hi. I just bought one of these jointers to use with my shopsmith. I want to thank you for making this video. it's invaluable to anyone taking up woodworking who doesn't understand just how dangerous it can be. It takes a lot of courage to make a video like this after such a tramatic accident. I really admire your character and kindness. I'm also happy to see how well you use your left hand without a full thumb. probably just as capable as I am with a full thumb. :) thanks again and God bless.
Thanks! I'm glad this was helpful to you. It was definitely scary getting back out there and using it. I finished building my gate but I will probably avoid using that jointer anymore- or the table saw, that seems really dangerous too. I'm planning to just use it as a drill press from now on. Anyway, thanks for the nice comment and be safe!
@@cihamme Really video is really helpful even if you made mistakes perhaps by doing this video you could save someone like myself or anybody new to wood working . Im thinking about buying a jointer and and now im going to be extra careful bc of you .
I have an identical jointer I use on a Shopsmith Power Stand. These machines, like all Shopsmith machines (I own lots of Shopsmith machinery) were built very well; almost like army tanks! Looking at my own jointer before writing this, the guard is attached with a washer and hex nut from the underside of the infeed table. The shaft is then has tension applied with a spring until it springs back firmly against the guide fence. This jointer I purchased was used from a qualified woodworking pro and the first thing I did was snap the guard open and closed many many times! If by any means it was sticking or not doing what it was supposed to do, I would have turned it down unless the seller and I could refurbish and repair it to the manufacturer specs on the spot. I also made sure there was a hinged guard on the rear of the cutterhead attached to the guide fence so it covers the cutterhead when the guide fence is in the furthest forward postion (normally for doing rabbit cuts which the table saw is a better tool to do that operation). Also checked for cracks, chips and worn out parts so this machine would be a workhorse in the shop and be worth every penny spent without spending any more pennies on it right off the bat. One thing to always remember, do not use any machine without a guard. It is an arguing point to most DIY hobbyists and even some of the pros, especially with table saws, who do this for a living but it is very very important if you want to keep all your "digits" to always use the guards and safety equipment each and every time and each and every cut. On table saws for example, even when you are cutting dados and rabbits with a dadohead cutter, you should always use a guard. There are plenty of guard upgrades out there which fit practically every manufacturer of table saw, old or new, industrial or consumer grade, so you can rip, crosscut, miter, bevel, dado, rabbit, mold and shape without sacrificing safety by using the guard. It is a much smaller price to pay then hospital bills, trust me. Anyway, back to the jointer...some things to always keep in mind. Always make light cuts no matter the hardness of the wood. Use 1/32" to 1/16" tops for any kind of milling on the jointer. Sure it take longer to achieve the final result but it will lessen the chances of losing control of the board. Joint wood 18" or longer, not any less than 3" wide and at least not any less than 3/8" thick Narrower, shorter or thinner wood with either get away from you or blow apart injuring you if not seriously within a split second! Do not joint anything other than solid wood! Any kind of sheet material such as plywood will blow apart and injure you in less than a second! When face jointing (board on the flat) always use pushblocks; two of them. A push block and push stick are also acceptable but the friction push blocks are much better to control your stock. Also, your left hand or any hands for that matter should never be over or within 6 inches from the guard face or cutterhead on either side of the machine unless on top of a push block when pushing it through. That is how lacerations happen when this paramount safety rule is ignored! When pushing the board through, the left hand with the push block will eventually as the board is getting longer on the outfeed side, bridge across (staying away from guard and cutterhead) and rest with the push block on the outfeed side to continue to hold the board flat and against the guide fence. Do this each and every time you pass the board through for flat face jointing. When edge jointing, use the same techniques as face jointing however, if the piece of wood is at least 1/3 of the fence taller (extends 1/3 above the top of the fence) then you can use your hands to push it through but again, keeping your hand 6 inches or more above the guard and cutterhead. Keep your left hand palm up and use a light finger pressure on the upper third of the board when pushing it through keeping it solid to the fence. The right hand will guide the board from the extreme top edge, do not grip the board like a pistol or have any finger or thumbs on the back end of the board. Doing so puts you in danger of injury should the board be compromised during the operation. To bevel and rabbit boards, use a table saw with a dado cutter and an appropriate guard. This is a much better machine for this operation than a jointer. Jointers should only be used to straighten out face defects and to true up edges. Stay safe and I hope these tips help!
Thanks for all the great guidance, I appreciate it. I will add that my guard pin is not threaded, so a nut cannot hold it in place. It's just hex stock that drops into a hex hole. Definitely a safety improvement to have that design with a nut, make sure you have it!
