Fences and Guards, for Tools & Trees

The importance of trusting in training over technology.

Read or Listen: Genesis 3

A Table saw is just about the most dangerous tool in any woodshop. The main thing that differentiates a useful table saw from a naked spinning blade is the fence. The fence allows you to make cuts straighter and more consistent. It improves both the quality and efficiency of the saw. But it also introduces a new danger - if a piece of wood gets pinched between the blade and the fence, it can “kick back” - the spinning blade will pick up and launch a board back at the operator at about 80 miles an hour. If it happens to a piece you are holding, it can drag your hand across the blade, causing permanent damage - something I have personal experience with. You wouldn’t notice it if I didn’t point it out, but my right index finger has a little bit of the corner rounded off. It’s a constant reminder to pay attention.