: Thanks Paul & Rob.

I have been a fairly active woodworker for at least 30 years. Building boats is a rather recent obscession. I started off with a few tools, some power, some hand tools. I remember distinctly trying to turn a circular saw into a table saw similar to one of the suggestions posted. Well, you know that I thought that what I had invented was great until I had a kick-back that near missed my head and sent the ripped piece clear through two sheets of 1/2" drywall. Of course, if the piece hit my head it would just bounced off or would have definitely shattered. (Everyone knows how hard German heads are!!!)

Today I have two table saws. I have two saws for no other reason other than I found my newest at a yard sale for $40. I have since spent about another $300 on accessories and safety equipment for my new find. (My wife doesn't know that!!)

Even with new state-of-art tools with all of the splitters, guards, fences, magnetic switches, etc. etc. one cannot be too careful, even if you have a hard head.

The quality of what I produce in woodworking today is a quantum leap upward from my start and I have done it without spending a fortune. Spending for safety is always my first dollar spent before I use a tool for the first time. Having said that, I still have to step back and think about what I am doing before I do it and still have an occasional near miss when I don't!!!