Judge999

RE: Cut lists. I use cut lists for only two purposes--both of which I believe are valid:

(1) Publishers of plans do make errors. The cut list serves as a cross-check when I suspect a dimension may be incorrect or when it is omitted entirely.

(2) As others have stated, to get an idea of how much lumber to buy (plus anywhere from 20% to 50% more).

Somewhere, on one of my machines, I have software into which I can input the size of each part and and have the application generate a cut list. However, I see no reason for the editors of FW to be so dogmatic on this subject since the better known computer assisted drafting software can generate a cut list from the plan drawing's measurements with little or no additional effort.

Let them publish the cut list on-line if they don't want to 'waste' magazine space so long as the editors put it in the free portion of this site. But please don't be so dogmatic about this.

I lost a finger joint less than a month ago after over 50 years of using a table saw without incident and being credentialed to teach industrial arts in three states. My SawStop Professional is being delivered next week.

Fortunately, I had just finished the rip and powered down the saw when the off-cut started to fall, consequently this accident only cost me one joint and three mangled fingers. Do I blame Delta for the accident--of course not. We must take personal responsibility for our stupidity and/or inattention.

However, the preventative technology exists and has not been implemented by other manufacturers because they are manufacturing to a price point. However, I do believe such technology will eventually be forced upon the other manufacturers by either the courts or legislation.

However, my suggestion for the immediate future is to implement the technology (either license from SawStop or their own invention) as soon as possible; obtain federal law which essentially holds the manufacturer harmless from anyone purchasing or using a model without this safety feature; and, for the interim, make available each model both with and without the technology, for cost containment. The market will then make the decision.

Obviously, this gentleman should have sued his employer for lack of training but his attorney was astute enough to go for the "deep pocket."

Our culture is changing. Consequently "our nanny who art in Washington" is going to intercede into our lives more and more. For whatever it may be worth, my orthopedic surgeon, who is not familiar with this litigation, also believes such a safety requirement will be imposed by government sooner rather than later.