Very brave of you to make the video documenting your serious injury. You learned your lesson the hard way. Hopefully others will take notice and make sure they understand the importance of power tool safety. Good luck, and be safe.
Best to use the proper tools for the job you're trying to accomplish. A table saw, shaper, or even a router would have been a better choice for this cut. Additionally, the rear fence should have been tilted 45° towards the FRONT of the machine thereby reducing the exposure of the blades and reducing the risk of the board slipping away. Sorry about your terrible injury/accident, and a hearty THANK YOU FOR SHARING in hopes of someone else not getting injured!
Yes! You are correct about the proper way to use this machine, that would certainly have saved me a thumb. I had planned to use a router, but I thought this was a more appropriate tool- wrong again. Thanks for your helpful comments!
Chrisham I just found your video. Sorry to say your loss was operator error. That guard has a spring, AND a locking nut, to secure the guard to the jointer. You must have bought this unit used. Check an owners manual! ORDER THE PARTS, AND FIX the guard!
To some of the folks below, I just checked my jointer and it does not have a nut to hold the guard on. It just sits in the hole. After seeing this video this morning, I retrofitted my guard (same as yours) to now bolt on. I have the luxury of owning a metal lathe so I took the hexagonal post off the guard, faced the bottom of it and drilled and tapped at 1/4 inch hole in the bottom. Then put a 1/4 machine screw through the bottom to bolt the guard to the table. Im quite happy with it now. Thank you for sharing your misfortune for the rest of us to learn from. Also, Doug Reid is right in saying always tilt the fence in, not out.
Man, I appreciate the video so I and others can learn. One thing I have to say is that if you have to touch a guard there is something wrong. They are there to protect from slips but even then they may not fully protect you. Even a properly installed guard may not help. Look at a table saw guard, a person is still able to push fingers under it in an extreme situation. You had to hold the guard because it was faulty but you actually could have run the machine with no guard and have been safer by keeping hands way back. Another thing is you did the whole video with the machine plugged in. If you ever worked in a job that was safety conscience that would be 3 day suspension for the first offense and fired on the second. Not piling on but hoping someone can learn. Safety First.
I remove the guard off of everything I buy. I found they can get you into more trouble because they tend to get in the way and you end up having to adapt as this gentleman did and bad things happen.
For anyone watching this a jointer should only be used to flatten and edge the boards. Even though you can cut angels on them, just for safety reason like this please don’t use a jointer for anything but flatting and edging a board. Use the table saw to cut the angles.
Thanks Ray, many people have said "you weren't even using it for the right job", but no one has actually elaborated. Thanks for your comments, I hope they help people!
either get the guard fixed or remove it and don't put your hand anywhere near the blades. I have a 13" jointer from China and there is no guard on it. It might have been scary in the beginning but I have become used to it. I still don't put my hand near the blade and never over it without using a good push block.
Agreed, I would have been better off with no guard. I'm not sure it's good that you have 'become used to' not having a guard- I would try to stay scared.
hard lesson in shop(smith) safety. >_< The "push stick" solution for your guard is gonna get you in trouble again with this machine Chris. Get a replacement for your guard or repair it correctly but please oh please don't use that jointer again till you do. You can do the same edge on that board with your table saw or router !
I think this highlights that a person needs to be fully aware of their power tools. Apparently your tool was purchased used and did not receive proper maintenance. Tools need to be understood and maintained. This design is not limited to ShopSmith and blame cannot be levied on them. There is a great deal of responsibility on the operator. I would not operate it until you have it repaired and in perfect operating condition.
I shaved a thin slice off the left side of my left fingertip with a machete cutting away garden twine one year. Hurt like a bumble. The nerve endings were sensitive for years but finally became normal. It happened when I was momentarily distracted by a loud "pop" from a fire that was behind me burning debris. It doesn't have to be a complicated machine like a Shopsmith, (I have three), to do lasting damage to your digits. In Heaven, you will have your thumb again. Blessings and Safety PS: You have a loving sister.
That looks like a mkv 500. I have the same jointer. The guard should have a tension spring. Turn the top knob and then set into the hex hole. And never ever on any powertool put your hands on the guard. Very sorry that you lost a thumb. Good to hear you're optimistic.
