TABLE SAW SAFETY - 11 tips to avoid death!

I run a little joinery workshop and have been using my trusty DeWalt DW745 table saw for around 5 years. In this video I'm telling you what goes through my mind to keep myself safe with my table saw in my small workshop. Please bear in mind this is only 11 tips and there are MANY more things you need to consider before using a saw like this. Sorry this video is so long - there's really nothing I can leave out. Believe me, I tried!

Table saw safety videos I like:

Here's some affiliate links to products I use or would consider using - read more about affiliate links at the bottom of this description:

DeWalt DW745 Table Saw

Freud Pro LP40M 60 Tooth 250mm Saw Blade

Freud Diablo D1060X 60 Tooth 10" Saw Blade

#TableSaw #DeWalt #Safety

[PeterTheBuddha]

I removed the riving knife from my TS 12 years ago. After watching this video, I spent 2 hours looking for it, 30 minutes removing 12 years of rust, and just re installed the thing.

[TheVCRTimeMachine]

I bought my first table saw today. I set it up and then fought the urge to start cutting stuff and came inside and have watched about two hours worth of table saw safety videos. Thanks!

[instarx]

I have been a health and safety professional for more than 30 years, and this is one of the best safety videos I have ever seen, professional or amateur. Good, good job.

[adamcoe]

Had my first kickback today. Lucky for me, like the one in this video, I lucked out and I was fine. I'll spare everyone the whole story but it was because I had made a couple of non-through cuts, then simply forgot to replace my riving knife when I then went to make a through cut. Right on cue it shot out of the saw at absolutely incredible speed. If you have never experienced a kickback, first of all, I hope you maintain that streak for your entire lives. Please believe when I say it is astonishingly, ridiculously fast. While I'm not a professional woodworker, I've been around power tools most of my life and my father has had a woodshop in the house since I was 10, so I know better. I made a stupid oversight and was lucky it didn't go south. Made it a point afterwards to watch several videos going through the proper procedures once again. You are absolutely never too experienced to get a refresher, and don't let pride tell you that you can't benefit from going over safety again.

I urge anyone, regardless of your age or level of experience, to make sure you go through a checklist every time you turn on the saw. Every, every time. For anything but the rare non-through cut, you should be using a blade guard whenever possible, and without question a riving knife or splitter when that's not an option. No project is worth your fingers, and there is no one on earth with reflexes faster than a table saw blade.

Thanks for this video, these are all great tips.

[mikegraham]

Do not apologize for the length of your video!!! I was severely injured buy kick back when ripping a dense hardwood without a riving knife. The number of times that I have moved my hand or arm over the spinning blade because of poor posture or poor planning (not rehearsing the cut) is terrifying for me to think about. I’ve been using a table saw for 20 years and still found your video worth every minute. Thank you!!

[lauramarshall]

I just bought a table saw. I'll be watching this a few more times before I use it. Thanks. And the video is NOT too long.

[jakobhovman]

Most dangerous "Tool" in my workshop is Me...Me and my judgements...! Great video, glad you made this...great safety video.

[elwelldavid]

Anyone can have an accident and not want to share what they've experienced. But to show a video of what you've learned is really cool. Even though I've always operated my bench saw from the side I've never really thought much about the other dangers of using it, especially in relation to kickback until you made me aware of it. Apart from the PPE that I'll start wearing when I'm operating the saw, you've also confirmed the need for me to put a First Aid cabinet in my workshop. Thanks heaps for the info.

[ashglos]

Takes a lot of humility to air your mistake for our gain. Thank you for all your videos they’re brilliant 👍

[tomludlam]

Got to be honest Mr Gosforth, THIS is one of the best safety videos. The first 8-9 minutes is something that should be shown with every table saw sale - if not the whole vid! Most other videos just say kickback is bad, I've not really seen another video that shows it and breaks it down like you have. I've been guilty of thinking the worst thing that could happen is getting a finger trapped/ cut. You've kept everything really simple and clear. So thanks for the really well detailed video. You've probably saved someones life or limbs by posting this.

[indylead]

As someone with no experience of table saws, but just bought my first one; thank you for sharing this and hopefully making me think about what I'm doing and avoid injury.

