: First thing I see or rather don't see is a splitter behind the
: blade. The more I understand about a table saw the more I will
: not rip without one in place. Since no one ever told me this I
: will share it with you.

: Picture the saw blade spinning. At the front where it is cutting it
: is pushing the wood downward. At the back however it is
: traveling upwards and trying to lift the wood. That is what is
: dangerous. There is a lot of reasons for it but if tension in
: the wood is released when you are cutting it, the wood can clamp
: down or pinch on the blade. Then it can be lifted up upwards and
: it's a very good chance it will be thrown at you.

: A splitter is a piece of metal just a little thinner than that
: blade that rides in the cut you just made. It prevents the wood
: from clamping on the blade. It will never completely take the
: risk away but it it is a really good safety feature.

: Another thing that can happen is the wood is lifted by the saw
: blade and one of the teeth grabs the wood. Suddenly it is flying
: at you at up to 100 mph. If you can clamp a feather board on the
: fence to prevent the wood lifting.

: Another safety tip is don't stand in front of the blade, stand to
: the side. This lessens the chance of being hit if something does
: happen.

: I was cutting scarfs and has just cut one on the end of a WRC
: board. That small cutoff vibrated into the back of the blade
: just as I reached across the saw and hit my thumb. It ripped off
: the nail and lets just say left a big hole. I never found the
: wood or the missing parts of thumb either. That was just a freak
: accident too. But imagine what I big piece of wood could have
: done. Of all the tools in the shop I have more respect of the
: table saw than any other.

Hi Jeff,

Actually the little cut off piece is part of the problem, good idea to not have little cut off pieces on a table saw because of this. They have little mass so it's easy for the saw blade to accelerate them, happens far less often with bigger pieces with more mass, though it can and does happen.

Bill H.