I read an article a long time ago about the most dangerous woodworking tool in the shop. The only thing I remember about the article is the tool. It was not one that I considered overly dangerous.
So, in your opinion, what is the most dangerous woodworking tool in the shop?
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Depends on how you define it. The most dangerous tool I own is a chainsaw.
IIRC, the shop tool upon which the most accidents occur is the table saw.
A sharp wood chisel.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Any power tool can be dangerous in the hands of someone not paying attention, not experienced, or not wearing safety equipment like eye protection.
You could lose your sight any old day you don't wear your glasses, where you might only use a chainsaw 6 or 8 times in a year.
A few have said the router is the most dangerous too, but I've always been able to outpower one, though that's a bit more of a concern on my router table and its 3hp router. Now a shaper, THAT'S A BIG ROUTER.Table saws might be the shop monster, but part of that may be because it gets used more than other tools.I've got a Twin Cutter (one of those saws with two blade that go in opposite direction), it's scary.A good airless gun can pump a lot of paint in the human body in short order, if one is unwary.Chainsaws get my vote too, including the Merlin version, which is used on the end of a grinder for carving.Defective nails guns can be used in wars, a point and shoot device.
Radial arm saw always impressed me that way. Thankfully they are not as much in need these days. Shapers continue to have the potential to claim a lot of digits. Even a carelessly used razor sharp hand chisel can do impressive damage, don't ask me how I know that.
I'll bet more accidents are caused by utility knives than anything else. You may not take out a limb, or even a digit, but you can move some flesh pretty quickly.
I'll second the utility knife.
I think I've injured myself more with that, than with all my other tools combined
I think I only got myself once with that, but it was a good'un!Now that I think on it, I've only had one injury per tool. I guess I learn hard but quick
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I think I've gotten myself at least 4-5 times with a utility knife. One time required stitches.
And every time, I'm thinking I shouldn't be doing this like this. But by the time that thought reaches my hands, its too late. LOL
Gotta start listening harder to those voices in my head.
Hintif you cut your finger when it is really cold, you won't feel the pain so much - you notice it when you start wondering what all that red stuff is.I went right over the back of my left index finger and sliced the nail right in two lengthwise. That took a while to grow out!
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I recall an article in Fine Woodworking in the early 80's about the safety of shop tools.
They said there were more injuries per hour of use with a band saw than with anything else. The tool seems so harmless, but many people find themselves hand pushing the workpiece into the blade - and then something happens - your hand slips off the piece and into the blade, the blade jumps its wheels and ends up in your hand, the workpiece breaks suddenly while you are pressing forward. Result - sudden weight loss.
The conclusion was that the direction of your push should never be toward the blade. (DUH) But many people don't think of the bandsaw blade the same way they think of a tablesaw blade.
Ron
As far as band jumps or breaks, everytime , and there have been many..the blade breaks, it comes to dead stop. I never even had a nick. Never had one snake out, never had one just jump off the wheel. Maybe I was just lucky.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I keep my putty knives pretty sharp to remove old wall paper and gum off off the floor in the retail space that I do displays. One day I was removing staples from some ply that had fabric on it. I had my arms crossed as I held the lumber and used the corner of the knife to pop the staples out. I filleted my thumb from knuckle to knuckle. Now I realize the importance of a clean shop and to slow down and think things through. That wouldn't have happened if I used a bench.
If you get right down to it, operator error is ALWAYS to blame. Time lines are never worth your or others safety !!!
Despite what many have said here for a sharp chisel being it, I know that's not it at all.
A dull chisel might make the list but a sharp tool is always safer than a dull.
I'm wondering if the tool from the article is a surprise because it's not a proportional survey. What I mean is way more of the general public own a drill than a table saw. More chances for injury.
I know it's an old saying that a sharp chisel is safer than a dull one.And the saying certainly has a sort of Puritan-work-ethic appeal to it.But my worst chisel cuts have been from the sharp ones.Richard Starr cautions about too-sharp chisels in his book, "Woodworking With Kids." He is/was a long-time shop teacher, and IIRC, he said, "A sharp chisel cuts to the bone."I can testify that he's right!AitchKay
Yep. Experience has convinced me a sharp chisel deserves more far respect than a dull one..
