Shop Safety

[Ryan]

I got a real wake-up call today while working in my school shop. I was on planer duty, standing beside our new Grizzly 15", adjusting the height and controlling the speed. A kid had been ripping a 1x4 on the tablesaw, and somehow badly cut his finger. I was turned the other way when this happened. A few minutes later, I was looking over at the tablesaw, watching another kid rip another 1x4, and suddenly it kicked back and flew across the shop to the workbench area, barely missing several people. Now I can say for a fact that everyone in that shop had been taught how to be safe- we had a whole unit on it. So the conclusion I have come to is alot of these kids just don't respect the machinery in the shop. I find it sad, accidents like these don't have to happen.

-Ryan

[Monty]

Wow. Bad day to be in the shop. Hopefully all escaped without major injury... be safe!

[DaveO]

The best shop safety lesson is the one learned at someone else's expense. I hope the guys were OK, and I am glad that you weren't hurt. Are the school saws equipped with splitters? Dave

[Jonz]

There are always a few in every group that have to stick their hand in the fire before believing it will burn.

Was the same when I was in shop class years ago.

[clowman]

I remember when I once thought.... Kickback... how hard can it kick back... then I ended up with a board at the end of my driveway. I was utterly stunned. Then I have seen pictures since of boards buried in walls. Even more shocked.

[junquecol]

I used to teach shop too. First day in class, would have them draw an outline of their right hand on paper, then turn sheet over and do the same for left hand. Told um that if there was something to fill all slots at end of course, that would be a 100 test grade. Have them do the math- A blade with 60 teeth, turning 3500 RPMs, with a reaction time of 3/4 second, then how many teeth will pass thru your finger before you can draw it back? A little over 2600! Also have biggest student ( the one that definitely proves Darwin's theory) free hand cut a piece of 1/4" plywood in half. If the saw will do this to "ape, hoss or what other name they go by", then what will it do to Joe Smuckerelly? In six years, never had a student hurt- thank God.

[Ryan]

Well I've got an update, the kid that cut his finger was back at school today, turns out the blade cut into the tip of his index finger, pretty much following his fingernail down. The doctors patched him up and he should be fine.
Dave O, the saws in the shop do not have splitters. Both are Unisaws, one from the 30's or 40's then an 80's Rockwell version. They both use over-arm guards. The older saw is normally a dado-only machine, but the other saw lost its motor, so now we're using the old one for everything. The biggest problem is the fence, it's original so it's about worn out, and it never locks square so you have to take a tape measure and check it on the front and the back. Everyone knows this, but most kids ignore the warnings and try to make a cut anyways.

[junquecol]

Ryan- In you identifier you are burning some rod. I assume that you weld. If so why not build some Biesy Clones. At my last school we did this. Spent about $100 for materials for two (1996 prices). You only need a power (stationary) band saw, drill press, and welder. Some of the parts a little bit odd-5/8"X2"X3" piece fo bar and 1 5/8" round stock for locking mechinesms. If you have old "jet lock " fences, then you locking mech is already there. I have a length of the 5/8"X2" stock and would gladly cut you a piece. The rails are 2"X4" rect tubing and the angles are 2"X3', both stock sizes.