When I first started using a table saw, I always, always used the fence and anti-kickback teeth in it.  As the years went by, I did what most woodworkers do and removed it. However I have always, always made it a absolute self rule of mine to never stand behind what would be the path of a kick back. Not long ago it happened, I got a kick back of a piece about 2 feet long and an inch wide. I missed me by a foot or more. 

Then I heard a plastic crashing sound when it hit behind me. My shop is also my garage and parked behind me was my car. The board had hit and destroyed the side mirror. It wouldn't have been a big deal but it was one of those with internal all direction controls. It smashed them too. I was just very happy that no one got hit by it, especially me. If it had gone a couple of inches to the right , it would have went harmlessly in to the drive.

 Anyway, I bought a stick on mirror that works well, but has the old hand-O-matic adjustment.

NEVER STAND BEHIND THE SAW BLADE WHEN RIPPING IF YOU HAVE THE FENCE OFF.

 

Same thing happens to me last summer on the old table saw.  Had the overhead garage door close and the window air conditioner going.  It was a piece about the same width but little shorter.  Since the doors had windows in them,  well long story short.  I had a piece glass pane to replace on the door.  As usual I was standing to one side.  Never had stood behind the work piece. 

Wayne E

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Wayne E

Yikes Ron, glad it didn't get you. Sorry it got the mirror though. I guess at one time of another we have all had one. I have fiberglass garage doors. I had a piece about 18" long and 1" square took flight. I was using a push stick, but it slipped off and the piece was moving. I have a 1" square hole in the fiberglass door. It went all the way though the door.

Thanks for this reminder.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Ron, glad to hear you weren't harmed..  I have two dents in my garage door from wood taking flight when I was cutting it on our old table saw. You would have thought I would have learned the first time it happened, but no I had to repeat the experience a few days later.  Seeing that wood hover in mid air and then take flight is an eye opening and jaw dropping experience I hope never to experience a third time.

SQ

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Happiness is wood chips flying!

Glad your ok Ron! You better go out and buy some more of those stick on mirrors!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

That'll get your heart rate us quickly!  Glad it was the mirror and not your.   I've only had one kickback and fortunately the door jam took the brunt of it.

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Ron Dudelston
Site Host


Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Some of the newer saws have guards that are quick/easy to remove and replace. I'd use it if I had that. Mine takes about 5 minutes to remove/reinstall. There are 4 screws on the face plate and 2 bolts under that. Those bolts are in a very hard place to get to. Then I have to reverse the process. It is just a pain in neck.

Kickbacks will make you gun shy. I "had" a Powermatic 66 with a 5HP motor and zero blade guards or protection.  I bought the saw that way.  I had this saw kick back on me "3" times in 3 weeks. Each time I was hit directly in the belly. I was black and blue for over 6 weeks. As soon as I thought I was OK it happened again.  The wood was getting pinched and being thrown off the back of the blade. The fence was aligned perfect. After the 2nd. time we made the fence open more to the back. No help.  Can you guess what fixed it?  I sold that hateful monster and smiled as it was taken away.  The guy that bought it has a cabinet shop and runs it all day with out and fence or guard.  Without anything to get pinched with he has no problems.  I replaced it with a saw stop. 

Years ago I went to a conference of woodworking teachers in Colorado.  The shop were in hard sheetrock walls, and in the wall behind the table saw there were several sticks hanging out of the wall that had been thrown back there.  He just left them in the wall as a reminder of what could happen.  One of my friends from high school still has the scar on his arm from where he got hit with a kick back when he happened to be walking behid the saw while another student was cutting.  We had a few kickbacks while I was teaching, but nothing serious, but there was the imprint of a push stick that got away from me and was thrown into the overhead door.