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scary experience w/ bosch sc miter saw

Huck | Posted in Tools for Home Building on November 4, 2006 09:16am

Finishing up an interior trim job today, setup my first baseboard cut of the day – the baseboard is big enough I have to cut the bevels with the board flat and the saw leaning over.  Ran the saw through, and 90% of the way I hear this horrific screeching accompanied by a shower of shrapnel in my face.

Right away I knew what happened – I forgot to slide the fence back out of the way of the blade.  Touched my forehead and came back with blood.  Oh shoot, I don’t wanna see anything gory.  So I went and rinsed off real good before looking in the mirror.  Not too bad once I checked it out – a little blood and a few pieces of shrapnel still in my forehead.

The kicker, ‘tho – a nice new chink in my glasses, dead center of the lens.  I’m counting my blessings that I didn’t end the day as Huck the One Eyed Carpenter! 

I was wide awake after that!  And the amazing thing is, the blade was still sharp enough to finish the day with no problems (MDF doesn’t offer much resistance, I guess – I’m sure I’ll have to get a new blade to cut actual wood with!)

 

“…never charged nothing for his preaching, and it was worth it, too” – Mark Twain

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Replies

  1. Jer | Nov 04, 2006 01:34pm | #1

    One is never too old to hear these stories. Thanks for that, a stern reminder for me to don the glasses. I have to find a good source of safety glasses because any that they sell in the stores either fall off or don't fit right.

    1. PhillGiles | Nov 05, 2006 06:52am | #15

      I have persciption glasses, the only way to have safety glasses.  If I didn't need glasses (or wore contacts),  I'd go for a full/partial-face shield these days, there's just been too many face and neck injuries lately.

      <!----><!----> <!---->

      Phill Giles<!----><!---->

      The Unionville Woodwright<!----><!---->

    2. toolbear | Nov 07, 2006 07:07am | #22

      @@  find a good source of safety glasses

      Actually, I got a new pair from WalMart this summer.  Very reasonable price as I stuck to the single lens close-up RX.  More for bifocals, but I got away under $50.  Frames were about $8 and I had them pin the shields on for full time.

      So far, so good.The ToolBear

      "Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.

      1. Jer | Nov 07, 2006 02:26pm | #23

        Thanks, I may check them out. Mine would have to be bifocals. I keep a pair of regular non-prescript bifocal glasses hanging on my collar at all times because I can't read or see the fine details from 18" or closer. I have uncanny far sight. The best pair that I can remember owning were real glass and they were made for welders and grinders....those who work with steel. They were those thick nerdy looking frames with the folding side vents that made me look like Poindexter, but they hugged my face well, were comfortable, and stayed on all day. They're hard to find anymore.

        1. rasconc | Nov 08, 2006 05:01am | #24

          I got some bifocal DeWalt safety (really reading) glasses on ebay.  Got clear and tinted.  I like them.

          Here is a link for ones that look just like them in case you are DeWaltphobic (;-).

          http://stores.ebay.com/VISEWEAR_Eye-Protection_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZ1QQfsubZ2228773QQftidZ2QQtZkm

          http://stores.ebay.com/AAA-Industrial-Supply-Inc_DeWalt-Safety-Glasses_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ4QQftidZ2QQtZkm

          The second one is where I got mine, they were super to work with and quick to ship.  Have not dealt with the first one.

          Bob

          1. Jer | Nov 08, 2006 02:06pm | #27

            Thanks for that. I'll check it out.

        2. toolbear | Nov 08, 2006 06:24am | #25

          @@ They were those thick nerdy looking frames with the folding side vents that made me look like Poindexter, but they hugged my face well, were comfortable, and stayed on all day. They're hard to find anymore.

          Sounds like a pair of glacier goggles I had done on welder frames in the '60s.  Full side shields with air holes, spring wire ear pieces.  Worked very well.

           

           The ToolBear

          "Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.

    3. philarenewal | Nov 15, 2006 02:26am | #30

      Great source for safety equip. including glasses:

      http://www.northernsafety.com/?Source=06YST&ovchn=YAH&ovcpn=Keyword+Grouping&ovcrn=northern+safety&ovtac=PI

      I bought about a dozen pairs of inexpensive safety glasses from these guys several years ago and leave them all over the place -- truck glove box, every toolbox they'll fit into, etc.  At any given time I can usually find at least one pair.  ;-)

      Anyway, most of them are nicked from some piece of something flying into my face.  Wearing the glasses I actually notice it more 'cause instead of near misses just hitting my cheek and being subconsciously ignored, I can hear stuff hitting the glasses (like sawdust flying out of the sidewinder when you try to watch the blade on the line -- or rare but often enough, that small finish nail that "disappears" but actually ricocheted off something back into my face).  I wear them almost all the time while working. 