Man, that hurts just thinking about it and I'm so sorry to hear that you suffered this injury. Sounds like you've already received the advice about tilting the fence inward when beveling, which BTW is common to all jointers. It not only makes the process safer but the v-block that is created actually traps the board tightly between the table and the fence. I wholeheartedly endorse the "new and improved" feather guard, which Shopsmith introduced back around 1990. They actually introduced several another retrofittable improvements to this jointer that might have minimized your injury. One is a larger diameter cutter head and larger blade wedges which prevent the tool from taking such a large cut. They also added guards to the back side of the fence that covers the back side of the cutter head when the fence is mounted close to the front edge of the bed. Be safe and pleae look into some of those retrofits. Scott
Also, the "guard" that you mention at 6:30 is the fence, not a guard. It is designed to be moved for wider (thicker) boards, but also to allow you to use the entire width of the blade over time to spread out the wear. You should be able to safely use the jointer regardless of where the fence is located.
I've had 1 major scare with a table saw. 2 seconds after i applied bandaging to my finger, i bought a better push block and installed all safety gear. i don't have enough fingers to keep taking risks
Be sure to read the current literature of your tools and bring the safety equipment they have improved on over the last 70 years up to date on them. Shopsmith provides a Jointer Retrofit kit for old Jointers Like the one pictured, and a new featherboard (which is bolted in place), which brings them up to today's standards. Know your tools, and the safety issues with especially old ones. Thanks for the hard lesson, and I wish you well.
I do feel for you Chris. I am also thankful to see that this incident has not kept you from using your shop equipment. I do, however, hope that you will not use the jointer again until you have repaired or replaced the blade guard and purchased a couple push blocks. After that later demonstration of "what not to do" you should probably inspect the blades for damage. They obviously came in contact with the guard.
I see what you mean ....with the guard giving a false sense of protection. Thanks for the video! It's a great reminder for myself and others to always stay alert and respect the tool you're using.
Thanks for making this video. You open yourself up to everyone telling you how dumb you were for various reasons (which of course you already knew). But you are putting up with it to try to help other people. Who knows how many thumbs you saved by being a humble guy who cares about other people.
Thanks for your comment, that's really nice of you to say. You are correct that there are a lot of people with nothing very valuable to add to the discussion, but there have also been good people- thanks for being one of them!
thank you for painful sharing. I feel sorry for that finger. You are a great guy , because you want to make sure others to learn. And I learned. I am inheriting a Shopsmith and trying to learn how to use it. Your clip was the most important one, Thank you again. Greetings and best wishes from North California.
I taught Shopsmith woodworking for many years, and have seen the results of a few (really not many) accidents. Since that can really put a damper on things, I started asking, "Was it the tools fault, or were you doing something wrong?" 100% of the time, the answer was, "Oh, I was doing things wrong...actually I was pretty stupid." Folks, read and understand your manuals, use the guards, know how to use the tool...you were doing none of these. I am not unsympathetic, but when you get hurt, it hurts other people, too...the school that wants to offer a shop class, the kid who wants to learn woodworking, the man or woman who wants to buy a tool...anyone who loves woodworking. Shopsmith offers excellent videos on using their tools safely.
Actually, I WAS using the guard. It was designed badly- if I hadn't used it I would have just kept my hand away from there and would still have my thumb. I would argue that a badly designed safety device is worse than none at all. I trusted (and admittedly misused) the guard and lost my thumb.
Hi again, Chrisham; It will not surprise you to hear me say I disagree. To me, that is like buying an old car and learning on the trip home that it has no brakes. The operator has the responsibility to know how to safely use the product. As Mr. Toolhunter says, the manual says clearly to tilt the fence in, not out. What you are doing terrifies me. Please get and install the right safety gear, and read the manuals.(If you don't have the "Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone" often called the Shopsmith bible, , let me know and I will send you one.I'll even autograph It :)) I sincerely wish you many years of happy and safe woodworking!
I don't disagree with you, I certainly hold some responsibility for my own safety. After all, it is not like this machine just came out of nowhere and attacked me. However, using your analogy, it's more like I bought an old car, checked the brakes by pushing on them gently, started driving, and the when I pushed hard enough on the brakes they detach from the vehicle as a design flaw, not because they were old or damaged. If tilting the fence out is so dangerous and it should never be done, then it should not be an option for operating this machine.
I didn't it look at it as him attacking you, just offering a point of view. The blade guard isn't made to be used how you're using it. And, as you mentioned, it should have a spring and a nut to hold it down (mine does and looks to be the same style/age (older). This is less about a Shop Smith design and more about jointers in general. Great video and highlights the hazards present when using ANY jointer.
