BobTheInnocent

My guiding principle is, "Be afraid. Be very afraid." We know what a sharp tool does to a piece of wood, so pause long enough to visualize what it would do if soft tissue were substituted for oak. Now, I'm not talking about PARALYZING fear, just total awareness and respect. Where will the tool or blade go if it slips or you slip? Keep your bodyparts somewhere else. Where will your hand go if something goes wrong? Rearrange your work and/or use a pushblock. Where's the blade's danger zone? Stay out of it. Where's the blade when you can't see it (such as inside a groove or under a blade-guard)? Imagine where it might be a second later. Where will the offcut go? Don't go there yourself. Will gravity mess up your intentions once the cut is complete? Use clamps, supports, outfeeds, whatever it takes for stability. Fear has worked for me for 60 years with only minor nicks and bruises.

My personal guiding principle is, "Be afraid. Be very afraid." We know what damage a sharp tool can do to a piece of wood, so one must always visualize soft tissue being substituted for hard wood. Now, I'm not referring to PARALYZING fear. I just pause long enough to think about what can go wrong, and then proceed accordingly. Where will the tool go if it slips? Don't put your bodypart there. Where will your hand go if it slips? Arrange your work in a different position. Where will a cutoff go? Don't go there yourself. Where's the blade's danger zone? Once you're certain, stay out of it. This works for me -- sixty years with only minor nicks and bruises.