Let me begin by saying that I do not recommend anything done by the guy in this YouTube video. But it is quite funny, at least how he starts the saw. Well, it’s funny in the way that really bad things are funny. Laughter is the best response because otherwise you won’t be able to deal with it. Don’t get me wrong though. If I met this guy, I would say, as clearly as possible and most likely with a few salty words thrown in, that what he is doing is terribly unsafe and that he surely can’t be as dumb as he is acting.
But part of me thinks this is intentionally absurd. I sure hope so.
One more thing: Some people who have watched this have thought that his daughter is sitting in the line of fire for kickback when he is crosscutting the plywood. I don’t think so. He is dressed in different clothing, and the saw is on a little base. It seems to be a completely different day.
If the guy who made this video happens to read this blog, please buy (or check out from a local library) The Tablesaw Book by Kelly Mehler, and learn how to operate a tablesaw safely. Oh, and buy a new saw.
Comments
That is almost as bad as this video of a guy demonstrating cutting a mortise with a Wood Rat. I stopped watching once I saw him reach under the table.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v3uFR9ANf0w
When is wood working safety month?
Notice the fence being used with the miter gauge? I was really concerned that at some point that little girl was and or will be in the line of fire (kickback). Also, listen for the blade to hit the board as he pushes it. It is only a
matter of time before he piches some wood and we see a you tube video of wood flying. Without being a total basher, he is creative. But unfortunately creativity will be something that lands him in the ER.
this guy's a darwin award candidate
*gulp*
One word..."SawStop"
Geez, the top of the saw looks about 180 grit of rust. Hmmm, sand and cut at the same time :)
-Ace-
What impressed me the most was the way he held the board while cutting it. Maybe he should run for office somewhere, he has what it takes.
Wow! there is something to be said about using very old equipment! I am mazed at some fine woodworkers who use old equipment with very fine results! However, there is something to be said about the talented folks that separate them from this bright fellow; any tool is only as useful as it's owner...
I really hope your daughter was not behind that saw when you cut that plywood. You had the right end of it agoinst the fence and the used your miter fence. Really dangerous and could have caused kickback into your daughters face. Bob
This video is very sad and I wish it did not appear on such a good site. A site where tons of woodworkers from all walks of life and skill levels come to learn how to do things "right" or "safer". All the dangerous things that he did in the video totally makes a mockery of the trade and this site, but more importantly, it shows total disregard for the safety of himself and others. I know we always speak freely on here, but this is one prime candidate for CENSORSHIP!
First of all I like his spunk and willingness to dive into a project that he knows nothing about. The Rube Goldberg arrangement for the start was a hoot. This is a guy I'd like to have a beer with.
Having said that, this is like a check list of unsafe things to do with a table saw. No guard, miter guage and fence, uneven top you could go on. I stopped breathing when he made the cut, waiting for something gruesome to happen.
I just got rid of a 1950's era sears craftsman table saw because it wasn't safe--and it was in a lot better condition than this one. Let's chip in and buy this guy a sawstop!!!
And the best comment was the one with the link to Kelly Mehler's book.
this is really scary. if i were to have a beer with this guy, it would be to encourage him in the strongest possible terms to get some training or take up another hobby -- like needlepoint.
My thanks go out to this guy for providing me with such a wonderful teaching tool I can use with my intro woodworking students. "Pop quiz, class. List at least 4 things this guy did that were dangerous and you should not do while using a table saw." I couldn't have come up with better material for this lesson.
Biohaz1906:
I appreciate your concern, but you're wrong. Fine Woodworking is about educating its readers about woodworking: the best materials, the best tools, and the best techniques. One way to educate is to show what shouldn't be done. This video does precisely that, and, let me add, it is clear that neither I nor anyone else thinks that what the guy is doing is safe or good practice. In fact, it is abundantly clearly that we all disapprove.
It is highly likely that someone has read this blog, looked at the video, and said, "Oh, I shouldn't use the fence when crosscutting. I didn't know that."
Keep in mind that in order to learn how to do something, you often need to be told or shown how not to do it.