I have to agree with Doug on the safety aspect. I disagree on the issue of poor design. I've owned an older model Shopsmith (built in 1955) for many years. My jointer is much older than yours, and it came with the spring and the locknut. As soon as I bought my machine with jointer (used) in 1988, I called Shopsmith for owner's manuals and "Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone." I also ordered a few new parts to replace worn and missing ones. I've never had a problem with any of my Shopsmith equipment other than wear from age. Not trying to bash you--you've certainly suffered enough. Just hope you're able to learn from this and do the necessary repairs to your Shopsmith so it can be used safely. Please consider building a jig and also using push sticks/blocks when jointing. Take care.
You learned a good lesson about understanding the proper use of tools and equipment - luckily without too bad an injury. Get instruction from local folks who have experience or otherwise be very cautious until you understand the tool you are working with - best wishes!
Thanks for your comment- I shudder to think that I could have been pushing with four fingers instead of my thumb. Losing a thumb on my non-dominant hand hasn't been as bad as I might have thought- not that I would recommend it... I will certainly trust that I can use a machine safely if I am just *trying* to be safe.
Ran my shopsmith jointer the other day for quite a few passes. The cover works perfect on mine. As Norm Abrams said. Norm Abram: Before we get started I'd like to take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools PROPERLY will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this. There is no other more important safety rule... [Norm points to his glasses.] Norm Abram: ...than to wear THESE... safety glasses... [He holds up ear protectors] Norm Abram: ...and also HEARING protection when necessary.
Thank you for sharing your lesson with the rest of us. I am resurrecting an old Greenie jointer and because of your warning have ordered the upgraded guard. I had a serious sawmill accident when I was young and now rely mostly on hand tools. Occasionally I do need to use machines and try to be careful. As you know accidents do happen when we don't anticipate the potential hazards. As I am writing this it is causing me to think--is there a safer way I could accomplish the job I am thinking about?
It took a lot of courage for you to make this video - and you probably saved a lot of people a similar fate by doing it. Maybe 1000s of people. That's a big deal. My uncle was a master carpenter and woodworker with 45+ yrs experience - he also amputated his thumb, but it was by using a tablesaw sled with no guard on the back (business end) fence. He was tired, not paying attention, and had his thumb in the exact path of the blade. It only takes a micro-second for your life to change. When using power tools - the main thing is setting up jigs/fixtures/whatever so your hands are never anywhere near a cutter. When in my 20s I did lots of stupid things in the name of 'production'. Now... I don't care if it takes me two hours to set up for a single cut... that's what I'll do to keep my hands out of the spinning tool.
thanks for illustrating why I never joint anything except on a 90 deg angle. I feel for you, but enjoy your upbeat attitude about all this. Keep making sawdust!! Oh, you never should touch the guard!! (obviously you know) Shopsmith has a replacement upgrade guard BTW. I just bought one and it's great.
Wow I just realized how important my thumb is. I would have been terrified to use the machine again. There's a lot you did wrong, but we all make mistakes. I still have a mark from experiencing kick back on the table saw. Keep working and stay safe 👍 ...✊ Sorry
There is no “guide” on a jointer. The guiding force is applied from the top of the board straight down into the blade. You are supposed To transfer the force of downward pressure from the front first and then onto the back. That blade cover should not be touched or used as any sort of guide for the wood.
I'm really sorry that you had the problem you did. I expect you do not have the manual for the jointer or the Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone book to reference. I'd get both before you do anything else bad to yourself. A general rule is to NEVER take off more then 1/8" per pass. Second the fence tilts the other way for that type of cut...... Anyway PLEASE read this section of the online book that has to do with jointer operations: www.shopsmith.com/academy/jointers/index.htm If you happen to have other questions may I suggest the user forum here: www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/ It is free and a great place to get answers about your shopsmith.
Thanks for your comment- that makes a lot more sense to tilt the fence the other way for that cut- that would be much safer- clearly I did not know what I was doing. I will be much more careful in the future and take advantage of the forums. Thanks!
What you should have done first was repair your machine! The spring that is missing, which you pointed out, keeps tension on the mounting pin, not just on the wood. You should, also, have read the operating manual (can be found on the web. No excuse!) There are videos of how to use Shopsmith (and others) tools! I've never seen anyone feed wood through a jointer with one hand!! Don't blame the tool, blame the tool using it!!! I owned a Shopsmith Mark V with bandsaw, scrollsaw & jointer. I used my jointer a lot! I have all my digits. Knowing how to use AND MAINTAIN power tools is the key to safety! Improper maintenance & use with ANY tool can cut off a thumb, or worse! Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for you. SMH
I just came on looking for how to replace blades on joiner and saw this. I myself lost the tip of my pointing finger because I was careless. I just finished jointing 3/4"× 5/8" strips, pushed the last one out and dropped my finger in ... zip. Was scared for awhile, now really cautious. Thanks for you story. Wear protective clothing and plan your moves ahead of time.