How do you know to compare them? Who would carry a dull chisle anyways?;)One of my finger scars is from a chisle to the bone
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Who DOESN'T carry at least one beater chisel?AitchKay
Took Dear Daughter to the ER after woodcut chisel mishap in her HS art class.A Van Gogh piece with the artist's blood on it would be priceless...Don't worry, she's a Chem Major now, mixing up all sorts of chemicals.DOOUGH...!
Well I filleted my knuckle once with a sharp chisel, numerous stitches inside and out, doc said it just missed the nerve. As for who would carry a dull chisel that would be about any helper I ever had. I don't think it's prompted by their safety consciousness though..
Ask a surgeon which is worse a sharp or dull cut.
Of course a sharp chisel is dangerous too but the idea behind it being "safer" is not just because of the damage caused by the blade sharpness or lack off.
It has to due with, if someone is using an improperly sharpened or dull chisel their applying in turn a greater force "hacking" thru the work surface and you never know when the grain will just give and combined with the dull edge and extra force being pushed, a chance encounter with skin is bad news.
Take a sharp chisel and it should cut like butter gliding through the grain with little effort, and consistent predictable results.
It's the difference between doing 70mph on the highway (Extra force/power and momentum.) and hitting black ice (Grain giving way.) and 25mph summer Sunday drive.
I'll testify both, the square and blunt 1"x1" end of oak stock shot back from a table saw or jagged corner of a brick wall will both cut to the bone too. Neither considered sharp.
dull-DULL-dull is the most dangerous!!
"dull-DULL-dull is the most dangerous!!"
Are we still talking keyboards? ;o)
Jeff
I'm aware of all of the points in that argument, and have been for well over 30 years.Some of it makes some sense, and I'm not saying that there is no place for razor-sharp tools -- I own plenty of them.But built into that argument is the premise that no-one will ever force a razor-sharp tool, and that is simply not the case.Actually, one reason I don't hurt myself on my beater chisels is that for the most part, I hammer on them. Or maybe scrape. Why would I try to pare with a dull chisel?But I do pare with my sharp chisels, which is a far more dangerous activity than chopping.Starr's book was published in '82, and I'll admit that I was surprised to read his statement, which ran counter to everything I had been taught up until then. Surprised for about 2 seconds, that is, which was all the time it took me to flash back over my jobsite injuries, and make a quick count.But I might have misstated myself when I said,"My worst chisel cuts have been from the sharp ones."I'm not 100% sure, but it might have been more accurate to say,"My ONLY chisel cuts have been from the sharp ones!"AitchKay
You are on target with that, dull chisel gets beat on[off hand is mostly out of the way] and the sharp chisel gets used for paring [off hand likely to be holding the work piece]. A slip and the vice hand is in harms way. The threat is minimized by taking a low grip on the chisel so the travel can't exceed the flex of your wrist but any flesh encountered ain't no match. This discussion of dull tool vs. sharp deserves a wider discussion. Me and Pa still square off about the axe so described. I'd rather be struck with a dull axe, the old argument is a dull one is more likely to hit you..
Nail guns weren't really brought up, off subject a little, but I really hate it when someone is talking, holding a nail gun, and points the gun at you. I treat them like real guns, and use proper gun safety rules/etiquette. I never point them even near anybody else, plus I always keep my finger next to the trigger, not on it.
Earlier this year, a company I did carpentry work for sometimes closed shop. They had a rabbiter/planer/jointer machine (Makita, about 30+ years old) and said I could take it away if I wanted. All of the blades worked at the same time, all were exposed with no guards whatsoever, plus the belts, etc. were all exposed on the jointer side. I had seen it a few times when I did work in their shop, but never attempted to use it, I don't like tempting fate, the machine was an accident waiting to happen.
SS
Hands down an apex for frequency, not severity.
Sure a knife but you usually approach knowing it can cut. An apex is so un-assuming until it unseats and stabs with the full force that your pushing downward with the drill. My left hand pointer finger from the knuckle out is so beat up.
