Ouch!

Sorry to hear about the injury...

BubbaBob

>...get better fast.

The Jet 1442 should not trip the breaker, and yes, breakers do go bad.

I have my 1442, two lamps with 100 wat bulbs, a sterio, and a fan on a 20 amp with no probs. BubbaBob

Re: Ouch!

Mike Rubes

>Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear about the bandsaw cut. It sounds really painful. I'm glad it wasn't as serious as it could have been.

I don't have a clue about breakers going bad, but it certainly sounds reasonable that if one were to go bad, it would click off under load. I don't know what your Jet draws peak, but if it is a 1.5 hp motor, I could easily imagine it drawing more than 15amps when under heavy (resawing type) load.

Good luck and heal fast!

Mike

Re: Ouch!

Greg W. in NC

>Mike,

Sorry to hear about your accident! I was there a couple of years ago, except with very serious injuries, from my bandsaw. I appreciate your sharing this, as hopefully it can keep someone else from enduring the same thing. I understand bandsaws are #3 on the most reported injuries, from shop tools. I think they are deceptively dangerous. I'm curious - how high was your blade guide set?

And no, that shouldn't be tripping your breaker unless there's a problem somewhere.

Get well quickly!

Re: Ouch!

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Blade guide? Assume you mean the upper set of rollers? Just above the top of the workpiece, maybe 1/4". It was just an accident, no really significant safety lapses. I could have been using a circle cutting jig, which I do have, but it is useless on thick blanks. I was resawing a 10" thick blank at the time. Should have left the barrel shape and just turned it away. The blade had significant tension on it, yet bowed out anyway, which has been a common feature on this bandsaw from time to time.

Re: Ouch!

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>WERE YOU LUCKY

Yes breakers do go bad and will trip at lower than rated. I wire with No. 12 and use only 20 amp breakers on all general circuits.

I have a 20 in bandsaw and it gets the most respect in my shop. One thing I still do is use the chainsaw for cuts that are on wood not having a good flat side. I do not mind a little extra lathe work for safety.

Good turning and be safe.

Bill

Re: Something to assist with safety *LINK*

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>First off, it is always dismaying to hear of someone's injury, particularly if it is to hands or eyes. I'm so glad the damage was limited.

In most respects, I'm pretty comfortable with a bandsaw, but still sit take considerable notice what a huge expanse of exposed blade can occur when cutting up blanks or resawing. I used to be never more concerned about this than when rounding a rough blank. However, I've found the practice much safer (and thus more comfortable) since using the Delta Circle Cutting Table (it will fit most other bandsaws as well). Having that expanded table for support, and having a fixed pivot point that allows me to keep my hands well clear of the blade when moving the blank with hand placement on the other side of the pivot point from the blade has given me both better and easier cuts, and greater peace of mind. You can take a look at this table in the Highland Hardware or Iturra Design catalogs, or read my recent review of it in More Woodturning or get the pdf here:


http://www.fholder.com/Woodturning/lyn.html

Re: Ouch!

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Hi Mike

Sorry to hear of your accident. I hope the healing process is a fast one. As to the breaker, yes, they can go bad. I have one I need to replace. Every time I turn on my planer it pops the breaker. I reset it and it works just fine. You might want to try the saw on a different circuit if possible to see if it is the saw or the breaker that is the problem.

Bill

Re: Something to assist with safety

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Lyn, I built the big WOOD mag bandsaw table with the built in circle cutting jig, but I find it impossible to use with tall blanks. They wind up elliptical instead of round due to some unseen forces. I've cut hundreds of rounds freehand but as I tried to relay - it was that one untypical thing I did that got me. Truly - my Jet 14" with rise really isn't up to resawing 10" thick blanks but with carter guides and a timberwolf blade it can get the job done.

Re: Something to assist with safety

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>I haven't seen the Wood Magazine rig, but I don't have the elliptical problem with the Delta table. One of the things nice about the Delta is that you can spiral in to the correct diameter while still using the pivot point. I am assuming you are speaking of elliptical with regards to an inconstant radius.

