A couple of days ago. I was ripping 1” strips on my table saw. I use my right hand & the push stick and my left hand pointing finger. I put my finger on the wood between the blade and the fence about center of blade and rip.

 

I started the cut and about half way I felt the end of my pointing finger getting hot. I looked and the end of my finger was on the blade but below the blades teeth. It was just rubbing against the flat surface. I moved my finger back a little and finished the cut and looked at my finger and there was a very tiny piece of skin and my finger was a little red. It was hot.

 

Back to the drawing board, I know what I should have been doing.

 

I don’t have a TV, phone or radio to distract, I just moved my finger to far and almost.

 

Preston

That was a close call!! Lucky your finger was sensitive enough to feel the heat buildup.

YIKES!!!

I would never put my finger there.  Too close for comfort for me.  Glad you're okay.

Nope, the Biesmeyer fence alone won't protect the finger. 

Hello Steamshovel

Consider making an adjustable jig for the left slot. Adjust the jig to the blade on the right side for the thickness of the strip you want to cut. Place the fence on the right side of the blade and place your stock against the jig. Gently move the fence into position against the stock and lock it. Remove the jig and place a guide against the stock to hold it against the fence. Turn on saw, push the stock through, no fingers get close to the blade. Reset the fence and repeat. 

hat

Glad you're OK Preston...

Thanks for the re-enactment less the blade spinning of course

Great reminder for us all to remain focused at all times.

I use my fence on the right side of the blade so thats whats wrong with the pictures and if I tried it like you show I might be missing a finger or two!!.

Glade you are okay and now you have more to think about each time you get near a table saw..

  This is what  I use to keep the wood against the fence instead of my fingers

Bet you're awake now! 

OOWee,as a bead of sweat ran down my forehead.

Herb

3 hours ago, hatuffej said:

Hello Steamshovel

Consider making an adjustable jig for the left slot. Adjust the jig to the blade on the right side for the thickness of the strip you want to cut. Place the fence on the right side of the blade and place your stock against the jig. Gently move the fence into position against the stock and lock it. Remove the jig and place a guide against the stock to hold it against the fence. Turn on saw, push the stock through, no fingers get close to the blade. Reset the fence and repeat. 

hat

Thanks for reminding me. I went out to the shop and made a jig.

 

Preston

That was close Preston, glad you didn't lose a finger (or part of)

Time for a gripper ripper type jig.

or a better push stick.

Get one that laps over the wood 6" or so and has a hook on the end to push it.

The downward force from your hand would have stopped it from skating around.

 

Good thing ya got ten of 'em eh?

 

So glad to hear that you still have all ten fingers. 

Glad no harm done, I’m about to post a mistake I made today on one of my threads. I’m always glad to learn the lesson without having to experience the penalty.

WOW - close call.  My cousin lost 3 fingers doing similar to what you were doing. 

 

Look into a GRR-RIPPER - I bought two to perform hand-over-hand cutting - especially for narrow pieces.  Best investment I could have made

 

https://www.microjig.com/products/grr-ripper