I fully endorse what your saying about tool safety especially with DIY table saws. And I hope that what is below isn't taken out of context. But you can make it as safe if not safer then a commercial one.

My one is set in a custom made table set at the correct and comfortable operating height for me. The saw blade was completely covered by finger boards and the only way I could cut myself would be to stick my finger into the gap where the strips enter (they wouldn't fit anyway - not that I tried). I felt very safe using it. The only 2nd thoughts I had with it was using the plug to turn it on and off. I went ahead with this because I could not find a switch able extension cord to use. The plugs where mounted at the corner of the table where I stood feeding the planks through. The skill saw never moved, and with tight nuts and spring washers it was very hard to dismantle.

In my case and probably others as well, I couldn’t afford to buy a saw, couldn't find anybody to borrow one and the local hire place don't stock them. The price I was quoted to get the planks stripped equaled the price of a cheap saw (more then my budget). Should I have avoided building the kayak because I was unable to obtain a table saw (thus strips) any other way?

As much thought should be given to safety as the design itself and safety was at the top of my list when I built it. The total cost was $18.00NZ and I'm still typing with all 10 fingers.

A safe saw can be made, it just requires some planning and avoiding the "She'll be right" attitude.

Cheers
GrantG

: I'm concerned to see such support for using a circular saw to cut strips in
: this line of posts is such a public forum.

: Yes, you can force a tool designed for another purpose, to do what you need
: done.

: AND YOU ARE DRASTICALLY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY!

: Also, it will not give you the same results as a tool designed for that
: purpose, in this case
: a table saw to cut strips.

: No one wants to contribute a suggestion that would result in an injury.
: Woodworking is dangerous! I have many woodworking friends who do not have
: all their fingers.

: Haste, inattention, disregard for safety set-ups are the major factors in
: most injures.
: AND THIS IS WITH THE RIGHT TOOL, WITH ALL THE BUILT IN SAFETY FEATURES AND IN
: EXPERIENCED HANDS!!!!!

: Why do you think you’ve never seen a “Let’s make a circular saw into a
: tablesaw kit” at the hardware store?

: How do you mount the circular saw firmly? How do you adjust the fence? How do
: shut off the power in an emergency? You’re expecting someone who hasn’t
: used a table saw to make one from a circular saw??

: And if you haven’t worked with a good table saw with the right blade, right
: fence set-up and feed tables how are you going to begin to know what the
: end product should look like or how easy it is to cut accurate consistent
: strips?

: Sorry Bill, but it makes my skin crawl to see you leaning over and cutting on
: such a low bench surface in your picture post. You are off-balance and
: could easily trip on the saw cord! Maybe you didn’t trip, and have that
: saw blade flying, but someone else trying the same thing could.

: There are reasons tool table heights are set where they are. A table saw’s
: table is 34” high to allow a comfortable, powerful and safe positioning of
: your hands on a board to push it through the blade. You also can maintain
: a comfortable balanced footing. A band saw table is considerably higher
: because the band saw is primarily used to cut curves and for this you need
: to have the table closer to your eyes to be able to follow the cut line.
: The circular saw is designed for rough carpentry uses, short cross cuts and
: rougher long plywood cuts are primary uses.

: IT’S NOT A MATTER OF IF YOU WILL GET INJURED, BUT WHEN AND HOW BADLY. Even if
: you do every thing right, you will have nicks and close calls if you keep
: working with bladed power tools.

: I’d encourage novice builders out there to get creative in safer ways, like,
: canvas friends and acquaintances to see who has a table saw that you might
: use. I’m sure when you tell people you are building a kayak they will be
: happy to help. An acquaintance may just become a new friend.

: Other places to get a saw or have strips cut for you include;
: Tool rentals, tag sales, buy a used saw then resell it, school shop classes,
: local wood shops, local carpenters and there are probably others.

: I hope some of the other woodworkers who frequent this BB will support me on
: this.

: It’s easy to come up with an idea that sounds okay, is cheap (oh yeah!), and
: I can do right now. It’s hard to live the rest of your life with regret
: for haste and loss of a finger.

: Work safe!

: All the best,
: Rob Macks
: Laughing Loon CC&K
: www.laughingloon.com