Tuesday, May 25, 2010

No Owwy Saw

I Saw, I Came


Jodi's dad is a tool nut (ain't we all), and sent her this very amazing saw video.  A few years ago I lost part of a finger to a chop saw (sewn back on), so this deal resonates.  You'd think I'd be all for it, right?  You'd be wrong, for these reasons.
  1. The saw is destroyed.  I know, only $60 to fix, but my finger is covered by health insurance.
  2. I use my table saw to chop lettuce and stuff, so right there it's a no-go.
  3. If this doesn't lend itself to the further pussification of America, what does?
Still, the sheer techno thrill of it all went right up my leg.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

A table saw, for me, is the scariest thing in the woodshop. Mine is guarded to a fare-thee-well, but there are cuts where that guarding has to come off, and if the blade is full height, that sucker will take all your fingers off in less than an eyeblink, and maybe leave them in such a hamburger state, or destroy knuckle joints, that even with a reattachment, you have a non-functional hand. Not to mention blood all over your beautiful mancave.
That saw is very, very well made, makes beautiful and powerful cuts, and I've almost bought one of those overpriced (about $3,000) things a couple of times. I look, and look, and then decide again that I just could not stand having that all glossy black lump sitting in my shop, more than a cubic yard of iron sucking up all the light, like a squat Darth Vader in the center of everything. When I hit the lottery, I'll buy one and have it repainted.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick

Rodger the Real King of France said...

Or, you could be careful and not swig Bourbon while you're acuttin'. Works for me.

idahohunter said...

How bout this, Think, Know your tools, and don't stick your finger in front of the fucking blade. Total cost = NOTHING

Anonymous said...

idahohunter is correct, around a table saw, you NEVER drink and stay frosty and no probmento.

Tailgunner, as much as my table saw is a potential danger, if you stay 100% focused, you should never have a problem. Now a shaper, Hory Clap Batman, that's tool, even with brand new, sharpened cutting heads can shoot a piece of wood through your hand or shoulder, not into, through.

Remember to always have a sharp blade-dull tools are always a danger. Maybe someday something like this will be the norm and we'll wistfully add old fashioned table saws to that list of all of those things that we wonder how we ever lived using, like bikes without helmets or dodgeball.

Pussification indeed Rog, reminds me of that great Kim piece from a few years back.
MM

DougM said...

Hey, I found one'a 'em saw thingies that you don't even need to plug in. No, really! Some guy named it a "hand saw," although it looks relatively safe.

Anonymous said...

MM - I won't use a shaper without a power feeder. I have duplicated old molding using wooden planes - hollow and rounds - but for a house full, a shaper or molder is the way to go. In addition to your 100% table saw focus, I add a face shield to table saw operations. I've had a piece of wood splinter and fly off a table saw, knock the safety glasses off my head and leave a welt under my eye. Saw Stop won't save me from that, but I'd still like to have one.
As to sharpening, I agree. Sharp tools are safer and produce better work for sure. I love my Tormek for flat blades, and I highly recommend Tom Law in Smithburg Maryland for hand saw sharpening. He is a master at the craft. Table saw blades go back to Forrest.

DougM, I have more than 60 hand saws, some from before the American Civil War, and I love to use them, but when I need to rip 100+ linear feet of 2" oak, I wimp out and go to the table saw or band saw.
I have gotten lots of little cuts similar to paper cuts from just touching my saws, chisels and hand plane blades, but they never amputate digits, and I can listen to Rush or music while using them. I am a Neanderthal to a point, but I don't feel the need to turn woodworking into a workout.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick

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