God I hate that, you know it's coming too. For a split second you feel that slip but know it's too late and it's only a matter of will it hit your finger or the workpeice/bench.
Sphere,
I don't have a lot of personal face time with a band saw. Just giving you my memory of a piece I read about 20 years ago.
It's in the FWW archive, no doubt, if you have access.
I also recall a friend telling me about the time the 3" blade on his Makita bandsaw broke and splintered, throwing shards like broken glass. Nobody hurt. He was re-sawing something and he wasn't very close to the tool.
Ron
I don't doubt it could happen, just never has to me, or anyone I've known.
One of the worst I ever saw was planer blow up, don't recall the brand, but about a 20" wide with floating fingers of cast iron acted like kickback pawls. Well, a chunk of rock maple had a nasty knot near the end and it grenaded, took the iron pawls into the cutter when some thing broke, and that broke something, and that broke something..man it was not a pretty sight.
I'm pretty picky about culling or excising out knots or funny looking grain now.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
ronbudgell makes a good point.Band Saw is a Sleeper.Showed students respect for the band saw by hand holding a pencil against riciprocating jig saw. Then touched pencil to the band saw blade.I'm most reverent of table saw, and falling.Falls have been, and are still, the number one accident.
Don't buy a lot of tools and you wouldn't get injured! LOL
"If all else fails, read the directions"
Looking at it that way, I have a few injuries to get caught up on
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The one that scares me the most is the Right Angle "HOG" drills cause no matter how much attention your paying it will still RIP your arm off. The others one has accidents with because momentarily you are NOT paying attention.
I'll second the hole hawg. Every time I use mine I am being flung in one way or another.
I'd have to say it really depends on who's using it. Someone with a push stick using a table saw is pretty safe I'd say, but you replace that guy with someone that 'doesn't' need it and you've got potential. I think statistically a 6 ft. step ladder has claimed more lives than any. Apparently the D.I.Y trend increased the number of nail gun injuries significantly as weekend warriors rented nailguns to nail fences, trim, fingers and shins.
I'd second that vote for the ladder.But after using a chainsaw blade on a mini-grinder for two days straight, I'm having third thoughts.AitchKay
The Brain.
Any tool where you are moving towards the cutting blade, so shapers, table router, etc. But the most dangerous to me is without question a table saw. Even with a push stick or anything else, you are pushing the wood into the blade and moving your fingers in that direction, there is a risk of kick back, etc. And a table saw can do LOTS of damage, drills and such don't have as much potential for the most part.
I'm cautious with a chainsaw but not overly concerned. The blade is away from you and with proper care the tool isn't a concern. I do worry about widow makers, cutting the wrong branch and getting whipped by it, etc. But the tool isn't the cause.
straight tip screwdriver....
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Friend had a 4.5 grinder with a chainsaw blade, no guard, no handle and some gomer went to used it - caught a nail, then the chainsaw sawed him.
The ToolBear
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I would say a flat tipped screwdriver the most misused...
the most dangerous...any cutting tool that's dull
probably not specific enough, huh?
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ok....i give....what did the article say ?
the one i've seen mentioned most is the Table saw.... but it might be urban mythologyMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
RAS has potential, but it is usually the user who causes the accident with one.
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we were exclusive with RAS in the '80'si had 3... 2 ( 10") and a big Delta 12" mounted on a trailer with 8' tables that attachedmy favorite trick was crossing the blade with my left hand to hold the piece and pulling the saw with my right i always managed to stop and think... " how's this going to work out ?"but i could see doing it pretty easy with distractionsMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Operator. The operator is common to all accidents. No operator, generally no accident.
Large diameter disk grinders/sanders. When I worked in a log house yard in Chilliwack, saw lots of guys get hurt with those, more than the chainsaws.
My own vote now would be the tablesaw. I was using my Bosch portable 10" saw this summer, a piece of 1/4 got caught and was flung back at me, got it in the stomach, took the wind out of me and I had a huge bruise for weeks.... guess it could've been worse though.... I took it as a warning!
SS
I have a bosch too, I don't know if you were using the guard. I do not use mine.
However!