I love it. I have done many more stupid things. When you are determond to create, you can't be stopped. I have held a caster in my hand against a drive belt to make a tensioner on the belt of a compressor to charge a sprinkler system when the belts were too slimy (in a pit below ground) for the pulley. I rode the top of a freight elevator cab to grease the rails. You do what you have to do. This country was built by people who did what they had to do.
I agree with all the things said above about safety. However, a different thing strikes me. This homeowner-grade saw appears to be very beefy. The cast iron top looks thick and substantial as do the materials involved in the motor. Looking at it nicely illustrates the extent to which Sears has cheapened their saws over the years.
Other than using the miter gauge with the fence (how did it not kick back?), it wasn't the stupidest thing that I've ever seen. Seems he could have used a cord for the starter motor, like one to start a lawnmower, and then I think that I would have hung the bucket from the board.
I'm glad that I had high school wood shop to learn shop safety. Our shop teacher would throw a block of wood at you if you did something unsafe. Of course that was also dangerous, but everyone in the class got the point.
This clip would be better suited to the next edition of
"Jackass." I don't know when it was shot, and I wonder if the guy (and his family) are still alive.
This is like an Alfred Hitchcock suspense/thriller. We all know what is or can possibly happen. What were hoping is that he gets out alive.
One, I can't believe that this video would even make it onto this site. I think anyone that gives this guy any credit at all is delusional.
Two, I can't spend someone else's money, but for a few hundred balloons he could have picked up a new saw or a newer used saw that worked and had some safety features.
I hope the next video is not of him going to emergency. Maybe "intentionally absurd" is a new medical term.
I watched the video and read all the comments from other people.None of the comments acknowledged that the guy was just acting and wouldn't really run his saw like that.The purpose of the video was to point out unsafe practices.It was all an act.
Matthew Kenney,
Why? What purpose does this serve?
Aside from agreeing with most of the comments, I find this video completely useless. Other than opening the door for other copycat morons, this video serves no purpose whatsoever. Even more so in a "Fine wood working" forum.
I struggle to find it amusing or entertaining, nor is there any educational value. This is, at best, a rather poor example of a clueless Jackass weekend wantabe woodworker with the hopes and dreams to famous for his moronic displays of stupidity, and you are now his promoter.
This comes from a former college professor, really?
I guess it does serve one purpose, to fill in a blank space on your forum?
Come on Matt, get back on track.
Brad
Until I read the note after the video; I too thought of that innocent child sitting in the chair in line of fire. I almost learned the hard way about children in the shop area when I first bought my tablesaw. I had a kickback go thru the door into the family room where two of my little ones were watching cartoons. ZOOM! Right past them at eye level.
I didn't use that tablesaw again until I read all I could find and was well versed in tablesaw saftey and use. I also turned the saw 180 degrees so that any possible kickback would strike the block wall in the basement.
Good video for what not to do. Puts your' heart in your' throat thinking of that little one.
Until I read the note after the video; I too thought of that innocent child sitting in the chair in line of fire. I almost learned the hard way about children in the shop area when I first bought my tablesaw. I had a kickback go thru the door into the family room where two of my little ones were watching cartoons. ZOOM! Right past them at eye level.
I didn't use that tablesaw again until I read all I could find and was well versed in tablesaw saftey and use. I also turned the saw 180 degrees so that any possible kickback would strike the block wall in the basement.
Good video for what not to do. Puts your' heart in your' throat thinking of that little one.
In response to roge05156:
"All an act”,”to point out unsafe practices"?
You should lick your table saw blade while it's spinning either, but do you really think we need a video demonstrating why?
If this video helped explain safety to you, I hope the only power tools you possess are made by Hasbro, Mattel or Playschool.
Here's a useful tip, roge05156:
Keep your health insurance premiums up to date,
Duh,
bRda
correction (Typo)
You shouldn't lick your table saw blade while it's spinning either, but do you really think we need a video demonstrating why?
When I saw this a few days ago, my first reaction was "Naw ... this didn't really happen."
I still don't know if it was an act or not, but in my mind there is nothing either positive or humorous about it.
Speaking of tablesaw safety, the TV commercial with the board kicking back and hitting someone in the back makes me groan everytime I see it. No doubt, the folks who made that commercial thought it was funny. Apparently they don't realize how dangerous a flying missile like that is.
