Vent: Almost lost two fingers to a table saw kickback last Tuesday

I've been running saws for 15 years and got complacent. Last Tuesday in my shop outside Nashville I was ripping a piece of oak and didn't have my push stick close enough. The board caught, kicked back HARD, and slammed my hand into the blade guard. Missed my fingers by maybe a quarter inch. Blood everywhere from a gash on my knuckle but no permanent damage. I was rushing because I told a client I'd have cabinets done by Wednesday. That was a STUPID risk and I won't do it again. Has anyone else had a close call like this that made you rethink your whole setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_johnson10d ago

That bit about the push stick being "close enough" is actually a big part of the problem. A push stick that's just sitting on the table or hanging off the side might as well be in the next county when you're focused on a cut. I keep mine clipped to my apron with a carabiner so it's literally always between my hand and the blade. SawStop saved my buddy's thumb last year but he still had to have the push stick in his hand. Glad you're okay man but that quarter inch is a gift most guys don't get twice.

felixw6810d agoMost Upvoted

Guilty as charged, @thomas_johnson... I once spent ten minutes looking for my push stick only to realize it was in the same hand I was about to feed into the blade. Clipped it to my apron ever since, though I still manage to knock it off the workbench about twice a week. That carabiner trick is solid, beats my old system of just leaving it wherever it dropped.