JL

"Joey Lowe"

18/12/2003 1:15 PM

Safe Safe Safety (or Thank Heaven for Push Blocks)

Hi all,

Been a long time since I posted here. Probably because that after awhile,
the posts all seem to run together. Anyway, safe practices prevent
accidents. For instance, in my shop I have been guilty of not using the
push blocks when face planing a board on the jointer. Just the other day, I
was preparing an oak board and as is my practice, I laid the board face down
on the jointer to make one side flat. My gut feeling kicked in and I
grabbed the push blocks. Good thing for gut feelings, because as I was half
way through the board, the board came apart and my push block and my hand
went head first into 4 spinning blades on my 12" jointer. Of course, the
push block saved my hand. In fact, I don't think I have ever moved my hand
as fast as I did that day. The push block didn't fair so well.

Use your safety equipment!!

--
Regards,

Joey Lowe

"Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You've
got to put yourself into it." ... Sam Maloof (chairmaker)



This topic has 4 replies

jj

jo4hn

in reply to "Joey Lowe" on 18/12/2003 1:15 PM

18/12/2003 10:57 PM

Joey Lowe wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Been a long time since I posted here. Probably because that after awhile,
> the posts all seem to run together. Anyway, safe practices prevent
> accidents. [snip]

Well that got the old sphincter clenched up. Make a new push block
before you get on that machine again.
j4

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to "Joey Lowe" on 18/12/2003 1:15 PM

18/12/2003 5:21 PM

"Joey Lowe" wrote in message
> Hi all,
>
> Been a long time since I posted here. Probably because that after awhile,
> the posts all seem to run together. Anyway, safe practices prevent
> accidents. For instance, in my shop I have been guilty of not using the
> push blocks when face planing a board on the jointer. Just the other day,
I
> was preparing an oak board and as is my practice, I laid the board face
down
> on the jointer to make one side flat. My gut feeling kicked in and I
> grabbed the push blocks. Good thing for gut feelings, because as I was
half
> way through the board, the board came apart and my push block and my hand
> went head first into 4 spinning blades on my 12" jointer. Of course, the
> push block saved my hand. In fact, I don't think I have ever moved my
hand
> as fast as I did that day. The push block didn't fair so well.
>
> Use your safety equipment!!

I was milling up some 12/4 stock for table legs yesterday and a friend came
by as I was jointing the faces ... wanted to know if I always used
pushblocks on such thick stock ... I'll print out your post for him.

BTW, nice drive by ... you suck, or still suck ... whichever fits best..

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/21/03

Gg

"Groggy"

in reply to "Joey Lowe" on 18/12/2003 1:15 PM

19/12/2003 7:47 AM

Hi Joey, long time no read!

I often wonder about the names given to some safety equipment. Why "push
blocks"? Why not "sacrificial hands" instead.

You've got good instincts, but I have to ask - "why just that time? What if
your instinct fails you tomorrow?".

Be careful out there, it's hard to open presents with stumps for hands.

cheers,

Greg

"Joey Lowe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> Been a long time since I posted here. Probably because that after awhile,
> the posts all seem to run together. Anyway, safe practices prevent
> accidents. For instance, in my shop I have been guilty of not using the
> push blocks when face planing a board on the jointer. Just the other day,
I
> was preparing an oak board and as is my practice, I laid the board face
down
> on the jointer to make one side flat. My gut feeling kicked in and I
> grabbed the push blocks. Good thing for gut feelings, because as I was
half
> way through the board, the board came apart and my push block and my hand
> went head first into 4 spinning blades on my 12" jointer. Of course, the
> push block saved my hand. In fact, I don't think I have ever moved my
hand
> as fast as I did that day. The push block didn't fair so well.
>
> Use your safety equipment!!
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Joey Lowe
>
> "Working towards perfection has to be a part of anything one does. You've
> got to put yourself into it." ... Sam Maloof (chairmaker)
>
>
>

JJ

"JackD"

in reply to "Joey Lowe" on 18/12/2003 1:15 PM

18/12/2003 2:33 PM


>My gut feeling kicked in and I
> grabbed the push blocks. Good thing for gut feelings, because as I was
half
> way through the board, the board came apart and my push block and my hand
> went head first into 4 spinning blades on my 12" jointer.

Paying attention to that feeling can make all the difference.
I've never had a serious accident, but there are several times where I told
myself "don't worry about it" and of course I should have.

-Jack


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