Embarrassing
I wasn’t going to mention this on the board because it is too embarrassing to admit to you guys and gals but this is a reminder to be cautious around your power tools. A week and a half ago I was cutting 3/16" walnut strips to a half inch width on my table saw and I was being careful by pushing the 18 inch long strips through with a safety stick. The walnut started to curl against itself after the cut started and wouldn’t spread onto the nail I had in the table insert to keep the strip spread so it wouldn’t close against the saw blade. I couldn’t spread the strip with my left hand so I used my stronger right hand to do it. My left hand drifted back into the saw blade taking off ½" of my thumb. What should I have done! My feather board was set for the height of ¾" thick boards and I should have lowered it to 3/16" and it would have covered the saw blade but since I was only cutting a few boards it didn’t seem necessary and I couldn’t have guessed this walnut grain would close the cut part of the walnut so tightly on itself. All I can say is I have worked around power tools everyday for over 45 years and never had a serious mishap so it can happen to anybody. The good news is I think I will be back on the stripper in another week and have been cutting the deco pieces on the miter saw.

John