If it is bowing along the length, I've found that with that much exposed blade height, I often require more tension than Timberwolf recommends (and I do like those AS Timberwolf blades). The stock spring in older Jets and Deltas is usually not up to the task and the higher tension available with the aftermarket Iturra springs is most welcome.

Regardless, it is those unusual circumstances, such as you describe, that are what I worry about with regards to my own safety. Keeping my hands far out of the cutting line is one of the reasons I've been so fond of the Delta table.

Re: Something to assist with safety

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Dagnabit, you're giving me great advice that I can't implement because I already have! Replaced the spring with the carter upgrade and crank the tension way above the way timberwolf suggests! The real answer is a bigger saw but it won't fit within my basement height limitations.

I'd try wearing leather gloves but I can envision them getting caught and dragging my hand and arm down. Still, in all, it was an unusual accident from a relatively innocous procedure.

Thanks Lyn

Go with 220 volts

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>I hope you heal quickly.

Do you have 220 volt (20 amp) line available in your shop? I have found that using the 220 v option is far more efficient (better power on start up and under load, cooler operation, etc) and the 20 amp breaker still provides a degree of protection. My table saw, lathe, band saw, jointer, and sanding center are all wired for 220 v with remarkable positive results. Of course, my point is mute if you don't have the 220 v line but it may be just one more reason to consider having one installed.

Heal well,

John

Re: Ouch!

Dick Hines

>Man, wish I had red the message board AFTER I aqte supper. Not as hungry as I was.

Hope you heal up fast Mike.

Re: Ouch!

David Eaves

>Sorry to hear that it bit you Mike, hope it heals soon. I'm hoping to buy a bandsaw in the summer. They do scare me a bit though, hopefully that is good and I'll keep my wits about me.

David

Re: Something to assist with safety

JamieDonaldson

>Mike - blade wander is worse with a dull blade,also leads to forcing a cut that isn't going well.

Re: Ouch!

Keith Tompkins

>HI Mike, sorry to hear of the accident.

Wondering about the diameter of the rounds you were working on....small pieces may be better trued up between centers.

Always keep a safety zone, where your hands don't come dangerously close to the blade. This is especially important when cutting bowl blanks. There is a transition point where the grain direction changes, you are alternately ripping and crosscutting the blank.(I realize this may not be the type of sawing you were doing, but important neverthe less.)

Ripping requires much more force;when you start to cross-cut, the blank can lurch ahead due to the ease of cut. If your hands are too close to the blade at this point, this is dangerous.

The other tricky spot (where most accidents may happen) is going from cross-cutting to ripping. The blade may drift outward and exit the blank completely. It will do this with surprising speed.

A safety tip.....don't try to cut the blank with a long,continuous cut. Cut a few inches, re-position your hands. Cut a few more inches, re-position your hands again. This keeps your hands in the "safety zone", and avoids awkward hand positions.

Mike, I'm guessing you are fairly experienced on the bandsaw, so this warning isn't just directed at you. Just some thoughts on bandsaw safety which may be beneficial to all, especially newbies. Be safe, Keith

When the blade encounters end

Re: Ouch!

Wables

>I am very sorry to hear about your injury. I have had a few close calls in the past, but thankfully avoided the ER. Hopefully you heal up ASAP.

Your motor should have an information plate on it which gives the HP, NEMA Frame Size, and the amp draw at full load. I believe the full load on my 1 1/2 HP Jet table saw is 18 amps. Take a peek. You may need to upgrade to a 20 amp+ circuit, or better yet, go with 220V.

Re: Ouch!

Doug Trembath

>Mike, I read the messages from top to bottom, so I saw David's post first. I posted a response there you might want to look at about templates for guiding cuts on the Bandsaw.

Sorry about the finger. I think injuries like these are given to us once in a while just to remind us to keep listening to that little voice in our heads that says "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Heal quickly, my friend...

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods