SleazyRider

Do airbags or seatbelts prevent accidents in cars? So why do we look to guards to prevent accidents on the tablesaw?

Folks have tablesaw accidents because they do not understand the physics of the saw, that is, the blade is a rotating disc that cuts only on its outside periphery--the other 99% of it causes friction and gets you into trouble. Of course, the friction can be reduced by carefully tuning the saw for perfect alignment (parallel) between the blade and the fence, but how many times have you seen a homeowner (who oftentimes buys a Home Despot cheapo tablesaw) do this? The blade must also be at the correct height, razor sharp, correct set, and, most importantly THERE MUST BE A JOINTED EDGE AGAINST THE FENCE. If theses conditions are met, and the wood is held down and firmly against the fence, an accident simply cannot occur.

Then there's the stupidity factor. Stupid things include: pushing on the waste and leaving a piece of wood stuck between the blade and the fence; using the miter gauge and fence together; standing behind the blade; failure to continue to cut until the wood is clear of the blade; not having enough "meat" against the fence in relation to the length of the board; not using a well designed push stick that holds the wood down across its length and not just the rear corner. I have seen folks use the tablesaw as an upside down portable saw, and not even use the fence---they follow a chalkline! I could go on.

The bottom line: remove and discard the safety guards and anti-kickback devices from your saw and start using the safety device between one's ears. This is the cold, hard truth of the matter.