      "Let's get crack-a-lackin"  --- Adam Carolla

  2. Stilletto | Nov 04, 2006 01:43pm | #2

    I cut through my Dewalt sliders fence a few weeks ago.  It threw a 1/4" x1"  chunk of aluminum past my ear.  I forgot to move the crown stops out of the way when I had a piece of trim laid flat. 

    Not just a Bosch thing.  

     

     

    1. User avater
      IMERC | Nov 04, 2006 01:46pm | #3

      G8 diced up my milwaukee..

      same thing.. 

       

      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!!!

      1. Stilletto | Nov 04, 2006 01:51pm | #4

        I need to learn to slow down sometimes,  had alot of close calls lately. 

        I stabbed myself in the eye with a screwdriver two days ago replacing a saw guard spring.   

         

        1. User avater
          IMERC | Nov 04, 2006 02:14pm | #6

          DAMN!!!!

          sorry to hear that... (cringe) you alright...

          fished kicked when I went to pick it up and I got hooked pretty bad last weekend.. 

           

          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!!!

          1. Stilletto | Nov 04, 2006 02:43pm | #7

            I am fine,  just bruised my eye.  If thats possible. 

            Hurts to blink other than that I'm good. 

            I hate it when fish start flopping, I know I am going to get hooked. 

            Long time ago I had to have a Heddon Baby Torpedo cut out of my face.  Buddy and I were fishing and he pulled back to cast,  when he went to throw out the lure buried itself in my cheek.  He pulled a few times without knowing what he was caught on.  Until I started yelling at him. 

            I cut 4 out of 6 hooks off then pulled what was left out.  Them barbs hold great.  Almost like a ringshank nail.  :)   

             

          2. User avater
            IMERC | Nov 04, 2006 02:55pm | #8

            WHEW!!!! ... good to hear it..

            been caught on sombody else's lure more than once...

            one time I caught a small alligator.. 3 - 3 and half footer...

            two guys in the back of the boat said cool when I told them what I had...

            throw it back here they say...

            so you know what happened after that....

            major ROAR!!!!

            got me some of these the last time and in a bit - headed out to there again...

            hey.. somebody gots to do it... didn't hear anybody else volunteering to do the dirty work...

            View Image 

             

            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!!!

          3. Stilletto | Nov 04, 2006 02:58pm | #9

            Streams haven't frozen over yet? 

            Have fun,  and stay warm. 

            I am off to a Michigan footaball game in an hour.   

             

          4. User avater
            IMERC | Nov 04, 2006 03:02pm | #10

            there are many that don't..

            let beer flow on... 

             

            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!!!

          5. davidmeiland | Nov 04, 2006 06:46pm | #12

            >>>I am off to a Michigan footaball game in an hour. 

            GO BLUE!!!!

            On topic, my Hitachi C10F came with a pivoting fence section that you have to remember to move out of the way when tilting and pivoting simultaneously for certain cuts. My older Hitachi had no such self-destructive parts, so I wasn't used to it. Within a few days I had cut part way into the little piece, and the next time I did it the whole damn thing broke off and flew away. I've never replaced it. In my opinion you should be able to tilt or swing anywhere and not risk cutting into the saw body.

            Huck, glad yer wearing those glasses. Smart man.

  3. bruce22 | Nov 04, 2006 02:00pm | #5

    Luckily, you didn't get hurt. I have a feeling they sell a lot of fence replacements on tilting compound saws. I did the same thing on my Makita compound when I first got it, the fence exploded but not towards me. I think most of us are too embarassed to bring this up. 

    On the job yesterday I was using the customer's Bosch sc and noticed a nice clean saw cut through the sliding fence. I hate it when they have more and better tools than I do.

    After I replaced my fence I painted it red as a reminder, it helps.

  4. User avater
    basswood | Nov 04, 2006 04:47pm | #11

    Glad you are OK. I had a similar experience cutting an aluminum shower door rail...BANG!...bits of metal all over. I've also had my blade too deep and cut out part of the aluminum "sub-table" structure of my saw.

    My Hitachi slider is the old one with such a small (lame) stationary fence you can't hit it. I used to have fence envy, but I have added my own MDO ply fences (straight, smooth, easy to write on). It does reduce my crosscutting a bit though.



    Edited 11/4/2006 10:00 am ET by basswood

  5. KenHill3 | Nov 04, 2006 09:27pm | #13

    Hi, Huck, I'm Ken the one-eyed carpenter. Altho I didn"t lose my eye on the job ( mtn. bike accident), I now have safety glasses on 100% of the time.Glad you're OK. Sorry about the saw.

    1. User avater
      McDesign | Nov 06, 2006 03:02am | #19

      Sorry to hear - one of my big fears.  Was it a "poking" type injury, or blunt trauma?

      Forrest

  6. DougU | Nov 05, 2006 04:03am | #14

    Huck

    I dont know how many sliders I've seen with a cut out of the moveable fence, including my own!