[charlesdula]

Enjoyed the video alot. Today I just installed a riser knife /splitter and blade guard on my old rigid TS2424 table saw. I bought the saw used about 8 years ago but it did not have the guard and all on it. I got the guard, knife, and splitter off ebay and it was used also. Old saw also old parts. I have been using a table saw for over 35 years but the week before thanksgiving I had a accident. I make bandsaw boxes and was running a small piece through the table saw and it kicked back. It hit me in the forehead causing great bleeding and 5 stables being put into my head. This saw that I had knowledge of for 8 years surprised me! Even the saw I had before this one never caused any problems. Never let your guard down!! I hope the install of these parts I got works . Thanks again for the great video .

[lectricstringz]

Thanks for that one, it is important to hear these things over and over again. My "nono" moment with the table saw: it was (mostly) because of you that I went out and bought a DW745 over a year ago. And I did exactly as you described - took it out of the box and just got going in the parking lot outside with a few test cuts. No riving knife fitted (because the pros don't use them either, so why bother, right?) and off I went with pine board to be cut into 2cm strips. First I didn't notice what happened, the strips just vanished. I cheerily cut away... when I turned round, all strips lie at the front door to the house (the saw was maybe 4m away, me standing back to the house) and the door - newly fitted three months earlier - suddenly sported several bullet holes from the wood sticks hitting it. The door is massive, it wasn't damaged beyond repair so I left the scars, they remind me of this matter every time I come home...

[lilchurro]

Just nonchalantly bought a table saw. After watching this, I think I’m sufficiently terrified. Thank you; instructions very clear.

[lonniefisher]

I watched your video and almost everything you said not to do I have done I have made mistakes and by the grace of God I did not get injured. the only thing I have done right it seems is to stand off to one side and not directly behind the blade. I watched a video by another woodworker his site is stubby nubs and he showed how the piece came off the kickback at a angle and even standing to one side he would have gotten hit. I may watch this video again and again to keep your tips fresh in my mind. The push stick that you said was not safe is a type of push stick that another woodworker recommends and he even posts a pattern on how to make it I got the pattern but have not made the push stick yet and now that I have seen your video I realize it would put me way too close to the blade. I need to get a rive knife for my table saw I don't have one. Thanks for taking the time to make this video it has helped me and I know there are thousands of woodworkers who need to be reminded of
safety first.

[kostas]

Thank you for the life saving advice! You are very lucky that the board missed the femoral artery, vein and nerve that are located in this area. I have read also the previous comments. Each one is a lesson that might save a life. Most accidents happen when “confidence” flies in the air. Must be focused on what we are doing the specific moment. Thoughts of a retired Orthopedic Surgeon, that has spent all his professional life dealing with such accidents and now an amateur woodworker. Greetings from Greece!

[warrenbaker]

Wow - I can't thank you enough for this! I have no doubt that this video you made will save many of us from injury!

I've been using my Dewalt for a couple of years and (for safety reasons) just bought a new one to replace the aging machine. And now I'm planning for the delivery, including the making of a proper outfeed table. As Adam Coe said below, "You are absolutely never too experienced to get a refresher. . ." this is so important for us to keep in mind! I'm not very experienced but I am quite experienced at making mistakes - so I'm keeping up on the safety vids.

This video is truly a great thing for all of us!! I just subscribed and thank you so much!!

[davidkenyon]

Excellent video. As a retired craft teacher I have used table saws for 50 yrs. In that time I have attended a number of safety courses on this machine and on each occasion realised how much I still had to learn. I have witnessed the design improvements made and the availability of inexpensive diy machines. This video goes a long way to filling the gap in training. There are many videos showing experts producing great results on unguarded machines i.e. dangerous techniques. I think the main reason for removing the Riving knife and guard is to facilitate the cutting of grooves or rebates but too many people do not bother to replace them. This is the first video to draw attention to the dangers of pushing the hand past the blade since it then has to be pulled back past the blade and if you get kickback, possibly on to the blade. Keep up the good work.

[adelker]

Gosforth Handyman
You're the best-- because you're honest, caring, and a great teacher. Thanks a million, man🙏👍🙏

[markhutton]

I remember as kid using the school table saw, the teachers told use to be careful.
I bought the same DeWalt table saw in the last 12 months and realised very quickly, read the manual for once, this is the one tool to be terrified of... at all times concentrate think about cuts body position and have that guard with riving knife in place.
Every time I turn it on I take a breath and my 12 year old self is ignored... check it, do not chance it. Your video and others on YouTube help to educate us all in how to manage this tool.
Heck my sliding mitre saw saws me less, as I know as long as the fingers are well clear I am likely to be okay.
With any power tool you have to look around you to make sure anyone else is safe and then check yourself.
Thank you for showing you misfortune to educate us all.