Most dangerous tool?

[MilDoc]

I did a search to see if anyone had asked this question and didn't find anything similar. Hope I'm not repeating anything. Just curious.

What do you consider the most dangerous stationary / bench tool? The one that might cause injury to any user by its very nature, amateur or experienced? (Assume the tool is in perfect shape, well adjusted, etc, and the user is not suddenly distracted.)

I listed 12 tools since that's all the forum allows. And they are in alphabetical order.

Hand power tools (circular saw, jig saw, belt sander etc) don't count.

[MikeMcCoy]

I had to vote for the lathe since mine has almost succeeded in knocking me out a couple of times and they were due to my lack of attention.

[leehljp]

Another post / tool could have been:

Most dangerous tool for "stupid people": Nail Gun.
. . . lets see now. . . how does this work?

I voted RAS. I have had one for over 30 years. I use it but think EVERYTHING through. This is one tool that I use hold down and kick back paws religiously! I keep the tracks CLEAN. I hold solidly on the handle. I treat it with total respect every time. But my fear does not prevent me from using it when needed.

[BobSch]

The most dangerous tool is the one you're most comfortable with.

[Tom Slick]

I voted for the shaper. If you have ever run one they are scary! there isn't a good way to guard them and they have a large cutter taking alot of material. We had a guy at work "shape" two of his fingers off.

most folks don't have a shaper in their garage, so I would vote RAS for garage use but they have fallen out of popularity. I would think that the table saw makes the most accidents because they are common and there are a lot of people that are really not safe with them. YouTube has proven that. I'll bet there are a lot of short thumbs from the RAS and TS.

[Slik Geek]

It depends upon what you mean when you say "dangerous". If by "dangerous" you mean the odds of any injury are greatest (no matter how minor), I'd have to say that for me, the most dangerous tool is my (bench) belt sander. I frequently scuff a knuckle or finger nail. But I normally wouldn't call it dangerous.

If your criteria for dangerous is a high probability that an injury would be serious (getting maimed), combined with fairly high odds of an incident, I would pick the table saw. I've avoided cutting myself with the blade, but have succeeded in launching workpieces a couple times, where one time it connected and impressed me with its potential for injury. (Thanks to the Shark Guard, I haven't had any more incidents).

My main reason for picking the table saw is that I know people who have cut off fingers or thumbs with tablesaws - while haven't met anyone who has done something similar. (Except for one case where a friend trimmed off a couple finger tips on a jointer).

I think that part of the reason that table saws have harmed so many people is that the guard designs historically have been so poorly designed that many removed them. (Things are finally improving).

[crokett]

For the question as asked -by its nature and used as intended I would say the RAS. I've done ripping on a RAS and scared myself into never doing it again.

The most dangerous tool in my shop for # of injuries is my framing hammer. I've injured myself with it - including a broken finger - more than any other tool.

[cabinetman]

I voted for the shaper. If you have ever run one they are scary! there isn't a good way to guard them and they have a large cutter taking alot of material. We had a guy at work "shape" two of his fingers off.

most folks don't have a shaper in their garage, so I would vote RAS for garage use but they have fallen out of popularity. I would think that the table saw makes the most accidents because they are common and there are a lot of people that are really not safe with them. YouTube has proven that. I'll bet there are a lot of short thumbs from the RAS and TS.

I voted for the table saw. But, I've had some biggie cuts with chisels, shot myself with a nail gun, and even slashed my hand on the tip of a forstner bit in the drill press by reaching across the table, and it wasn't running.

I didn't vote for the shaper, although it's a mean mangler. A power feeder takes it to a much safer level.
.

[sparkeyjames]

The most dangerous tool that can be wielded resides between ones own ears. Convincing yourself that you are a tools master is just when it will turn on you and prove you wrong. Ok enough philosophy for now I voted for the RAS.

[Richard in Smithville]

My vote was for the table saw. Two reasons....First, most people own a table saw these days( note I said "most" not every). With models being sold for less than $100 cdn, there are more table saws in home workshops than ever before. Second: How many projects have you done that lately that hasn't used the ts at least once.

[balzac.thegreat]

I voted for the table saw because its ubiquity raises the likelihood of somebody injuring themselves with it.

However all these tools can maim you horrifically in their own way if handled incorrectly...so it's not like a major accident with a table saw is any less serious than a major accident with a router or a drill press. Routing a dado through my hand doesn't sound any less painful than boring a hole through it. Unlikely maybe, but I guess this question all depends on what kind of "danger" you mean. If we assume the user is handling the tool properly, there are more subtle kinds of dangers (kick back, wood chips in the eyes, etc.) that present themselves than the obvious "hand in cutter's path" maiming scenarios.

I say they're all dangerous machines even if you know exactly what you're doing. Don't let a quick poll fool you into thinking a power tool is any less dangerous!

[Crash2510]

I said table saw because its used so frequently but ras and that Bandsaw Mike rowe was using on Dirty Jobs come in a close second (you will know what this means if you have seen the cedar shakes/shingles) dirty jobs episode

[williamr]

Another post / tool could have been:

Most dangerous tool for "stupid people": Nail Gun.
. . . lets see now. . . how does this work?

Have to agree.

My wife sees more people with nail gun injuries than any other power tool.

Nothing else really registers she says.

That's just one regional hospital though. Maybe there's more stupid people in Y___ Region than elsewhere. (Region deleted to shield the guilty.)

Doubt it though.

---
will

[Uncle Cracker]

I put my vote down for the radial arm saw. Anybody that has seen one of those things crawling up over a workpiece and heading straight for them knows what I mean. And there is a hole in my drywall from 10 years ago when some ripping went bad... I never patched the hole, so it would serve as a reminder. Still use the saw, but I now have strict boundaries and I never cross them.

[Tom Slick]

I didn't vote for the shaper, although it's a mean mangler. A power feeder takes it to a much safer level.

A power feeder is how I eventually solved the safety aspect, as a side benefit the quality went up also.