3/8

Don’t remove that blade guard!

Every table saw sold includes a blade guard, which has a splitter attached. The guard covers the blade, preventing you from accidentally touching it, and the splitter keeps wood from pinching on the blade and kicking back. Don’t take them off! Sure, the guard may be a nuisance at times, but it’s better to be inconvenienced than to lose one or more fingers. Of the 35,000 emergency room visits we talked about earlier, 83 percent involve contact with the blade.

If you’re buying a table saw, consider spending extra for the SawStop brand. It’s the only saw on the market that stops the blade when skin touches it. If your blade guard is missing, contact the manufacturer for a replacement. An add-on guard like the HTC Brett-Guard ($200 to $375) is a good option if your original guard is missing or doesn’t work well. If $200 sounds like too much money, ask yourself what a finger is worth.

Even with a blade guard installed, you should keep your fingers away from the blade. Always use a push stick for rips less than 4 in. wide. If you’re using your thumb to push the piece and the piece kicks back, you risk torn ligaments, tendons and broken bones. Push the cut piece past the blade, turn off the saw and wait for the blade to stop before retrieving the ripped piece. Don’t reach near a spinning blade to remove a cutoff.

CAUTION: Even a dummy should have enough common sense to avoid this technique. Nigel’s finger is so close to the blade that a split second of inattention or a kickback could send him to the crash-test dummy hospital.

Push sticks are incredibly important with a table saw. Check out this magnetic version from POWERTEC.

4/8

Don’t put your hand directly behind a circular saw

There are an estimated 14,000 visits to the emergency room every year as a result of circular saw injuries. Many of these injuries result in lost or severely damaged fingers. When you’re using a circular saw, remember that if the blade binds, the saw can shoot backward a lot faster than you can move your hand out of the way. Anything in the blade’s path, including fingers, hands, legs or feet, is in danger of getting cut. Avoid the risk by clamping your work and keeping both hands on the saw whenever possible. Also keep your body to the side of the saw rather than directly behind it.

CAUTION: Don’t hold a board like this. Use a temporary nail or clamp instead. Nigel risks losing a finger or two if the saw binds.

Learn more circular saw tips and techniques here.

5/8

Don’t put your hands near a nail gun

Even if you’re a nail gun expert, nails don’t always go straight. Wood grain or knots can deflect the nail and cause it to shoot out the side of the board. If you’re driving the nail at an angle to toenail a board, there’s a good chance the nail can glance off and go shooting into space. If you must hold a board with your free hand, keep it well away from the nail gun muzzle. If you’re reaching over a board to hold it down, move your hand out of the nail’s path. Also avoid shooting into large knots that can deflect the nail. And, of course, always wear eye protection when you’re using a nail gun.

CAUTION: Don’t hold a board close to the nail gun tip. Move your hand as far back as possible to avoid getting a nail through your finger.

Framing is a tough job. Find some handy framing tricks here.