Why do so many people remove their tablesaw blade guards?

Every new table saw comes with a blade guard. So how come hardly anyone seems to be using them? I can't speak for everyone, but here's why I don't use one.

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#woodworking #tablesaw #safety

[alansphotos]

My dad taught me this. Before every cut ask yourself; "Where are my fingers", so when you finish the cut you don't say, "Where are my fingers!"

[stevehunt]

As a kid in the UK we got taken to an accidant injury exhibit. Basically actual accidants remodeled with wax figures including all the details. Eye injuries, table saw injuries, lathe injuries and drill press injuries.
Those images are still with me after 50 years and shaped my attitude to safety. I always use the safety features. If they are poorly designed I buy a better tool or upgraded safety device. No long hair hanging around, neck chains or hoodie cords and never ever wear rings on your fingures while working. Also a good quality first aid kit where ever you work. Proper hold down clamps and work tables are just as important as guards. I also dont work with others that dont work safe its just not worth the risk. Sawstop is good but cannot possibly eliminate all the other possibilites of injury.
Being safe has to be an attitude and manner of working. Also just think about not being able to call for help because your dialing fingers are on the floor in a pile of sawdust or because you cant see the phone. Scary but it happens.

[namewithheld]

Fantastic video, thank you.
I got my first table saw last week, and decided that I would continue to use the blade guard until I could explicitly identify the specific cases why I couldn't use it. As a beginner, I feel extra aware of just how dangerous it is, and how limited my experience is.

It was interesting that you said that one of the reasons you don't use the blade guard is so you can see the cut. My first cut was ripping a large piece of wood, and so all of my focus was on keeping the wood flat, straight and up against the fence while ensuring I kept my fingers well back. Again, it's because I'm a novice, but it felt like I had no time to watch the actual cut itself, because I was busy managing the wood.

[logandavis]

As a 10 year veteran contractor who's never seen the guard used in the field, I've often wondered why it's included with every new table saw purchase. My hat's off to you sir, for not only explaining its intended purpose, but also the limitations of its use. And I totally agree (as was taught to me 9.9 years ago), see the cut all the way through, and where your fingers are the whole time. Well explained, great work!

[dooleyfan]

Many great points in this post. In addition to your recommendations, I always keep my noggin to the left of the blade, hit the kill switch with my hip after the cut has cleared the blade, and don’t make a move to pick up the cuts until the blade has completely stopped. Takes more time when making multiple cuts, but I still have all my fingers.

[PurpleWhirple]

When I was training we had an instructor who gave us safety lessons. His little joke was to draw various dangerous table saw scenarios on a blackboard, then point them out with the three remaining fingers on his right hand.

[looopyu]

I find squinting my eyes is the absolute best way of stopping splinters penetrating my skull through the eye socket.

[BillYovino]

I had noticed from years of watching TV shows and YouTube videos that they always said the blade guard was removed for illustration purposes. I started to become skeptical the more I watched. Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I'm not new to woodworking but haven't used my table saw very much and still do use the guard whenever possible.

[joemoskowitz]

Thank you for the metric speed conversion. I was very confused by the miles per hour, and clarifying how many kilometers per hour really helped. lol. That was great. Great video, and a very important real-talk about blade guards. Thanks!

[fatalisticend]

I just want to say I've been doing wood working since I was a kid most of my family are carpenters, but I have honestly learned quite a bit from your videos and things that never even crossed my mind because I've gotten complacent.

[sparkysheep]

This is a great video!!! Your breakdown on when and when not to use a guard lined up with my (little) experience.

But I think the most valuable thing I was taught about ANY saw is “if something is going wrong get your hands AWAY from the blade.” you can get another piece of wood or in a disaster another saw. You can’t drop by the hand store and get a new pair of hands.

[laurabastien]

Thank you for this video! I'm terrified of my table saw and avoid usung it as much as I can, but I need to overcome this fear as it's such an amazing and versatile tool! So today I decided to start working on it to make it safer and more approachable! This video is very helpful :)

[halsonger]

I would give this two thumbs up if I could find the jar where I put mine.

[jakenewsome]

Funny to hear you call out New Yankee Workshop's "guard removed for clarity" disclaimer and still finish with Norm's catch phrase!

I loved watching all of the old PBS woodworking shows and it was a conflict si would watch it with my dad, hand to read the manuals and how-to guides before working with him in our shed, BUT see our TV heros not following their own advice.

Your video provides much needed clarity as to how to safely REPLACE general safety devices and cautions and limitations to be aware of when using the saw with or without the guards. Thank you!

[KeithsTestGarage]

Great articulation on a risky topic.
100% agree with your bottom line.
100% agree with the necessity of a riving knife. Actually, thanks for the reminder. It got misaligned and I haven’t put it back on and adjusted it yet... will do that now.

[christophercollins]

Loved the Norm Abrams "New Yankee Workshop" safety glasses refrence. As a New England native whos grandmother was a woodworker, I grew up watching that show. Always loved when Norm would use the massive radial arm saw and when I was researching a good first miter saw my father-in-law mentioned a radial arm would be better as opposed to a "chop saw." While he simply didnt know the capability of modern miter saws, his suggestion also put me down that memory lane. Thanks for these great videos Steve, we amateurs sure appreciate it.

[stevewhitsett]

Thank you for having the courage to be honest about this topic.

[darrellsaturnbigfoot]

Love your videos. I taught woodworking for 20 years and you’re spot on. Bought my son a SawStop and sent him this video. Thanks for all your efforts on YouTube 👍

[mikemcfiggus]

Mr. Ramsey, out of all of the woodworking videos I watch, which are A LOT, all of yours are the most informative and have helped me tremendously, particularly the SketchUp tutorials. I just wanted to take the time to say thank you!!!!

[skillguitar]

Today I used a table saw for the first time. Having watched your videos for a long time, I've taken your advice to heart and installed the blade guard. I made three cross cuts and found that, while using the blade guard, I had to position myself awkwardly to see what I'm doing. I felt like I didn't have full control. I took the blade guard off and put in just the riving knife and I actually felt a lot safer, now that I was able to see when the wood was touching the blade, if it was an accurate cut and the wood had passed the entirety of the blade. I would probably recommend to everyone to use your blade guard as much as possible, but this was my personal experience while using a table saw for the first time.