Bowl using table saw

[Robert Newton]

Talked to a guy that made bowls with a table saw. Would round bowl on bandsaw and then make a jig to set over table saw blade. Raise the blade a little and gently lower bowl blank and slowly turn it. Keep raising blade to achieve the desired depth. I think it an accident waiting to happen!

[wes murphy]

That sounds like one of the stuipest idea I could ever think of ... bad karma there

[Jeremy Leasure]

Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVlW73do-qo

Seems gnarly but there are a few other accepted practices on the tablesaw that raise those same hairs on my neck.

[Roger Chandler]

Just because a person can do something, does not mean they should do it.......this is definitely one of those things! :eek::eek::eek:

[Karl Spencer]

I saw this the other day and wondered about it… The instructor is the same as the youtube video above

http://www.woodcraft.com/Resources/EducationClasses.aspx?CategoryID=0&StoreID=0&State=MN

I just noticed in the video that he was raising the blade whilst the saw was running and his hand was on top of the piece. More guts than I have...

[Bill Wyko]

What if your blanks are different sizes? Do you go buy another hundred bucks of mdf to turn a 10 dollar blank? I'm gonna go with a lathe to make my bowls.

[Jim Burr]

Some people should be removed from the gene pool to prevent contamination.

[Deane Allinson]

It is the same concept as making a cove molding on the table saw. You just angle the fence and run the stock across the blade on the bias. Angle of fence from perpendicular + blade height = cove shape. I was taught this in my early 20's in a church furniture shop. It was really a pretty safe operation (a lot safer that a lot of other stuff it did). Makes a nice clean cove. I used to love table saws back when I was in mu prime. (used almost all day every day) I had scores of jigs for different purposes.
You can also turn a spirial spindle on a table saw with a modified version of the cove molding approach.
I haven't seen a table saw with a remote control before.
His (in the video) looks like a "SawStop" with the safety mechanism disabled.
Deane

[Todd Bin]

Geez you guys are harsh. I didn't watch the videos but I think you could do this safely. I would definitely NOT do this just holding the wood in my hands. I think I would devise a a screw clamp mechanism (Like the old veneer press) that would hold the bowl down onto the table (Not too tight that it can't turn but not flopping around). attach some type of handle to the wood so I could turn it 360 degrees. Stand on the outfeed side of the table saw when I turn the blank. Then raise the blade 1/32, turn the blank around and raise the blade some more. This is not much different than running the cove molding on the table saw which if done correctly is a safe operation.

[Tim Rinehart]

I think the remote was his dust collection system.
For all the efforts involved, not the least of which is making the jigs, it won't replace even a small lathe for purpose of bowl making.
Looks safe enough in approach, but lots of opportunities for folks to cut corners and get hurt.

[Roger Chandler]

I posted my comment before the link came up for the video.........at least I was typing my post when the video link was posted.........now that I have seen the video, I would say the jigs can make it a fairly safe process, although I still have reservations about my hands being that close to the blade.

In making a cove on a table saw, one can take care of that issue with a hold down.......if a hold down could be put on the jig he used and still allow for the turning, then maybe................however..........there are so many better options for making bowls with a lathe...................why not just go with a lathe, if one has a desire to make bowls........that is what they are made to do!!!

[Robert McGowen]

I don't have a real problem with the concept, if that is what you want to do. My main problem would be making a blank that perfectly round on a bandsaw. I think that he must have rounded off the blank on a lathe before he put it on the table saw! :eek:

[Jerry Wright]

If you started woodworking as a turner, this video will trouble you. If you came to woodturning from flat boarding, not so much:). As woodturners, we do things every day, that should scare the daylights out us! Sticking your hands and tools in and around 1000+ rpm hunks of wood - yikes! And then those chainsaws.....

[Brian Tymchak]

Actually, this was a feature article in one of the woodworking mags recently. Wish I could remember which one...

[Brian Kent]

It's OK. He's safe. He has hearing protection.

The really unsafe part of this seems to be holding a piece of wood down with your hand while raising the blade underneath.

[ray hampton]

is it possible that his saw blade crank will move the blade from one detent to the next detent, I hope that detent is the correct word for a index

[Jerry Wright]

This method was an article in American Woodworker. Just as in making cove cuts on a table saw, my guess is that you can only raise the blade about 1/16 - 1/8 in. at a time as you are cutting with the side of the teeth. Also, even with a very good blade, sanding will take some effort.

[ray hampton]

is it possible that his saw blade crank will move the blade from one detent to the next detent, I hope that detent is the correct word for a index

move is the wrong word, raise the blade is correct

[Mike Cruz]

Roger, why not go get a lathe? Because he spent $4000 on his SS tablesaw and doesn't have any more money for other equipment! :D

[Roger Chandler]

Roger, why not go get a lathe? Because he spent $4000 on his SS tablesaw and doesn't have any more money for other equipment! :D

Well Mike.........you might just have a point there! :D;)

[Jamie Donaldson]

You could really hurt yourself much faster with a dado blade on the saw!! :eek::confused::(

[Reed Gray]

Should say, "Professional driver on closed course, DO NOT ATTEMPT!"

robo hippy

[Jerry Marcantel]

If he's using a Saw Stop saw, there shouldn't be any concern about him getting hurt. Isn't that why that particular saw was invented?? Stick a weenie in it, and it doesn't hurt the weenie but instead trashes the saw... Now, we just need to get a lathe that will lock up just before a turned item decides to explode. Wouldn't that be something???? No more trips to the doc's office, just down time repairing the lathe..... Jerry (in Tucson)

[Don Alexander]

can't believe that the SS safety feature would be of any use with the blade contacting wood prior to your fingers which it would have to with that setup

safety all to one side , why would you want to spend the effort to sand that nightmare after the fact? i too will stick to the lathe for bowl making