steamshovel Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 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 p_toad, Cal and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 That was a close call!! Lucky your finger was sensitive enough to feel the heat buildup. Cal and steamshovel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 YIKES!!! steamshovel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandyDan Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 I would never put my finger there. Too close for comfort for me. Glad you're okay. steamshovel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Nope, the Biesmeyer fence alone won't protect the finger. steamshovel and HARO50 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatuffej Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 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 HARO50, Grandpadave52, Dadio and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpadave52 Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 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. Dadio, steamshovel, Artie and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Smallpatch Posted October 16, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 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 Grandpadave52, Cal, HARO50 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Buskirk Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Bet you're awake now! steamshovel and HARO50 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadio Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 OOWee,as a bead of sweat ran down my forehead. Herb HARO50 and steamshovel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steamshovel Posted October 16, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 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 Cal, Dadio, Grandpadave52 and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted October 17, 2018 Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 That was close Preston, glad you didn't lose a finger (or part of) steamshovel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMMIEM Posted October 17, 2018 Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 Time for a gripper ripper type jig. Stick486 and steamshovel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Thuman Posted October 17, 2018 Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 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. Cal, steamshovel and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 Good thing ya got ten of 'em eh? steamshovel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryS Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 So glad to hear that you still have all ten fingers. steamshovel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted October 21, 2018 Report Share Posted October 21, 2018 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. steamshovel and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishWoodCarver Posted October 30, 2018 Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 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 steamshovel, Grandpadave52 and Artie 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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