Bandsaw Bite

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  • willin woodworks
    Senior Member
    • Jan 2011
    • 3345

    Bandsaw Bite

    File this one under dumbass...

    Working in the shop Saturday using a shopmade jig for cutting dovetails in the tops of table legs; I need to make six legs, twelve cuts total. The jig and the leg require a reasonable amount of pressure on the rip fence and the table to keep everything aligned.
    Mid cut on the second or third piece I felt the table tilt just the tinest bit. Stopped the cut and reached under the table to tighten the handwheel that secures the table....without shutting off the saw......
    Chewed a pretty good trough in the tip of my second finger, nice clean V groove in the end of the nail. Lots blood and cursing. Probably should have gotten a couple of stitches but opted for the traditional paper towel and black electrical tape.
    Healing pretty nicely so far if not a little tender.
    Lesson learned....maybe even qualifies as "Double Dumbass".
  • Garret
    Hills of Vermont
    • Apr 2005
    • 48655

    #2
    Re: Bandsaw Bite

    Ouch! Good to know others use the paper towel & electrical tape bandage.

    Cuts into a nail do take time to heal & don't heal right unless kept really clean (if even then). I'm sure you know that, but thought I should say it...
    "If it ain't broke, you're not trying." - Red Green

    Comment

    • Dusty Yevsky
      Senior Member
      • Jun 2007
      • 946

      #3
      Re: Bandsaw Bite

      The one and only good thing about a minor mishap is that you'll be very safety conscious for the next thousand hours in the shop.

      Comment

      • Tom Lathrop
        Senior Member
        • Dec 1999
        • 5305

        #4
        Re: Bandsaw Bite

        You were out at least on the 2 sigma part of the curve of workshop dumbness. Been out there a few times myself.
        Tom L

        Comment

        • navydog
          Senior Member
          • Sep 2007
          • 1851

          #5
          Re: Bandsaw Bite

          Well at least you didn't reach under there just to see if something would hurt you (seen that one before).

          Comment

          • willin woodworks
            Senior Member
            • Jan 2011
            • 3345

            #6
            Re: Bandsaw Bite

            Whats really scary is how quickly I reached under the table without even a second thought.

            Comment

            • Tom Lathrop
              Senior Member
              • Dec 1999
              • 5305

              #7
              Re: Bandsaw Bite

              One important question is: Were you multitasking in any form? Listening to headphones, thinking about something else, etc.
              Tom L

              Comment

              • willin woodworks
                Senior Member
                • Jan 2011
                • 3345

                #8
                Re: Bandsaw Bite

                Nope. I was concentrating on keeping the jig flat on the table and tight to the fence.

                Comment

                • Ron Williamson
                  Rocketman
                  • Apr 2000
                  • 7885

                  #9
                  Re: Bandsaw Bite

                  There is definitely a danger gap under both of my bandsaws where the table tilts down and blade is exposed,right near the tilt handles.
                  I don't use them enough to be casual about reaching without looking.
                  R
                  Sleep with one eye open.

                  Comment

                  • jpatrick
                    Measures twice/Cuts twice
                    • Jun 2010
                    • 4009

                    #10
                    Re: Bandsaw Bite

                    I'm very happy that you're not badly hurt. Sounds like the nick will heal OK. But I'm going to go out on a limb here: I bet something about this jig setup isn't right. And you knew/know it. A proper jig for a power tool shouldn't require such concentrated attention. Nor should it require such pressure to cause the table to tilt. I'm not trying to ruffle your feathers, willin. Nor am I trying to criticize. Goodness knows I've done some stupid things myself. But discussion of a machine mishaps need to be complete, I think.

                    When you felt the table tilt just a bit, why didn't you shut it down to re-set? It would seem that the accuracy afforded by any jig went away with that tilt.

                    Jeff

                    Comment

                    • DeniseO30
                      Thinks too much..
                      • Jan 2009
                      • 4674

                      #11
                      Re: Bandsaw Bite

                      Glad it was not worse!... it's messy cleaning sawdust off of fingers and hands that fall on the floor....
                      Denise, Bristol PA, retired from HVAC business, & boat restoration and building

                      Comment

                      • Jay Greer
                        Senior Member
                        • Nov 2004
                        • 14425

                        #12
                        Re: Bandsaw Bite

                        I got bit once too and so can sympathise with you. Saw was off but blade was coasting a bit and it bit! Not on the table but in the gap between the wheels that was covered with thin tape for a dust collection set up. Now I have a piece of door skin under the tape!

                        Wishing you a fast down wind tack on the healing!
                        Jay
                        Last edited by Jay Greer; 02-26-2018, 01:26 PM.

                        Comment

                        • pvg
                          Senior Member
                          • Jun 2014
                          • 292

                          #13
                          Re: Bandsaw Bite

                          Of course we all know not to make adjustments etc while the machine is running ��
                          A shop teacher in high school (60+ years ago) told us "the blade isn't stopped until you can count the teeth."
                          pvg

                          Comment

                          • Canoeyawl
                            .
                            • Jun 2003
                            • 37705

                            #14
                            Re: Bandsaw Bite

                            Reminds me of the time I reached in to adjust the timing right through the fan blades on a running John Deere.
                            ( The blades are invisible when running...)
                            Ouch

                            Comment

                            • willin woodworks
                              Senior Member
                              • Jan 2011
                              • 3345

                              #15
                              Re: Bandsaw Bite

                              Originally posted by jpatrick
                              I'm very happy that you're not badly hurt. Sounds like the nick will heal OK. But I'm going to go out on a limb here: I bet something about this jig setup isn't right. And you knew/know it. A proper jig for a power tool shouldn't require such concentrated attention. Nor should it require such pressure to cause the table to tilt. I'm not trying to ruffle your feathers, willin. Nor am I trying to criticize. Goodness knows I've done some stupid things myself. But discussion of a machine mishaps need to be complete, I think.

                              When you felt the table tilt just a bit, why didn't you shut it down to re-set? It would seem that the accuracy afforded by any jig went away with that tilt.

                              Jeff
                              No criticism taken and you make a fair point. There is more table leg off the saw table than on so it does require a certain amount of pressure at the business end to keep it all flat on the saw table. Using a support on the infeed end would mitigate the pressure needed. Note to self....

                              Never been hurt on a bandsaw before other than whacking my head on the underside of the table when standing up once...I do make adjustments with the saw running; height of the guide blocks to suit the thickness of the stock, adjusting the thrust bearings, moving the fence to predetermined settings. I would never tilt the table with the saw running.

                              Comment

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