philphoto

I, like many of you, have been following these issues for years (retired now) and I am amazed at the time and money our government spends on issues they collectively know little about. I never like the solutions the government comes up with. I am amazed that we devote engineers, writers, lawyers, and countless administrative staff to a project that MAY save fingers and dollars. No proven, savings, no accurate dollar return for the effort. Some savings will result for certain, but how much will the taxpayers spend, to get those savings. Especially when we KNOW tobacco, and alcohol will kill, and maim thousands of people. We have proof that tobacco, costs our health care industries hundreds of billions of dollars every year, driving our health care costs upwards. Alcohol related use has losses equal to tobacco, and not just in health care. Few if any lawmakers are trying to remove those products from the market, and the cost benefit from removal would be enormous. Yet on a scale of much smaller return the cost benefit argument is being applied to the table saw.

There are choices available and the free market has solved the issue. Adopting those choices has not been as fast as some would like, but change comes and voluntarily. Education and encouragement is much less costly than force. The marketplace has presented other options -- Eurekazone, Festool, Shopsmith, Bora,and more. Personally, I am a user of Eurekazone system, since 2004. I like the complete solutions available. That is MY preference many other opinions and options abound, all are evolving and growing. SawStop sales are climbing with the growing concern for safety, likewise Eurekazone system of tools is growing in the marketplace. The fact that concerned companies are emulating and licensing Eurekazone concepts speaks volumes for the approval and a growing awareness of the need to develop a new way of woodworking. Dino, the inventor of the Eurekazone tools, is a crusader for safe woodworking. Dino developed the deadwood concept and the Eurekazone tools around it. Just because we have used the table saw for years does not mean it is the only solution. Yes, I had to adapt the way I approached my projects. I have had to rethink what I was doing, but the advantages were worth it. BTW: I can take my Eurekazone system anywhere, even on the back of my bicycle, and work onsite. Try that with your table saw!

I believed in the safe Eurekazone system so much, I became a customer, and now a volunteer demonstrator for Eurekazone. I do not receive any financial reward for my efforts. I am a deadwood concept practitioner, and evangelist, I teach woodworking and the deadwood concepts to youth, in 4H and Boy Scouts. Drop by Eurekazone and investigate for yourself. There are many other companies that have their own approach to deadwood concept. Look at them as well. Shopsmith, Festool, are two that come to mind right away. There are more, and at least investigate.
If you annoyed at what is happening, explore the options. All of them.

My wife was unaware of the danger of striking hammer to hammer. I was at work when she did that deed in the barn trying to "help out." An hour later when she took off her glove the blood poured out and her hand was swollen almost round. A hand specialist had to be brought into the hospital OR since the chip cut the artery and was partially severing a nerve. The specialist warned that he had to operate but there was no garantee she would not lose the use of the hand. Almost 25 years later and her hand is still in pain, sensitive to cold, and lacking full mobility. My wife was a journalist and teacher that USED to type 140 words per minute.

"Explode" like a bomb? Maybe or maybe not. Knock off a flying steel projectile capable of inflicting injury and pain? Most certainly!

I used to do the same thing. I was a printer for 20+ years and we got paper in on skids and I reclaimed any thing I could. Those are from skids pallets are lighter weight. Same purpose but some real finds. I had maple, oak, poplar, cherry. Most of the wood was not useful and often they had big nails that were nearly impossible to remove.

I would really like to get some dimensions on those. I have a salvaged cherry tree.

Needless to say I really like your work. A standout project. Turning a throw away into hours of fun. Good Job!