I lost my middle finger the same way, The spring broke and the guard kicked back I thought my finger was pinched between the guard and fence but when I pulled it out the finger was gone down to the first knuckle, I have replace the guard with the upgraded one with a feather board attached....
So sorry this happened and thank you for video. I just purchased this Jointer and am now going through the original booklet and it there it states NEVER place your hand in the danger zone which you did. I’m now reading the safety manual a few times. Just found page with Safety Guard and is states “This is a spring-loaded guard which covers the cutter head. If you would like, I could copy a few pages of manual and forward to you if needed.
Use the guard, BUT fasten it on there properly. If it is fastened down it cannot come into contact with the blades. Running it completely without the guard is just asking for more trouble and possibly another missing digit or more.
So very sorry for you. I had a friend loose a thumb to a table saw. Every once in a while he’ll mutter “I guess you need a thumb for that “. Why are you still trying to jury rig that? Why not just get a working guard and use it as intended? That flying guard could easily have been another tragedy.
Thanks Andy, I'm glad there's not much I can't do without my thumb, luckily it was on my non-dominant hand. I don't intend to use this function again (or the table saw), but if I do I've learned how to properly use it.
Thanks Andy, I'm glad there's not much I can't do without my thumb, luckily it was on my non-dominant hand. I don't intend to use this function again (or the table saw), but if I do I've learned how to properly use it.
Fuck man sorry this happened to you. Idk if it is because I use a number of machines and I have had to teach myself how to use them or if it is my undiagnosed anxiety disorder but this shit really gets my stomach in knots. I watch lots and lots of safety vids but I think these help remind me to think about every operation and choice every single time I'm running one. Thanks bud
I've always been scared to set the jointer fence to a 45° (Or any °) angle because of what happened to you. Man, I'm sorry. Thanks for the PSA. I am getting an old Shopsmith from my Dad soon. I've thought about getting a jointer attachment, but after seeing this I think I will just opt for some stand alone unit with a better guard. Shopsmith's are really handy, but not particularly great at most operations.
Sorry u lost your thumb. Must have been quite traumatic and scary. And painful. One thing I ALWAYS remember with power tools is u cannot let yourself screw up. If u do it will probably be very bad. So I'm always extremely careful when using them and use all the safety stuff. And research everything I use so I know how to use it properly and what can go wrong. Thx for making this video. All this kind of stuff helps. Plus I have the same old jointer....
I've bought used tools and if they are missing the guards I order one. They are there for a reason. And I never put my hands in harms way, I have never pushed a piece of wood without a push stick, I have 5 of different shapes, with each one having a grip like a hand saw. As I always say, I came with 10 and I'm going with 10. Keep your other 9, USE push sticks.
My anxiety level skyrocketed as soon as you started trying to get it to kick back on you again. You would think the first lesson was learnt. Something else could easily cause injury trying to recreate it.
I own one of these. They sell a bunch of safety equipment for this and a better blade protector. please get the correct information before using any machinery.
Thank you. I really appreciate you putting this out there for us. I am buying one of these this week, with the jointer. It may be because you remind me of myself, but I'm definitely going to be nervous as hell using it, which isn't a bad thing, it means I'll be cautious. I have the same pants and the same flip flops that I wear every day, so maybe that's why you remind me of myself lol... It takes a lot of courage to put this out there for people. I just wanted to say thank you.
Awesome, you're exactly the sort of person I'm hoping to help. I didn't think it was possible to use these machines incorrectly- I was wrong. I hope you enjoy your machine and stay safe. Thanks for your comment, it's nice when I get comments that aren't just people calling me stupid. :)
@@cihamme I was up late thinking about this because I decided to watch before bed for some reason. It really got to me. I just keep thinking that something like this could easily happen to me if I'm not extremely careful. I'm sorry that happened to you. It's crazy how fast things can happen. How long ago was it between the accident and when you posted the video?