    Glad your eyes are OK, that forehead thing will heal just fine.

    I always think that one of the benifits to getting older and needing glasses is that I always have  them on. I'm amazed at the number of guys I see that refuse to wear eye protection, hope they never regret it.

    Doug

  7. Learner | Nov 06, 2006 02:54am | #16

    I remember seeing a news report about how many emergency room visits are the result of DIY accidents seemed to be a high percentage. Glad you are ok!

    I've avoided a few myself. I bought a Mastercraft 10" table saw.

    http://www.cantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396673079&bmUID=1162770158879&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443277556&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

    Having never used a table saw before, I read the manual carefully set it up outside on my elevated concrete patio and fired it up. I needed to rip a panel for an attic hatch, just a thin piece of mdf so I slid it in and got to the end of the blade where the splitter then hit the panel piece and prevented it from being ripped any farther. I figured I probably just need to give it a bit of a shove to get it to go past, shoved a little too hard and the running ts with panel in it started to tilt over towards the concrete stairs that go up the patio. I managed to grab the table and prevent it from toppling down the stairs - in addition to that since I am safety concious you need to add a hepa half mask filter to my face, a pair of headphones, safety goggles and a pair of gloves - all useless if you belly flop onto a running tablesaw.

    For me the blade guard makes the saw more dangerous than without it. The second time I tried to adjust the blade guard with splitter such that it wouldn't interfer, all I ended up doing was loosening it enough that after ripping through a portion the blade guard went into the path of the blade and sparks started flying. I haven't used it too many times since as I don't often need to rip material.

    Does everyone just take off the blade guard / splitter? Or is it just that the ts that I bought is poorly designed? Or maybe the material I am ripping is just too thing to have the splitter work properly? I might just take to making a jig for my circ saw and use it instead.

    MG

    1. User avater
      Gunner | Nov 06, 2006 02:59am | #17

        I don't use mine. It's hanging on the wall in case I ever sell the saw.

       

       

       

        I have no tagline.

       

       http://www.hay98.com/

       

      Edited 11/5/2006 7:00 pm ET by Gunner

    2. FastEddie | Nov 06, 2006 03:01am | #18

      Does everyone just take off the blade guard / splitter?

      Generally speaking, most standard blade guards and splitters are not well designed.  There are many aftermarket guards that do much better.

        

      "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

    3. DonCanDo | Nov 06, 2006 05:39am | #20

      For me the blade guard makes the saw more dangerous than without it.

      Does everyone just take off the blade guard / splitter? Or is it just that the ts that I bought is poorly designed? Or maybe the material I am ripping is just too thing to have the splitter work properly? I might just take to making a jig for my circ saw and use it instead.

      I agree that poorly designed "safety" features create additional hazards.  And most of them are poorly designed.  There hasn't been a blade guard on my table saw since a month after I bought it (25 years ago).  I never even bothered installing it on my portable table saw.  I really don't see the point behind these guards.  A riving knife, however, could be useful.  It was discussed recently.

      As far as using a circular saw... there was a recent discussion on shooting (or shoot) boards.  And the current issue of FHB has an article on edge guides (I call them rip guides) which you should take a look at.  These edge guides have also been discussed here at length.

      -Don

       

    4. SBerruezo | Nov 06, 2006 09:29am | #21

      A well designed splitter can be useful. The riving knives are supposed to be great.  That said, I can only recall one time I've ever installed a splitter to make a rip, and that was ripping a bevel on 20'+ wet LVLs.  It just wasn't working without it.

      1. sveny | Nov 08, 2006 06:24am | #26

        If you have a dust collector on the tablesaw It will work much better with the gaurd installed.  I want to say also that you should always wear safety glasses.  My uncle was hand nailing and a nail skipped off bounced up and hit him in the eye, which he lost.

    5. netanyahu | Nov 15, 2006 12:51am | #29

      You wear gloves when using a table saw?!  That, IMHO is begging to lose a finger - or hand.  I saw a HO who was "helping" us with the trim on his house lose four fingers to a SCMS because his glove was a little too close to the path of the blade.

  8. dvc61 | Nov 14, 2006 04:12am | #28

    Wow!

    Just read your account with a bit of amazement....I did exactly the same thing a week ago with my new Bosch 10" compound slider. Bang! Schrapnel ! Run to the mirror and count my blessings. Had my glasses on, but boy was it close. I have 24 years of experience and still got caught. First cut of the day, didn't move the top sliding fence out of the way and almost lost my sight because of it.  Let's be careful out there!!!

    Doug C.

  9. Nick25 | Nov 15, 2006 03:44am | #31

    how many fingers do I have to cut off before I'm more carefull with that thing as if typing with 7 fingers isn't bad enough really don't want to make it six.

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