Two foolish mistakes at table saw cost me, dearly - Graphic Photos!

[Richard Coers]

Sorry for your accident. I sawed through the top knuckle on my left middle finger. It was fused together, but don't even notice the immobility even when typing. The tip of that finger was incredibly sensitive to cold, so be prepared next winter! I'd suggest a change in table saw manufactures now that you know how quickly they can bite. I did.

[James Pallas]

Bruce I hope your rehab goes well. It’s kind of you to share your experience. Gives us all a reminder to be conscious of our surroundings and work practices.
Jim

[Ben Rivel]

Man thats terrible! Best wishes and hopes for a fast and good recovery! Once you get back on the horse, any plans to buy a Sawstop?

[Charlie Hinton]

Looks terrible, sorry that you got cut, hope for the best possible recovery, best wishes for the future.

[Frank Necaise]

Sorry to hear about your mishap. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Jeff Body]

Live and learn.......
I lost 1/2" of my left pointer finger many years ago when I had it near a power steering belt checking for a loose bolt.

It's a reminder to always think safety and listen to your common sense.

[johnny means]

Sorry to hear about your mishap. Thankfully, they were asked to patch for hand up and get it back on the road, so to say. But, I gotta ask, what makes "the dirty finger" dirty?

[Matt Mattingley]

Wow. Thanks for posting... I think.

Can you show a picture of your setup at time of cut/accident?

[Marshall Harrison]

Wow! So sorry to hear. And, thank you for having the courage to share.

Something I can learn here, I think, being new to wood working but experienced around tools and equipment I am hyper sensitive to safety. The OP said something about a “gripper”. I think I have seen them online, the yellow micro-jig push block deals? I almost bought one but didn’t understand it’s use or it’s importance... can someone enlighten me? Right now I’m using push blocks and push sticks but am interested in any safety related upgrades.

Jack, I love my Gripper but I only have one. Would like to get a second one as using two makes it safer for ripping longer boards.

This video should answer all of your questions on how to use it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6yx8fZaIEw

[Ole Anderson]

Sorry to read of (and see, eek) your injury. Goes to show even good habits (normal use of Gripper and glade guard) sometimes go unrewarded. We all need to see the carnage occasionally as a reminder to use best safety practices at all times. Every time I see or hear of a push stick, I cringe. I won't use them, I use a push shoe that will hold the work down at the same time. Thanks for posting.

[Simon MacGowen]

This video should answer all of your questions on

I noticed that the table saw seen in the gripper video was a sawstop.

Simon

[Wade Lippman]

A friend tripped and slammed his hand down on a table saw. That's when I bought a heavy duty overhead guard, and as soon as I could a ... well, you know.

But we all do careless things. I put my hand into a band saw, but escaped with no permanent damage except a little numbness.
Sorry you weren't as lucky.

[Simon MacGowen]

Right now I’m using push blocks and push sticks but am interested in any safety related upgrades.

The gripper often (not always) requires the blade guard to be removed, and also some people do not like the idea that they are passing directly over a spinning blade in some of the cuts. It has its place though, and I use it also for resawing in some cases.

Push shoes like this (which you can shop make) are better than push sticks:

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Horn-1023...=fsclp_pl_dp_2

Simon

[Marshall Harrison]

I noticed that the table saw seen in the gripper video was a sawstop.

Simon

I think SawStop gave away a ton of those to YouTube content providers. These days most woodworkers learn the craft from YouTube.

Plus I guess its prudent to use something like a SawStop to develop and test your Gripper in case your new Gripper doesn't work.

[Simon MacGowen]

Plus I guess its prudent to use something like a SawStop to develop and test your Gripper in case your new Gripper doesn't work.

Gripper should test their products as you said on a sawstop, but they should show them used in a regular table saw, because that is what most viewers use.

I do like the presenter as he cuts to the chase. Many of the woodworking videos out there would take, say, 15 minutes to cover a subject matter that should not last more than 5 minutes, at the most.

Simon