The man is a fool and to allow a young child into that disorganized unsafe workspace is irresponsible. I don't know why you would choose to show this on this website, unless it is to demonstrate what not to do and if that is the case there are better ways to get the safety message across. Unbelievable!
I can't imagine anybody being so stupid, although they are out there. Why do you think ladders are so covered in warning labels. He also seemed to be trying to get a kick back with the way he cut the piece of plywood using both the miter gauge and the fence at the same time.
In response to GRJensen :
I however did find the Pepsi commercial very funny. My initial reaction to the kick back clip was the same as yours…….”Ohhhh!” followed be a good laugh at the end. Because none of the incidents really happened, The Actors didn’t really get hurt and the humorous response of “I’m Good” by the victims was as if it‘s not the first time they’ve been there done that.
This video is the exact opposite in all respects. Just another naive haphazard Jackass, clueless to how many times he’s avoided a serious injury.
Someone please tell the moron in the video to turn his motor off before doing a tuneup, or at least have him start with the oil change first. Hopefully the motor will seize before he gets to changing the fan belt.
Brad
That guy should not be alowed near a shop. I have done some stupid things in my shop, but I have always tried to think safty. That guy is utterly out of "it". With Children in my shop, I have shut things down to what we needed and taught them to respect the tools and equipment.
Maybe he should take up knitting, but he might poke himself with the needles.
Tache
I know a high school science teacher who uses clips from TV shows as a fun quiz -- let the kids identify as much "bad science" as possible from lab scenes shown.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if this guy made this for use in a shop class assignment -- identify all of the unsafe practices possible.
Don't - DO NOT - do what this young fellow is shown doing. I've done some exceedingly stupid things in my time, and luckily survived them; but this pushes the envelope.
BTW, I have one of those old Craftsman saws, and given that it lacks some refinements like a featherboard, it's still a fine tool.
This guy would get 'First Place' in the 'Darwin Awards'. But more importantly. He deserves it!
OK, making fun of this guy is fine and fun (that's what the internet is for, right?), but posting this video on FWW only qualifies as educational if you list some specifics of what the guy is doing wrong. There is an unspoken assumption that everyone who sees this will be able to enumerate exactly how he is screwing up. For the pros among us that may be true, and there is certainly enough here to give even non-woodworking observers pause. However, there are enough folks reading this who have less experience that it would be beneficial to at least list the biggies-- you can't count on everyone to buy & read a book. My list starts with:
- Motor-starting process is pure insanity-- I can envision the belt grabbing the pliers and throwing them back to ensure that girl remains an only child
- Operating without a splitter/blade guard
- Cross-cutting with the fence in place
OK, what else?? I'm assuming that the girl is safely upstairs (the motor is still disassembled when she is shown). On the plus side, at least the guy had the sense to keep the blade lowered when he was starting the motor, and he didn't use his hand to push the cutoff piece past the blade.
I'm sorry Fine Woodworking, but this isn't even worthy of showing on this "fine" site. If anything, it should have been reported through you tube as inappropriate and dangerous. Though I don't mean to slander ...... the guy is a moron, period, especially in having his daughter any where near that shop. If that's what he's doing with his table saw, who knows what else lurks in there. I really loved the cross-cutting of the piece of plywood early on with a miter gauge; and, against the fence. IF THERE WAS EVER A POSTER BOY FOR REQUIRING A LICENSE TO OPERATE ANY, ANYTHING, WITH POWER, THIS GUY WOULD BE IT. NOT FUNNY, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. ...... His poor daughter!
I was in total disbelief in what I was watching. Subscribing to Fine Woodworking e Letter I would not expect this garbage to be shown to woodworking professionals or enthusiasts. Whats in your next issue, how not to stick your hand in a planer!
Hello everybody:)
"WE" all know as W.W. that there is so many things wrong here.
I did a quick read over of the posting and found that you MISS IT.. Let me inform you as you saw him start out with trying to repair the motor himself. Him seem like alot of use "sometime" we think this is not so bad, until we are well over our heads in to project. Second he never fixed the motor before he used it, again or even had it check out by someone who knew motors.
