60,000 injuries per year

Table saws are the most versatile but also most dangerous tool in any workshop. If you are just get started or have experience - it's always worth spending time to brush up on best safety practices. Plus, if you're wondering what the deal is with SawStop, this video is for you.

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[Lincolnstww]

Congratulations to Paul R from Michigan on winning the table saw! Don't worry we will have more giveaways on future videos!

[TonyV_in_the_OC]

Thank you for this. I lost three fingers 18 months ago, WITH a push stick and feather boards in place. It was a major manufacturer’s push stick that slipped and caused the pinch/kick-back and and the rotation pulled my hand down. I’m never going to be the same. I’m overly cautious now and woodworking is still my passion. so while I save up for a Sawstop, I’m using a circular saw while I get mentally able to turn the table saw on - or get something newer than my 1970 Unisaw. Thank you for all those who will be saved, yet not know it…just count to 10 on your fingers, you’re one of them. PS - your contest entry page does not work. Thanks again. And I did close my eyes for each inserted vid of kick backs….don’t want to relive the vision of what I saw that Sunday afternoon, EVER.

[peterl]

Dude. That was the scariest, most informative and comprehensive guide to tables away. Thank you.

[pitsnipe]

As a former workplace safety trainer, this is one of the best safety videos I’ve seen in a long time. Due to a combination of advancing years and physical limitations, I’ve mothballed my table saw and now do hand tool woodworking. No matter what tools you use, safety should be your first, last, and constant consideration. Thanks for sharing your insights.

[chrissherbon]

Hi from Australia! As a 40 year veteran woodworker, with a beautiful Hammer C31 combi machine, I can attest that your video is the best I’ve seen. You hit every key point and in a very articulate style.
You’ve done the amateur woodworking fraternity a great service. And saved hands and fingers. Watchers: do what he says! And think through your cuts before you make them.
Nicely presented.

[RobertRecknagel]

I've been looking for a video like this for 5 years and as a woodworker that is entirely self taught this is an incredible resource for table saw safety and proper use. Myself and my 10 fingers can't thank you enough.

[matthysloedolff]

Great video, Jon. This is definitely in the top 5 videos on table saw safety.
I briefly worked in a cabinet making factory a few years ago when I was between jobs, and to this day I remember the words of my foreman when he did the table saw induction: "this saw wants to cut your fingers off. Your job is to not let it. Never lose focus and never get distracted. Even if the big boss comes by and wants to talk to you, ignore them until you finish the cut and are safe. Never start a cut if you have something else on your mind. Rather, stop the saw, go for a short walk and come back when your mind is better"
He went on to explain that almost all of the accidents he has seen were due to people being distracted, complacent, arrogant, or just tired.
Needless to say, his speech made a lasting impression and put a healthy fear and respect in me for table saws.

[davidstivelman]

What you talk about at 1:15 is exactly what happened to me in 2020. I was batch-cutting and grabbed an offcut without turning off the saw. It rode up the blade and took my hand with it. After two surgeries, six months of physical therapy, and about $7, 500 in out of pocket medical costs, my right hand has no index finger and almost no use of my middle and ring fingers. It's unbelievable how fast and how easily it happens. Still saving for a Sawstop, especially since we now have a toddler running around.
Great video, wish I'd seen it three years ago hah.

[totilsom]

Non pretentious, no bull, straight to the point, no fluff... excellent video, subscribed!

[dtsf]

Great training video!! As a woodworker of 50+ years, videos of the kickbacks are heart stopping! Learned woodworking in high school and had a job as teachers aid during regular classes as well as the adult night class teaching safety. Was a professional furniture maker and ended up being VP of manufacturing for a 250 person shop. So safety is a big concern. Thanks for the video!!!
PEOPLE … pay attention to this man👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[francoiscasavant]

Hello, I just noticed one major safety rule that it seems you're breaking when using a table saw. A woodworking teacher gave me the following rule many years ago: when using a table saw, always remove your ring and all jewel you’re wearing. This rule is also true for any power tool like a miter saw or a press drill but it is most crucial for a table saw, especially the ring. As the ring (or other jewel) is made of metal (and yes gold is soft but still), if your hand would ever come to ride over the blade, it could pull your whole hand and arm into the blade… thus potentially transforming a relatively minor cut into a very severe injury.

