I believe that there is only one real shop safety device. It is the mind of the person using the tool. Power tools are dangerous by their very nature. Then, good hand tools are often very sharp. It's easy to maim yourself with a chisel or a plane if you are not careful. Heck, you can chew a fine chunk out of yourself with a rasp. All the guards in the world won't save us from a moment of carelessness. I'm pretty paranoid with my power tools. I like to be able to count to 10 on my fingers. I don't think that any power saw is more or less inherently dangerous than others. Just a matter of exercising proper care, and frankly having the good luck that care generally brings. Shop accidents happen. I've given plenty of blood to my projects over the years. It only takes a moment of inattention and even the most benign tool can bite you. Use what you are comfortable with and exercise caution. Best way to be safe in the shop. This is a very individual thing and only you can make that decision for yourself.

Matthew

: You may be correct Brian, I haven't used one, and a friend, a retired
: professional woodworker, said much the same thing last year. Nonetheless,
: although he's obsessive about safety he still managed to knick himself
: with his bandsaw as few weeks back. A moment's inattention and no serious
: damage.

: I don't like the look of any tool if I can see the blade moving and I'm
: expected to move the material past it. EEK! I prefer my hands on the
: handle of a portable tool with the material securely clamped.

: Ultimately it's the operator who is the source of the danger, not the tool.
: Some tools just give us more opportunities than others to demonstrate our
: shortcomings.

: I reiterate my contention that many power tool "blade guards" are
: poorly designed and in many cases increase risk by making the task at hand
: more difficult.