I am really enjoying the videos and with the safety week thing you clearly filled a void. Just got a new cabinet saw and safety’s been on my mind, so it’s timely for me to say the least.

I have two questions for you:

1) Though the grizzly descriptions of shop accidents that have been brought online in the last week have a HIGH “scare you straight” value, they really force me to think to myself: “well, I guess injury is INEVITABLE if all these pros get hurt.” My question is, IS injury inevitable? (My own answer: I’ve zoomed in on New Yankee Workshop videos and Norm appears to still have all his fingers :-)

2) I’m having trouble finding a couple of the more specialized safety devices you show in your shop (not even finding them in the WWStore). Can you point me to the splitter/antikickback device you use on your tablesaw?

Thanks! (and keep up the great stuff!)

–David

2) I also added a old cow bell to the side door for the same reason. Rings when someone enters the shop from outside. When machines are running and I’m concentrating on the task at hand, I do not want any surprises.

3) Dust collection Dust collection and more Dust collection…and oh yes, Dust collection….make sure you get it ALL. It’s the fine dust that will make a home in your lungs over time. Some wood varities are toxic and you do not need that excitment.. Sanding is the worst generator of fine dust (Duh!). Even the low-end collection gear will pick up the big stuff. You need a large volumne of air to get the small stuff….one case where you should sweat the small stuff!

Regards,
Don
Katy,Tx

But, we really need more. I added the following to Gary Rogowski’s blog this morning, in response to his “Getting Back on the Pony” entry.
(http://nwspdx.wordpress.com/20.....-the-pony/)

“I subscribe to dozens of woodworking blogs and forums. Many warn about safety often enough, but I have yet to find a good, concise, list of practices to avoid. Yes, there’s the generic advice that says avoid pinching the workpiece into the spinning blade. That’s too generic, and newcomers won’t have either the practice or analytical experience that helps them recognize the condition *before* it happens.

“Writing that list (along with illustrations) would be a really good contribution. I’m envisioning something like “Hazardous practices with table saws” as a starter. They seem to be the source of most injuries. Show us the setups that should never ever be attempted, the ones that are guaranteed to kick a piece back into the operator’s gut, or across the street into the neighbor’s yard. Then show us the next more dangerous, the ones that throw the workpiece away from the operator. Show the setups that might work with careful setup and good procedure. Then show us all the safe procedures (i.e. moving the workpiece through with good push / holding tools).

“If there’s something “out there” like this, I haven’t found it yet. I think it would be an excellent compendium for a good teacher to build, a resource that might save some injuries, pain, and suffering.”

Since adding that comment to Gary’s blog, I’ve done some googling on woodworking safety. The top hits are woefully superficial. They look like the list of things a corporate lawyer would want published to limit a business liability. Such as, Keep your shop clean, pay attention to what your doing, avoid distractions, don’t rush, etc. etc,

There’s precious little (easily found) that says, “if you do it this way, the saw will kick it back into your head.”

So, how about it? How about a section or series on “don’t do these” practices?