[marbleman]

I think that it's always a good idea to watch a video like this every once in a while to remind us just how much respect our table saws demand. I read a lot of the comments and they are all good. I would like to add a couple of my own safety procedures. The first one is that I always make sure that the floor in front of the table saw where I am standing is clear of any pieces of wood or built up sawdust that could cause my feet to slip and lose my balance while I'm using the saw. This next one is a personal choice for me and that is I do not have a radio playing when I'm using my table saw. I do not want to find myself listening to the news or singing along with the radio and find my thoughts wandering away from what I'm doing. I want to be 100% focused on the table saw. In fact, I don't have a radio in my shop at all. I also do not feel comfortable if anyone else happens to be in my shop ( which rarely happens anyway ), when I need to use the table saw for any kind of ripping thin pieces or cross cutting a piece that I cannot use my mitre saw for.

So far, I still have all of my fingers & thumbs and I sure want to keep it that way.

[marykayryan]

I am a parent and a grand parent and I just wanted to say how glad I am that your child was not hurt. I myself religiously unplug all power tools when not in use, but now I will also start lowering the blade on my table saw. Thank god you had done that. And ANYTHING you need to do to keep your children safe, I am behind you 100%, including buying a Sawstop.

[WoodcraftBySuman]

Dude compiled internet's greatest table saw hits into this mixtape.

[bruceneubauer]

Every time I get ready to use a table saw my situational awareness dials up to DEFCON 1. You’re an excellent teacher. Great presentation. And I fully support your logic regarding the Saw Stop. I had a close call a few years ago; an amateur mistake. I got lulled by that mental ‘zone’ of repetitive batch cutting. I got lucky. But the lesson was never forgotten.

[nathanjenkins]

This needs to be a textbook video shown in every safety program for any person that will be working around the table song. Great video amazing teacher

[bbbbb]

I've recently gotten the wood working itch and can honestly say your videos are by far the most entertaining while still being direct and helpful. You and the editor (if it's a different person) are doing a fantastic job with this channel and should be proud. Thanks for the help, stranger!

[m.d.d.]

Best advice I ever heard/received about using a tablesaw: If it doesn't feel safe, don't do it! Which is why most serious accidents happen to "experienced" users. Some things that in the beginning of my woodworking career/journey felt very unsafe, now are just things that I am extra cautious about. The processes didn't become any more - or less - safe, my confidence in doing them just increased. Like cutting freehand. Yeah, I know. Something I never would have considered when I first started out. Except one day, on a job site, end of a hot summer's day, one more cut to go and then I can go home and gee whiz golly darn, cobbling together a taper jig would have delayed me ... and all of that thinking led me to the most serious kickback event I've ever experienced. Still have all my digits (thankfully), but I spent that night in my recliner with a frozen bag of peas on my crotch, uncomfortably close to Jim and the Twins. One inch the wrong way, and I would be half a man, as it were. I tell you all that, to say this: You WILL get more comfortable around power tools. You might even decide you've "mastered" said power tools. And you will become too comfortable, be in a hurry, be too tired, and those power tools - especially the tablesaw - will show you that you have "mastered" nothing. The second most important advice I ever received about power tools is this: ALWAYS respect those tools, because if you don't they will make you fear them. Don't make it a fear factor, respect them.

[RockyRiverHills]

As a total beginner to woodworking (I only have a circular saw, a jig saw and some drills), this channel has been such a good find. No nonsense, no BS, just great info. I truly appreciate the fact that you spend the time to teach the newbs like me. Thank you again, Jon!

[NrSuchti]

Thanks for this video.
I am a woodworker from Germany. We learnt all this information in week long trainings in a special school (Gewerbeakademie) with a few machines at a time. Then we got a license and were allowed to take courses for bigger/more dangerous machines.
I just realized that there are a lot of people that dont know much about all these safety issues with big and small woodworking machines but literally everyone can buy these machines and do it for a hobby. Kinda crazy to me, this stuff is so dangerous if you dont know what you are doing.
If you never had safety instruction courses, educate yourself with videos like that. Its so important.
Be safe everyone. 🙏