The Most Dangerous Tools in My Workshop

The Home Workshop can be a dangerous place! Router bits twirling at 20,000 RPM. Table saw blades, tipped with carbide, spinning so fast you can't see the tips. I know a cabinetmaker who lost part of a thumb to a router bit. I once read that in the couple of milliseconds it takes to pull your hand out of the way of a spinning saw blade, a couple of dozen teeth of the blade have gone through your flesh!

But despite this high-speed peril, the number of accidents with these tools are rare. The only major accident I've had with a table saw involved cutting into my miter gauge. I kept seeing flashes of light in the plastic blade guard. What could those be? Flecks of aluminum from that poor miter gauge!

What it comes down to is that I give these power tools lots of respect, so I check where my fingers are and keep them clear and I wait for the blade or bit to stop before moving my hands.

But my experience is that the tools you don't respect are the ones that get you in the end. Or the thumb. Or the palm. Or the knuckle.

So my nomination for most dangerous tools: 1) Utility knife and 2) Japanese saw.

A utility knife you say. How can that be dangerous? After all it has a retractable blade that only sticks out about 3/4".

I can't tell you how many times I've cut myself with a utility knife. A nick here, a nick there. Nothing very serious. No stitches required. But lots and lots of bandages! Even when the damned thing is sitting in my tool box it has "bit" me because I didn't fully retract the blade.

The next on my list is my Japanese saw. I have two, a ryoba and a dozuki. If you've never seen one of these saws before, go to www.leevalley.com and have a peek. What differentiates them from traditional saws is that they cut on the pull instead of the push stroke. As a result the blade is very thin and comes under tension when you pull, allowing a straight, controlled cut. Both of these saws have many, small, sharp teeth. So why is it dangerous? Have I cut myself with it?

No!

I've stabbed myself with the damned thing!

On a regular basis when I use either the ryoba or the dozuki, I've brought the blade down on my hand by accident. Just a short chopping motion, not a ripping stroking motion. Result: 17 t.p.i. (teeth per inch) of needle sharp stab wounds! Ouch! Those teeth are very, very sharp!

So maybe by writing this, I have exorcised my tool demons. Maybe, I will give these tools more respect next time and I won't suffer any more nicks and "bites".

Now if only I could avoid hitting my thumb with my hammer.......