Circular Saw Won't Cut Fingers, Hot Dogs

  • Thread starter Boanerges(Inactive)
  • Start date
I saw an interview with the guy who invented these.
I would really like to get one myself. He is a mechanical engineer, and was positive that there was a way to make a safe tablesaw.
After experimenting with brakes that were simply too slow he came up with the idea of adding the retractable blade and the electromagnetic switch.

It works just like the table lamps that you touch to turn on and change the light level. I have one on my desk.

These saws cost about twice what a regular saw runs. He took his concept to some major manufacturers and was turned down by all of them. He was told that no one would pay twice as much for a safe saw.

He then got his own funding and a patent. He sells these at woodworking shows and is a self made millionaire. Myself and just about every woodworking friend I have have plans to buy one of these.
 
I could use one of those and I have the scars on my hands to prove it. Double is a small price to pay to save a finger.
 
Double is a small price to pay to save a finger.

I agree, I paid about $400.00 for my table saw.
An extra $400.00 won't even buy a couple of stitches, let alone if the thing really gets ahold of some bone.

Money very well spent.
 
After 30 plus years working with power tools in meat markets and a little longer on wood working I would gladly pay to have that safety feature.
 
Well I'm going to take this thread as a sign, I just removed the blade gaurd and kickback gaurd from my table saw tonight. I need to make a cut on a few picture frames I'm making, and the gaurds got in the way...so I took them off tonight before bible study...I'll be putting them back on before work tomorrow :) .

I tried to tune my dewalt table saw tonight also. Very tough machine, after a ton of work with it its still in great shape. One day I'd like to have a big gun table saw like you see on the new yankee workshop.
 
The next progression would be a sliding compond miter saw where the blade would swing up in the housing, just like the table saw but upside down. I've got some ideas myself, but am not my own patent lawyer. I've had ideas all my life, I was always too late withe the idea. As I grew older the magin of time grew less and less until I got to the point of being ahead of the market, however invention ideas have only been salt in a wound it seems. It's like a gold ring that's too high to reach.
 
They are a bit expensive, according to the listings in an industry website and the sensors must be cleaned frequently to provide continued proper operation.

Many contractors operate things like this with guards removed and other safety mechanisms disconnected because speed in completing a job in many cases is more important than operator safety. Unfortunately, you can not change the mindset of a supervisor or workers who place money ahead of safety.

While this is a very good idea in a product, it will be purchased in limited quantities and only by the weekend carpenters doing their own residential repairs and projects. :(
 
I emailed my brother inlaw who works at a major window factory and asked how these saws work, here is his reply:

Yep we have quite a few around. Actually just the other day a lady stuck her finger in it and shut it down, didn’t even get a knick pretty cool saw.

This is me again:
They have a terrible accident record in their factory. Almost as bad as my factory in my garage...dont ever take the gaurd off an angle grinder.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if these replace table saws in mill shops where you have 100 of them and usually one ambulance per day show up. Not just for liability, but imagine having to cover a $300 ride per day, plus pay the huge insurance. I wonder if they could incorporate the same sensor technology in routers using a clutch, so the shaft would disengage from any torque. Routers are dangerous because they are usually partially hidden by the work, genarally run smooth, and people are comfortable getting really close, until a bit flies out or a piece of end grain kicks out. Just a thought
 
I wouldn't be surprised if these replace table saws in mill shops where you have 100 of them and usually one ambulance per day show up. Not just for liability, but imagine having to cover a $300 ride per day, plus pay the huge insurance. I wonder if they could incorporate the same sensor technology in routers using a clutch, so the shaft would disengage from any torque. Routers are dangerous because they are usually partially hidden by the work, genarally run smooth, and people are comfortable getting really close, until a bit flies out or a piece of end grain kicks out. Just a thought

I'm going to pick up a router next week (maybe I haven't asked my boss (wife) yet :) ). Any suggestions?
 
I have a little Bosch, I love it. But if you're going to use it for undermount go with the Porter Cable. The router has a spiral-cut groove in it, so if you want to make even the slightest adjustment, all you have to do is unlock the base and give it a slight turn. I believe you can only get the Porter Cable with the spiral design in the smaller models, which is fine unless you want to chuck up a huge panel bit. I think you can get the Porter Cable with a fixed base and a plunge base. I mount the fixed-base to a home-made router table and keep the plunge base for free-hand work. Hope that helps. Oh, and whatever router you go with, I would recommend variable speed. God bless
 
I have a little Bosch, I love it. But if you're going to use it for undermount go with the Porter Cable. The router has a spiral-cut groove in it, so if you want to make even the slightest adjustment, all you have to do is unlock the base and give it a slight turn. I believe you can only get the Porter Cable with the spiral design in the smaller models, which is fine unless you want to chuck up a huge panel bit. I think you can get the Porter Cable with a fixed base and a plunge base. I mount the fixed-base to a home-made router table and keep the plunge base for free-hand work. Hope that helps. Oh, and whatever router you go with, I would recommend variable speed. God bless

But does it cut hot dogs?:p
 
I have a little Bosch, I love it. But if you're going to use it for undermount go with the Porter Cable. The router has a spiral-cut groove in it, so if you want to make even the slightest adjustment, all you have to do is unlock the base and give it a slight turn. I believe you can only get the Porter Cable with the spiral design in the smaller models, which is fine unless you want to chuck up a huge panel bit. I think you can get the Porter Cable with a fixed base and a plunge base. I mount the fixed-base to a home-made router table and keep the plunge base for free-hand work. Hope that helps. Oh, and whatever router you go with, I would recommend variable speed. God bless

But does it cut hot dogs?:p
 
I have a Craftsman. It works just fine. I did not pick it out though, it used to belong to me Dad.

I have been looking at this tool site lately:
Factory Authorized Outlet - DeWalt Tools & Accessories.
The have a lot of refurbs and discount models

Or if you want cheap you can always check these guys :

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
Every x-mas I get a tool from harbor freight...ususally 25lb battery powered screw gun, that can never hold a charge!
 
I have a little Bosch, I love it. But if you're going to use it for undermount go with the Porter Cable. The router has a spiral-cut groove in it, so if you want to make even the slightest adjustment, all you have to do is unlock the base and give it a slight turn. I believe you can only get the Porter Cable with the spiral design in the smaller models, which is fine unless you want to chuck up a huge panel bit. I think you can get the Porter Cable with a fixed base and a plunge base. I mount the fixed-base to a home-made router table and keep the plunge base for free-hand work. Hope that helps. Oh, and whatever router you go with, I would recommend variable speed. God bless
Thanks for the info bud.
 
Back
Top