the EU is phasing them out. I don't think you can buy a hobby/home worker table saw in Europe.
I know the OSHA and the insurance industry are coming down hard on commercial shops that use table saws.

My guess in 20 years you won't be able to buy a new table saw.

I,m told Europe uses guide saw systems, bandsaws, CNC machines, and such.