: G'day Rob,

: Long time since I posted a message to you.

: I believe it was on the eve of your successfull tilt at the World Masters
: Games.

: The foot was severed allbut the last 1/2" or so,but I believe he did
: keep it.

: I was told he had to have a lot of micro surgery and 9 months in a cast or
: brace.

: I dont think he went back to carpentry though.

: Handheld circular saws must be close to the top of the tree of injury causing
: tools.

: The auto folding gaurds can get stuck in the open position leaving the
: spinning blade exposed.(its happened to me )A chip of wood or a bend in
: the gaurd from putting the saw down can do it.

: A trick I have since picked up is to not remove the saw from the cut untill
: AFTER the blade has stopped spinning.

: Bench saws without gaurds (we all take them off) and radial arm saws are just
: as bad.

: I cant believe how many times I've seen people use a bench /table saw and not
: use a simple push stick.

: The problem of the frequency of accidents, mutiplies 10 fold if your tired.

: Please treat them with respect.(bordering on fear)

: Regards Paul

Btw, I'll have to get pictures, but friend of mine (ex-student in the kayak building class) is a professional furniture builder. On visits to his shop I noticed that his custom made push sticks all have enclosed holes for the hands so your hand can't slip off and your hand can't get down close to the blade no matter what. He's got a template for them so makes mulitple copies and tosses them when they get worn.

Bill H.