Let use remeber to let it be done by people who know what they are doing until you have learned it SAFETY :)
Chris
I have seen these saws in action with a good working motor. They are heavier and more sturdy than anything made in the last 30 years. Awesome equipment if fully functional. Operator not so awesome. Good way to loose fingers and loved ones.
Odd thing about those old Craftsman table saws......was given an old direct drive type, determined to do a thorough clean-up on it before putting into service.....had the blade off, saw upside down, blowing dust out, and and then switched it on, thinking electric motors should run in any position. Managed to achieve maximum smoke output from the switch/capacitor (whatever) box which was mounted under a sheet metal flange on the base. Once I had the box removed, noted the warning printed on it that it should not be operated upside down......of course, when mounted, the warning label was covered by the flange......seems there is some component in that box that is position-sensitive.....no danger of a repeat with the Unisaw now in use ......
BTW...this guy is an idiot....unfortunate that he apparently has been able to reproduce......
Come on guys give the guy some credit, this is the most ingenius way of losing a couple toes and fingers all in one afternoon, all while providing your 2 year old with mental and physical trauma from the plywood kickback and flying digits.
Hey,
Ever been to the third world? There's a reason people can live on very little. They aren't always running out to Crap Depot to buy cheap junk from China. This guy is the ultimate in Green Building. Do you think OSHA was around when they built the Taj Majal? Maybe he's putting 2,000 into his daughters college fund instead of spending it on an auto stop saw. When her college is paid for do you think she will care if dad is missing a finger?
Not only is he unsafe but I don't think it's a bad capacitor that is causing his starting problem. There is a centrifical switch on the outboard end of the motor next to the bearing. It's the switch that needs to be replaced. It gets the motor running on the start windings and then opens when motor picks up speed and goes into the run windings. He is manually doing this.
This is an actual quote from the guy in the video from the YouTube website
jdat747 () Reply "I need to post my updated way of starting that saw. I use a strip of bike inner-tube now. Works great."
He's still using the saw!!!
He not only is unsafe. I don't think that the capacitor is his starting problem. There is a centrifical switch inside the motor next to the outboard bearing. This switch allows the motor to start on the start windings and then when speed picks up the switch opens up and the motor runs on the run winds. He needs to replace this switch. By manual spinning the motor he is reducing starting load until the switch opens and gets on it's run windings.
What about the most elemental of safety practices, and that is eye protection!
I nominate this guy for a Darwin Award, if he is still alive with all extremities.
The FIRST mistake is in referring to this guy as a "woodworker." The rest is downhill.
To me it looks like the worst thing that could happen starting the thing is he tips a bucket full of crap on the floor, and maybe damages the motor (oh, that's right, it's damaged already).
Let he who has never violated a safety rule cast the first stone, and know for certain that you are a very, very boring person that no one likes.
To me it looks like the worst thing that could happen starting the thing is he tips a bucket full of crap on the floor, and maybe damages the motor (oh, that's right, it's damaged already).
Let he who has never violated a safety rule cast the first stone, and know for certain that you are a very, very boring person that no one likes.
The only thing I see glaringly wrong is the stock between the blade and the fence is not supported. A sure fire formula for a kick back. I don't have a problem with his starting of the saw that way but would suggest a few options. Move the belt to the side and take a 6' piece of 3/8" vinyl hose and 1/2 loop it around the pulley, holding both ends give a quick pull on one end and the motor will start easily. In the absence of the hose use a piece of rope but it tend to slide under load. Then insert the board under the running motor and hang the bucket from the board by the bail, don't set it on top. Then the iffy part. Placing the belt back on the spinning pulley. I suppose the pliers will work OK. Hey, If all you want to do is see if the saw is worth putting anymore money into it why not.
It looks like the worst thing that could happen starting his contraption is that he ends up with a bucket full of crap on the floor and maybe damages the motor (oh, wait... it's damaged already)
Let he who has never violated a safety rule cast the first stone, and know for certain that he is a very, very boring person that probably has never kissed a girl and owns a lot of cats.
You know, strangly enough, I have (and use frequently) and old "Sears and Roebuck" table saw. Not a Sears Craftsman TS either, which tells you something about how old it is. I have modified it in a few ways to make it better suited to my needs. I've been a toolmaker for 34 years and I can tell you that these old saws CAN be made safe if you know what your doing, but what he's doing in this vid gave me the heebee jeebees. I don't think he's aware of how quickly that old saw can remove his body parts or how badly it can damage his quality of life for him --- AND HIS DAUGHTER!
Why don't you spend $100 and go to harbor freight or Northern tool or Ebay or something and get a 1/2 horse motor to replace it. It's NOT worth it! I agree with MBerger and I wonder just how stupid this guy really is. The sad part is that he's probably an engineer of some kind.
Most of us have taken chances in the process of working on projects in and out of our shops. We all hope that our past experience combined with some luck will let us "get by" without incident. The amount of "chance" we are willing to take often decides the outcome.
Others would seem to depend solely on the grace of a higher power to keep them safe or are unaware of the grave danger they face. Doesn't he seem happy, even proud?
I do not believe that this is an actor, this is a man of faith and likely an emergency room statistic yet to happen.
The saw could be made safe and usable - if it was properly rebuilt - but it is unlikely he has the knowledge to do that either.
My advice to him: take some classes, read some books, get a friend with more ability and skill to help fix the saw and for heaven's sake just buy a NEW motor and switch for the saw.
I would, however, suggest you stop video taping your efforts.
If your insurance company sees this stuff and they will NEVER pay your medical bills again!
Where in God's name is this "man's" common sense? Dude, you need to learn some common safety practices. Enuff said.
Fearless as a five year old... I... don't think he is being deliberately absurd and I'd hate see how he starts his lawnmower.
You guys all think everyone has money. Without money you do what you can do to get buy. Get real
At least he didn't use his teeth in any way to start the motor.
Thanks FWW for publishing this. I appeciate seeing this stuff and making my own judgements. Everyone of above average intelligence will know that this is really unsafe. Everyone else... well good luck with yor stupid dangerous life.
I see nothig wrong here :-), yea I am kidding
I've had the misfortune of being around guys like this before. He is better know as the OSHA Poster Child.
So, as indicated above i too think the guy MUST be in-line for a Darwinian Award. not only the method of starting the saw gave me the creeps, but his method of cutting kind of startled me as well. did anyone else notice that he was using the miter gauge with his rip fence in place. maybe i just imagined it, but......
The problem here is this guys gives idiots a bad name.
With all the safety violations, did anyone else wonder who the idiot camera person is? Is that person also eligible for a brain transplant for encouraging stupidity? If she happens to be his wife, keep up the insurance payments. The payout is close at hand.
Wow. Not the sharpest tool in the shed is he? To think that this guy is allowed to vote, let alone breed.
This obviously is a case of "everything done wrong." But I can't help but wonder if this guy really has a desire for making dust, and he's really never been taught how to do it safely. I wish someone with some shop knowledge would take him aside and explain some facts about the woodworking life, and then hang around to mentor him some. None of us should forget that we, also, have probably done some stupid things prior to gaining some knowledge.
ALl you folks who want to nominate this guy for a Darwin Award should realize that he has not yet qualified. To be eligible for a Darwin Award, one must render oneself unable to reproduce. Most often this is accomplished through death, but occassionally this requirement is satisfied by other means. However, I am certain that should this guy not learn to operate his tools more safely, he may yet qualify.
Being in public safety, this guy will keep paramedics employed. Do you ever watch Animal planet? This is what they call thinning the herd. I hope his child is nowhere to be found when he attempts to operate the saw. Do you ever wonder why we have so many safety regulations? Guys like this give the proper woodworkers a bad name......
This guy, it seems to me, is one of those people who would have no problem straping a couple of belt sanders to his feet with long extention cords and crusing through the basement with a camcorder in his hand.
I normally don't respond, but are you all taking this guy seriously? C'mon.
FWW Online hold your head in shame. I just signed up for the 14 day trial. I have hopes of going online and to get material in support of your outstanding paper publication.
Naturally this video has spawned a forum on safety but it was done at the expense of someone's dignity. Perhaps the guy just didn't know. Or, perhaps he does know and he was just producing nonsense for YouTube. Regardless, it makes me ponder the credibility of this site because of the source of the material. Nothing short of lack of originality.
If I chose to watch such content I can go to YouTube and watch for free...If you want to charge me for content then please give me chargeable content.
Thank you in advance.
This is like a safety quiz!!!
"How many things can you find wrong in this picture"
1. No safety glasses
2. No ear protection
3. No dust protection
4. Power switch is on the opposite side of the table from the operator
5. No splitter
6. No blade guard
7. Making a cut against the fence while using a mitre gauge. Can you say kickback?
8. Not using a push stick. (using the cutoff doesn't count.)
9. Standing directly in line with the blade (too many times to count)
10.EVERYTHING about starting up the saw - the foot, the bucket, the pliers!!!
Also, I'm not going to comment on how he rebuilt the motor - not my area of expertise, but I'm not sure I would attach it to a VERY SHARP OBJECT until it was completely fixed...
Excellent! Really funny (I hope him to keep his fingers and toes as long as possible ;)) ).
@Ted in North Bay: ... Are you serious???????????????
WOW, talk about 'audience participation'...you've nailed it with this one..
I think our friend here was really trying to make a "funniest home vidio". We all have been first time woodworkers but this fellow is to far behind the starting gate to be serious. On another note. I can remember working in my fathers shop [business] with an old 3 phase dewalt 12" radial arm saw. They don't make'm like that anymore. It's one fault was a under designs starter motor. The starter would go out durring a production run. I didn't use a bucket,2x4,and pliers. I used a long cord wrapped around the blade shaft and pulled like starting a lawnmore - if some of you are old enough to remember lawnmores with seperate cables with wood handles. Yes I to have tried to remove my fingers.
this reminds me of something I saw happen at work a few years ago. this carpenter was cutting furring strips on a table saw in a house where I was doing stair work, and the guy rigged the saw to throw his cuts thru a door into another room where he had a pile going. he would hold the board from the outside of the blade so that his strip would fly into the other room. pretty soon two guys came thru the house carrying a window and you can probably guess what happened. This kind of iddiocy is wide spread among common hacks who think they are clever. in defense of antique tools though, I use a 1945 16" northfield table saw in my home shop, completely lacking in guards-no splitter, no blade guard, and I love it. Safety is the opperators responsibility, not the machines. furthermore there is a safe method for doing anything with any machine, regardless of built in safety features.
Darwin's theory of natural selection certainly comes to mind.
An injured man's last words, "Hey Y'all, watch this"
Is this guy stupid or what? My teeth were on edge when he started the saw with a pair of pliers. If it was meant to be humerous, he failed miserably. Unfortunately, there will be folks out there who will try to emulate him and land in the nearest hospital or, worse, the morgue.
Yeah. Lawnmore.
Just watched the video.
Well, I don't see what could possibly go wrong.
Hope his wife has a large insurance policy on him.
Well at least he had the blade down!!!!
I have been using woodworking equipment for many years in the workshop,on site and in training centres and schools. Our friend in the video is an accident waiting to happen, assuming it isn't a set up. I have done some dubious things on table saws and still have all my fingers. Safety is always the responsibility of the operator s/he should have all the knowledge required to operate the equipment safely then how they operate it is their choice their decision. All the self rightious condemnation in the comments above are 'boring' Sadly we live in a Occupational Health & Safety gone mad world where I cant climb more then three steps up a ladder without a certificate. I say 'get a life'
Recently in australia where I live there have been remarks about the lack of productivity in the work force, if a worker has to spend an hour reading safety instructions filling out forms on the dangers s/he may face and what to do to avoid them then yes productivity will drop. There is a sheet over here (SWMS) safe work methods for using a shovel! that has to be read and ticked of as read before digging a hole. Sad. Remember Heath Robinson, I thimk our freind in the video might be related. Just get on with the job. How safe was it riding in a Conestoga wagon through indian country perhaps they should all have stayed at home and pulled the blankets over their heads.
One would presume that the camera operator is his wife; if you watch the second video (the "new and improved" starting system), you'll hear a near-to-camera female voice call out to the little girl.
All of which proves that stupid is as stupid does (and likely marries).
Wow.
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