Controversial Shop question...

[gwyneth]

No issues with your method Rod. Be it right, or be it wrong, as long as you're not forcing others to use it why should they care?

Well, people probably should chime in if something is so obviously unsafe (combination footbath and routing station; rubber glove push 'hand'; the hamster wheel as outfeed table) that it would be irresponsible to ignore it.

But I can't imagine Rod suggesting anything like that, even before he achieved god-like status.

[SARGE..g-47]

With the OEM switch still functional I think it's a great idea. just as long as you can't accidentally bump the "on" button.

a bit off topic.
The OEM location for the switch on the BT3 series saws is on the wrong side, it needs to be on the left corner, not the right.
I have setup saws with a mag starter and 2 switches before. one switch on the table edge on the right side and another on the table edge on the left with the buttons facing the left. that way you can reach the off button even if you are way off the the left side of the saw.

And I totally agree with you that they put in on the wrong side with the slider and fence on the right of blade, Tom. The problem stems from you stand and balance left of blade. Why?

(1) If you have an emergency, you have to lean over right to turn it off. Too much response time where an off-switch mounted left at knee level can be triggered in a micro-second simply by flexing the knee. That also eliminates the potential problem of taking your support hands off the stock in the case of kick-back. Doing so allows the kick-backed stock total freedom to chose it's direction of launch.

(2) When the saw is turned off under normal conditions.. you should not take your hands off the stock IMO till after the blade stops spinning to maintain complete control till there is no further threat from the spinning blade.

To do so (turn the saw off) you have to lean over right and free one hand from the stock to get to the switch mounted low right. This puts part of your body in the "Firing Lane" of the blade. So.. just to turn the saw off under normal conditions... you have to violate the most basic of TS safety rules and one that would be the most likely to get you hurt as direct front and rear of blade is the most common exit for stock kicked.

"KEEP THE LANE CLEAR.. ALWAYS"... Keep the lane clear until the blade comes to a complete stop! It can't be over-emphasized as I see it!

Good call Thom...

[L. D. Jeffries]

BT3 switch and remotes.

I wasn't in the forum when Rod was flamed but can feel for him as it happened to me on another forum, fortunately I have a "thick" skin and just shruged it off. I personaly only use my hand-held remote for my dust collection, one of the reasons is that sometimes if my back is turned to the powered remote switch the button has to be pushed more than once before it activates. First thing I did when I got my BT# was to build a seperate switch using a regular outlet controlled by a switch..then the saw is plugged into that oulet. This way I have a two switch arrangment. But when I do serious work, blade changing, doing fussy measurement work involving handling the blade, etc. I pull the plug from the saw into the outlet. I figure the extra effort is worth "fingers" Better safe than sorry!

[JimD]

One of the things I like about this site is people are polite. Sorry to hear they once weren't. I frequent another site for the vehicle I drive and one of the moderators is kind of rude. Nice to not have to worry around here.

I wouldn't use a remote on a table saw but I do not see why it is a bad idea -just not one I want to copy. I walk over to my DC to turn it on and off. I use the stock switch even though it is not the most convenient in some situations. When the workpiece is in a bad position, I just take care of the wood and let the saw run for a minute. I also unplug the saw when changing blades.

Jim

[gwyneth]

L.D. and Jim--I'm almost positive Rod wasn't talking about rudeness at this forum but at the one at the Ryobi corporate site.

[RodKirby]

L.D. and Jim--I'm almost positive Rod wasn't talking about rudeness at this forum but at the one at the Ryobi corporate site.

ABSOLUTELY, Gwyneth!

I have nothing but praise for Sam, and all my fellow BT3Central members

[gwyneth]

ABSOLUTELY, Gwyneth!

I have nothing but praise for Sam, and all my fellow BT3Central members

Too bad the term "gentleman's saw" already applies to something else.

[LinuxRandal]

Small buttons and battery going bad were really my only concerns (trying to hit the small buttons hard due to a dying battery and knocking it down under the guard into a spinning blade....).


But you say NO visitors are allowed to use your tools? So Gary (OZ chapter), got a look don't touch tour? I figured you let him try out the saw when you were (controlled environment) when you were discussing it with him.

[RodKirby]

Small buttons and battery going bad were really my only concerns (trying to hit the small buttons hard due to a dying battery and knocking it down under the guard into a spinning blade....) Possible (of course), but, I had just that situation - shut off the OEM switch and replaced the battery


But you say NO visitors are allowed to use your tools? So Gary (OZ chapter), got a look don't touch tour? I figured you let him try out the saw when you were (controlled environment) when you were discussing it with him. I switched it on, he tried the saw, I switched it off

I really am very careful

[LinuxRandal]

Very careful is what we are supposed to be! I am just happy you actually let someone use your saw. It's kind of like getting a new Lee Valley or Lie Nielson plane and trying it, so you know what to compare to. It allowed him to get the feel for a properly aligned tool.

[sparkeyjames]

My thinking is that the remote should have 1 function and 1 function only OFF. No on to trigger an accidental startup. Yes it can happen and when your not expecting it either. Don't get me wrong having a remote shut off close at hand is a great idea. I just feel yours has 1 too many functions. I remember back (way back) in high school wood shop. There were remote shut off switches dangling from the ceiling everywhere. Any switch hit shut off every power tool and electric receptacle in the shop.


sparkeyjames

[gwyneth]

My thinking is that the remote should have 1 function and 1 function only OFF. No on to trigger an accidental startup. Yes it can happen and when your not expecting it either.

That's the same philosophy the original X10 engineers were using when they went for "all lights on, all everything off."

In classic kill switches, kill = kill, not 'put to sleep and bring back to life'.

[radhak]

Ever ready to learn from others, i would have also adopted Rod's idea, but with my kids very keen on pressing buttons wherever they see them (particularly 'remote' buttons), I'll have to reluctantly pass

With the OEM switch still functional I think it's a great idea. just as long as you can't accidentally bump the "on" button.

a bit off topic.
The OEM location for the switch on the BT3 series saws is on the wrong side, it needs to be on the left corner, not the right.
I have setup saws with a mag starter and 2 switches before. one switch on the table edge on the right side and another on the table edge on the left with the buttons facing the left. that way you can reach the off button even if you are way off the the left side of the saw.

I personally feel many of the OEM switches in many power tools are at the wrong spot. The right-side-below-sight-line switch of Ryobi Tablesaws (and many many other similar), the swich on routers (you need a really long thumb to flick it on/off or let go of one hand from the router), are just a few. The really expensive tools seem to have resolved it much better - so how much more 'design' does it take to just place it in the right place for budget versions?

Too bad the term "gentleman's saw" already applies to something else.

I had sudden visions of something risque there, so i immediately googled it - this is all you meant .

[ironhat]

[quote=gwyneth;284546]Well, people probably should chime in if something is so obviously unsafe (combination footbath and routing station; rubber glove push 'hand'; the hamster wheel as outfeed table) that it would be irresponsible to ignore it.
quote]

No to mentin that it thoroughly ticked-off my hampster!

[scorrpio]

Whatever is convenient and safe for you is right, no other way about it.

You ask me, I prefer a deadman pedal. (in addition to the regular switch)