StevePark

Here's my bottom line: if I can put a device on my table saw that will help to protect me from severe injury or death, for less than the cost of a good chisel, what posible reason could I have for not doing it? Legislation and litigation aside, isn't that the real question? It's not about the Government's taking away your freedom to hack your fingers off if you so choose, it's about using an existing engineering solution to reduce a known danger rather than hoping that a "you can kill yourself, so be careful" disclaimer is sufficient. Chain saws have had safety brakes for years; why is this such an issue for table saws?

I'd be happy for the time to finish the projects I've already started, the competence and patience to do them well, and the ability to appreciate the process without stressing over a finish date. Failing those, a tracksaw would be really useful: 4'x8' plywood sheets and table saws don't play well together.

For little ones, I use a pair of splinter tweezers from the local pharmacy (and I keep a set in my shop apron). If I can't get a good grip on a small splinter, soaking the area with hydrogen peroxide will sometimes help to push it out (something to do with the bubbles, I assume). For the big ones, Micro Mark sells a pair of surgeon's splinter forceps (www.micromark.com/SURGEONS-SPLINTER-FORCEPS,7188.html) for about $15 that has the leverage to clamp onto nearly any embedded object and drag it out. I've carried a pair in my canoe-tripping first-aid kit for years.

My first stationary power tool was a bandsaw, because my first projects were canoe paddles. A jointer and planer came next, and a table saw was my last purchase. My answer to the "which power tool first" question is whichever tool will most increase your efficiency and enjoyment of the kind of woodworking you do, or best allow you to try woodworking projects that are beyond your current hand-tool skills. The first machine in a shop should probably be a really good dust collector: all those power tools you're about to buy will kick up lots of sawdust, which can cause emphysema and lung cancer when breathed. Better safe than sorry...