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[Robert Yarger]

Yeah, that's the reason why I don't have a direct radiation or gas heater in my workshop in the winter.  Very fine sawdust particles goes boom.  I have to use an inferior oil radiation heater, which sucks, but keeps me alive.  The only thing that ever came close to catching on fire was a router with the bearings worn out, which sent out sparks from rubbing against the side.

As a side note on fire, everyone be sure to properly douse their lacquer rags with water before throwing away, as they can self combust.

[Kerry Verne]

There's miles of threads on static in dust collector lines, yet no actual incidents of a dust explosion. From what I understand, the requirements for a dust explosion are too stringent.

[RKB]

Since switches seem to be the first thing to go on most equipment, I usually leave all of my equipment turned on, but plugged into an extesion cord or surge protector with with its own switch.  It is also nice to be able to turn on and off equipment with my foot on a switch as opposed to using my hands, such as with frequent on/off with a router project.

Don't you have any safety switches over there in the USA?? 

Here in Europe, if the power supply fails (for whatever reason) when your machine is switched on, the power returning won't make your machine running unattended: the safety switch has to be reset first. So the extension cord method won't work here without bypassing an important safety feature of the machine.

My dust collector (the blue monster) is rather noisy, but fortunately it's a very low pitched sound. I have the machine 'switched on' all the time, but I installed a relay switch that can be operated from several places in the workshop. There's no such safety switch on the dust collector as it can do little harm by starting after a power failure.

[Canuck]

Don't you have any safety switches over there in the USA?? 


You do realize you're talking about Robert right?

[Kerry Verne]

In the US we have safety switches in the event of a short or overload, but that just trips at the mains connection. Nothing in the event of a power loss.

I personally found a nice set of remote power relays that work even with my dust collector. They're only supposed to run 10amp, but my dc works fine on it.
http://www.amazon.com/Eforcity-Wireless-Control-Lighting-Appliances/dp/B000G80V28/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220462508&sr=8-5
(Available on Ebay for cheaper.)
I'm planning on switching over to X10 outlets for high-draw (DC/etc) outlets, and use these just for fans/lights.

Back on the DC note, it also looks like Delta cheaped out and put a start capacitor in instead of a run capacitor. No hidden switches. Saved them $8 and lasted past the warranty.. Win for them, annoyance for me.

[Robert Yarger]

I have removed the safety items off of everything I own.  Tempted to cut out seatbelst just for consistency.  Really though, most safty things just get in the way and cause more danger than they were intended to prevent.  Blade gards, kickback feeders, electrical kill switches, governors fly shields and cut off seat switches on riding lawnmowers - they all just get in the way.   

Remeber the good old days when we could play with lawn darts in the yard, and shoot pop-0bottle rockets and roman candles at our friends.  Remember when we could drink coffee without hot warning labels, drive motorcycles without helmets, or shoot cannons in our back yards.  Seems like we have grown into a nation of pansies that have to be babied.  What ever happened to natural selection, you know - those stupid enough to jump their car over a canyon are naturally taken out.  

OF course, I am not suggesting that any of you do such things - for liability reasons.        

[Canuck]

OK that makes it official Robert is no longer eligible for the safety commitee nominations

[Kerry Verne]

Sure he is. How high is the pool on his future appendage count? 

Of course, I managed to cut myself on a (non-moving) dado blade last night. Nothing but stupidity there, but it still a painful wake up call. Was testing a dado sled and stuck my finger in the wrong spot. Considering that I'm saving up for a Sawstop, I guess my position is fairly clear on shop safety.

[Robert Yarger]

Now a blade stop on a saw is just plain cool.  They should be standard with all saws.  The other stuff, kickback feeders and blade guards, they just get in the way, make akward cut movements, and really pose more of a safety threat when you have them.  Not too fond of push sticks either, as they reallyd don't hold down a board with enough force.

The two major wounds I have gotten since starting woodworking were the direct result of stupid kickback feeders.  Sure, the board does not kick back, but that just means that when a board gets tweaked it is going to splinter the board and cause the blade to jump.

The most important safety feature is using your own brain in the shop.  I protect mine by wearing a tin foil cap, you know to protect from the aliens.

[RKB]

I protect mine by wearing a tin foil cap, you know to protect from the aliens.

Wrong! Oh so wrong! Tin foil was brought to earth by aliens.
The only thing you can do to protect your brains from being sucked out by martians (and creatures from beyond) is wearing a banana leaf or a pink shirt.

[Robert Yarger]

I'm still safe then!

[Kerry Verne]

For a little closure, the DC has been revived. $15 for a correct capacitor, and $10 for a box big enough to hold it, but it runs well now. (Yes, the box is almost bigger than the motor. ) As we don't need no stinkin safety switches, I used a standard wall switch to replace the cheap stock one.

[Robert Yarger]

Wow!!! Now that's a man sized capacitor.  When they get that big, I think that they call them a coil. 

[Johan Heyns]

   Quote from: Robert Yarger on 2008-09-03, 23:32:38
   I protect mine by wearing a tin foil cap, you know to protect from the aliens.


   Wrong! Oh so wrong! Tin foil was brought to earth by aliens.
   The only thing you can do to protect your brains from being sucked out by   martians (and creatures from beyond) is wearing a banana leaf or a pink shirt.

Now you know why some elephants in Africa use pink nail polish for camouflage.  Have you ever seen one with pink nail polish on those big toes?  Goes to show how well the camouflage works!!! 

I wonder if that is not why John had a pink T-shirt on once, you know that facebook stuff!

[Canuck]

Now you know why some elephants in Africa use pink nail polish for camouflage.  Have you ever seen one with pink nail polish on those big toes?  Goes to show how well the camouflage works!!! 

I wonder if that is not why John had a pink T-shirt on once, you know that facebook stuff!

No, no nothing to do with camoflage, I was just gettin' in touch with my feminine side