Router safety on the BT3*

[Ed62]

OK, if I did it, someone else might do it too. I had the router mounted on the BT3K, and was working with it when I needed to make an adjustment. Unplugged the router, which was plugged into the outlet on the BT3K to make it easy to turn on and off. After maiking the adjustment, I plugged the router back in.........or so I thought. When I turned the router back on, it didn't go on, but the table saw did! It doesn't seem like you could possibly grab the small cord for the table saw instead of the long cord for the router to plug in, but that's exactly what I did. Luckily, the blade was lowered, the blade guard was on, and there wasn't anything else on the table except the piece I was working on. So be careful. It easily could have been an accident.

Ed

[LCHIEN]

I did that sort of. Router plugged into the saw ouotlet. But on final use I turned off the power at the router instead of at the saw switch. Thus leaving the saw switch in the "on" position. Later I plugged in the saw cord to the outlet and it started. Unfortunately I had a 6' 1x6 piece of wood lying over the blade. There was a groove down the wood where the blade bit into it and accelerated it like a rail gun into the bookcase. That "spear" left a dent to this day I have as a reminder. Fortunately I was not standing in the way.

[big tim]

Been there, done that, fortunately without any bad aftereffects.
I'm planning to wire a small light to the outlet to identify that the switch is in the on position. Just haven't figured out yet where to mount the light so it's not in the way, yet shows readily that it's on.

Tim

[bigfoot]

Logic, safety, and table space would dictate to lower the saw bladfe before using the router.... Maybe that's why it's my S.O.P.

Does make me think of an extra safety measure I will impliment at my place. Red electricians tape wrapped on the short saw plug.

[cgallery]

I was forever forgetting to switch plugs when I wanted to switch from router to table saw and back. After at least ten IPU's (Incorrect Power Ups), I bought a separate power switch for the router and haven't looked back.

[Peter59T]

You are not alone

Only a day or two after building my router table add-on, I started doing the same thing. Turning on, turning off, plugging in, plugging out, and so on. Going back and forth.

My only saving grace is that I have a lot of respect for the table saw (as in a bit scared of) and (usually) lower it into to the table when I am done cutting. Scared me to death when the saw started though.

Some little light thingie is a good idea. If you come up with a clever solution, please share.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

It's scared me, too. Either the router is plugged in when I turn on the saw, or the saw is plugged in when I turn on the router. Just waiting to plug the router in for freehand work when the switch is still turned on.

I made a tag for the router cord today at Sign Builder http://www.stclaire.com/safety_sign_.../ssb-panel.php

I have attached the file "Router Table safety tag.pdf". Cut off unneeded portions. Print as multiple images to reduce the size. Here is how it looks after cutting ...

- Lonnie

[Ed62]

Aha! It just came to me! I think I'll put a small keychain or something in the hole of the prong on the plug I'm not using at the time. It could stay there until I switch operations. Then it can be easily transferrerd to the other plug. No chance to plug in the wrong thing that way.

Ed

[LCHIEN]

Aha! It just came to me! I think I'll put a small keychain or something in the hole of the prong on the plug I'm not using at the time. It could stay there until I switch operations. Then it can be easily transferrerd to the other plug. No chance to plug in the wrong thing that way.

Ed

In my case the problem was not plugging the wrong thing in, it was that I had two switches for the router and did not have the force of habit to use the same one every time leading to some uncertainty of which was on. When I plugged the saw back in it had only the one switch and happened that time to be on.

I resolved not to use the saw outlet/switch for the router anymore.
I have since pretty much gone to using a stand-alone router table.

[Ed62]

I have since pretty much gone to using a stand-alone router table.

I expect that will happen for me too, in time.

Ed

[jsnell]

Plug lock

I just (finally) mounted my router. I was worried that I'd get confused and plug the wrong cord in so I put a plug lock on the cord I wasn't using. I don't remember where I got the one I am using but this one is similar. http://www.familysafemedia.com/power...plug_lock.html

[crokett]

I marked my router power cord with white duct tape. Come to think of it, I've since mounted a different router in the acc. table. I should mark the new one.

[Ed62]

I just (finally) mounted my router. I was worried that I'd get confused and plug the wrong cord in so I put a plug lock on the cord I wasn't using. I don't remember where I got the one I am using but this one is similar. http://www.familysafemedia.com/power...plug_lock.html

I'm using a twist tie that comes on a loaf of bread. It threads right through the holes on the prongs of the plug. Works great, and the price is right.

Ed