One thing that has helped is that instead of using the stock gaurd I made a riving knife out of the stock guard spliter. There is a how to on gary katz website. I know it has helped me many times.
http://www.garymkatz.com/ToolReviews/riving_knife.html
This is for the older bosch saw. The new one has a riving knife.Webby
Thanks, I'm going to look into it right away. I've had my guard off since I bought it, it was always getting in the way when I was doing special cuts on the saw. I'll install a riving knife...
SS
Yeah it really helps, it is scary to rip wood and watch the kerf close up behind the blade.
It takes like a half hour to make, and you only have to take it off when dadoing, rides up and down with the blade so when you store the saw, crank the blade down and it is all protected. It is kind of fussy to get adjusted but once that is done...Webby
You saying my tools don't have personality and some of them are not down right evil. Haven't you ever seen what farm animals do why we are away? They lack sophistication compared to my drill press, or my Foredome carver. I think I found a grinder at, Harbor Frieght, which grinned evilly at me (it was from Chicago, what'd you expect?).
By thread title, I'd say 6' stepladder. But you say "woodworking tool" in your post. In a shop. That pretty much takes away the chainsaw (at least in my shop).
Tablesaws have the most injuries, but radial saws have the highest number of full amputations. There is no way to determine "most dangerous" without a lot of qualifying explanation of what exactly you mean. Jointers are pretty fearsome, too.
Sometimes the most dangerous tool is the one you forget to fear. A coworker a long time ago told me a bone-chilling tale of an injury he gave himself with a utility knife while trimming cedar shingles on a roof.
Bill
I have a sweet scar from wrist to thumb tip from my roofing half hatchett, I keep it razor sharp and single bevel like a chisel.
Was doing a shake roof (oak shakes, thats why it had to be so sharp) and it was in hammer hoop but flayed sideways as I scooted down on butt to reach more nails or shakes..I had my hands on either side of me and lifted my myself up and would butt hop down a few feet instead of getting up and walking bending over, walking back and getting back down.
That blade slid right along that meaty part of the thumb base and opened it like a trout. One UGLY,deep cut. But it was a clean cut, not jagged, I taped it up as best I could , and kept working, I was a LONG ways from a real hosp. On the way home I stopped at the ER and IIRC it was 12 stitches.
Still keep it that sharp ( it's an oldy, great steel, no name) but remember that anytime I think of taking my eyes off it..once they taste blood, they want more.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
we used to do all our sidewall shingling with hatchets..
but the problem of slinging a razor sharp hatchet in a hammer holster made me decide to switch to something elselaid open my right wrist way too many timesMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
..once they taste blood, they want more.Sounds like a wife to me!
I quit working on sports cars and took up wood working.
Because, as general rule, woodworking projects don't require a blood sacrifice to work.
The damnable sports cars nearly always did.
a helper who is not alert
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its funny you should say that i was quickly scrolling through the topics and my mind saw the most dangerous fool
Noah
The one closest to you or that extension cord. Hell a tape measure can be dangerous; guy was measuring a roof and backed right off the edge.
"So, in your opinion, what is the most dangerous woodworking tool in the shop?"
The human brain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do.... Bertrand Russell
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My grandfather has a an old rockwell wormdrive with no guard, and it's trigger no longer works, it fires up as soon as you plug it in. I couldn't believe it, but he uses it to cut concrete occasionally, doesn't care to use a good saw for that. He's blind in one eye from an old pump drill that caught him, I guess that used to be a common problem.
Okay, when I read the article I was thinking, table saw, pneumatic nailers, shaper, joiner--the tools I have a great deal of respect for. I was wrong.
ronbudgell was not. He gets all the glory and the dogbone for his answer of the bandsaw. He also gets bonus points if he is correct about the magazine, as I have no idea where I read it. Good job!
levelone
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'd like to also thank my parents who made me go to school to learn to read and all the rest of the little people who have helped me on my way to this pinnacle.
The safety piece was in a FWW magazine published before 1985. I can't narrow it down any more than that because around then I borrowed years worth of them from a friend and read them over a period of months.
Ron
So, in your opinion, what is the most dangerous woodworking tool in the shop?
The ego and the illusions it creates in the mind. To avoid that problem, I try to make impartial self awareness part of all work. Keeping the mind quiet, its attention on the body, is one key to safety.
I learned all of that from working with several men who had been around a long time when I met them.
Paying attention to the body with a quiet mind sounds easy but it requires more effort than one might imagine. Many benefits come from paying attention and staying in the moment.
Edited 2/22/2009 4:00 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
I was once told '' never use a tool that is sharper than you are.''
I have been working in woodshops for 24 years. I have seen and participated in some accidents, like getting a running belt sander on my stomach. The worst injury I have seen in person is emphysema, from recirculating dust collectors, which send fine dust into the shop. I vote for the dust collector filter as the most dangerous tool.
Harold
"I read an article a long time ago about the most dangerous woodworking tool in the shop. "
If you're talking about sheer amputation potential it has to be the table saw followed by the jointer in a close second.
In terms of pure injury potential has to be the trusty old utility knife.
Nope. The radial-arm saw has the worst accidents.Whole hands cut off at the wrist from working cross-handed:Left hand holding a piece tight to the right fence, right hand pulling saw out. Saw climbs across both wood and left wrist.Hold your hands in that position and you'll see that the right arm is operating in a weak position, unable to adequately fight climb-cutting.And, of course, the left wrist is in the path of the blade.If you need to cut the left end of a board, hold with your right hand, pull with your left.Never work cross-handed.AitchKay
That goes for using power miter too. I knew of a guy in Steamboat Springs CO who took his hand off with a chop box cutting cross handed
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Yep. Especially sliders, which can climb at you. They're a little safer than the RASs, since you can lift the head to stop the climbing, but sometimes things happen real fast...AitchKay
I just made sure to develope the habit of keeping body parts out of the line of fire.It started with handling rifles and shotguns, and then proceeded top chainsaws, so other power tools are second nature.if it can. it will.Both fingers that bought the farm got suckled to the blade from aside.
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do you push yur slider into the work pull it???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
It depends. With pre-finished parts,especially plywood, I skim the top surface in climb mode, then drop the head and push.That way I score both surfaces, and don't get any tearout.AitchKay
same here.
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I use a low degree rake HATB on single side prefinish or a slight negative rake TC blade on double sided finished...
good to go...
stay with the KISS method...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
My attitude is that the most dangerous tool in any shop is the one that you are using at the moment.
Jeff
I promise to be very careful with this keyboard then, LOL
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If a pen is mightier than a sword, a keyboard must be mightier than a howitzer!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
or careless like a frag grenade
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"Nope. The radial-arm saw has the worst accidents."Could be. We got rid of our radial arm saw a couple of years ago. It was a Sears Crapsman it was junky when I arrived here 12 years ago and I finally had enough of it. Fortunately we never had an acciden with it. I was pretty religous about teaching the students how to use it correctly as you mention. Still I can't believe anyone would be dumb enough to operate one cross handed.
In our shop however the utility knife is by far and away the leading cause for emergency room visits.
Pliers!
I heard of an ironworker whose pliers over twisted a wire which caused an accident involving 20 workers. A Fitter I read about had his pliers under tighten a flare nut which resulted in an explosion. A roofer’s pliers released its grip on a roof member causing him to plummet 4 stories to his death. An electrician was electrocuted when electricity entered his body through a pliers he was using. <!----><!----><!---->
Point is, If you can’t come up with at least ten ways any particular tool or activity can kill or maim you, then it’s probably best you keep your (blank) parked safely on the couch.<!----><!---->
Mr. dude
I'M HIP WITH THE CHAIN SAW , I DON'T THINK ANTTHING CAN PROTECT FROM THAT OTHER THAN THE OPERATOR ,[ PROBABLY BECAUSE i'M A VERY LUCKY SURVIVOR [ ONLY 12 INSIDE STICHES AND 10 ON THE OUTSIDE] SCARED TO HELL WITH TEACHING MY SON, INSIDE I/M ALL ABOUT THE TABLE SAW DON'T FORGET THAT ROUTER COOL BE SAFE!