@@dragunov525 I think it was on February 10th so it had been a few months. I have been lucky in that it hasn't had much of an effect on my life- I have enough thumb that I can mostly still grab things and it's on my non-dominant hand. I think I'd take losing this amount of thumb over most anything else except maybe a little finger or toe... :) I have learned that I didn't cut off enough of my thumb to collect my insurance on amputated thumbs, but the little extra bit of thumb that disqualified me is worth more then the $1000 bucks I would have gotten. I'm still mad just on principle of it... Anyway, thanks again for your comments. Be careful out there.
Nah, I decided to just have one messed up hand, instead of missing toe and a toe on my hand... I was surprised that there aren't really any good prosthetic options, I don't think they'd be worth the trouble anyway. Losing both hands sounds rough, I'm sorry to hear that happened.
Thanks! I think there's enough dangerous features of this machine that I'll just go for something newer with better safety features, rather than cobble together something with upgrades.
@@cihamme Keep the Shopsmith, it is a really good drill press and horizontal boring machine, decent lathe, and amazing disk sander. I wouldn't use it as a table saw, or bother with any of the accessories though.
I feel sorry for you. You obviously have no idea how a jointer should work and how the safety guards should work. The guard should not come off and should have spring tension to hold it against the fence. You should keep your hands away from that area where the guard is located. You should use the proper push sticks and learn how to feed the wood through a jointer. To me this is operator error and not the fault of the shopsmith. Any tools are dangerous if improperly used. I demonstrated tools at woodworking shows and talked to people that lost fingers and hands and it was their fault 99% of the time. Get the manuals and make sure all the guards are in place properly and take some courses on wood working and shop safety. I’m 70 years old and still have all my fingers and hands. Please learn how to feed wood into every piece of equipment you own so you can be a safe Woodworker.
I agree with you on the spring, I did not know there should be one there. However, with the guard, the fact is that it does come off, even though it looks like it will not. That it's the flaw I'm warning people about. There was nothing missing from the design that would have held the guard in place.
If you use faulty equipment, you get faulty results and sometimes lost digits. I think what Ron is getting at and this is my reaction also: if the guard was not in proper working condition (which it was not), it is operator error to even have that machine plugged in. Every wood worker knows there are inherent dangers to operating equipment. As with firearms, it is always safety first. You can't blame broken equipment on your lack of expertise or awareness.
70 years old, but none the wiser? I'm sure you're aware that accidents happen to even the most experienced individuals. Don't rest on your time in. I hope for your sake it never happens to you. I recently lost only the tip of my finger (for the grace of God) on my jointer despite using it and many others for over ten years. Sh-- happens. You just hope it's not severe enough to put you out of the game when it happens to you. This here, wasn't solely a case of operator error, but a combination. Being that this machine was so old, however, should've prompted a little more careful inspection. I'm sorry he lost it. The Demonstration of the accident after the fact seemed way more careless. He could have gotten injured again, either from the cutterhead grabbing the stick, or from the guard flying off. Could've injured someone else in the process as well or caused damage. It was just unnecessary to the video and it made me cringe.
I loaned an air-driven staple gun to a friend who was (I guess, haphazardly) replacing some fence boards… Much to my amazement, he contacted me to tell me that he had stapled through a finger! Of course I was shocked to hear this because (to me) I don’t own a simpler tool! It was at that point that I decided that I would not loan anything other than simple hand-tools UNLESS I know the work practices and experience level of the person borrowing the tool! Definitely not loaning out my table saw!
I think it's great that you made a safety video to show how dangerous a power tool can be while wearing sandals. Also you had your own truck as a backstop for when the part goes flying. Excellent. As for those who think a jointer is the wrong tool to chamfer an edge, it is not. But the fence should be tilted the other way making an acute angle so the board doesn't slip away from the fence. Here is a good example video: ruclips.net/video/sHuSht2EtsU/видео.html
Damn man that sucks! I badly broke my middle finger and it is not the same. I can’t really bend it and it doesn’t straighten fully. You really don’t fully appreciate the use of all your digits until one goes bye-bye.
If you don't rebuild the spring tensioner you might as well run without it. Its a liability if not working right. Most guy wont admit making such a tragic mistake but I'm shure it helped someone.
Sorry- Im not buying that-- the guard isnt even attached, My thought is that you do not have the manual or any experience using equipment like this- hardly the equipment manufacturers fault.
Do you own one of these? The guard just has a pin that drops into a hole. It's not threaded and there's no hole for a pin to secure it. Maybe I'm missing something, but it sounds like you are assuming that they wouldn't have a poor design like that- well, I did that too and it cost me a thumb.
Do you own one of these? The guard just has a pin that drops into a hole. It's not threaded and there's no hole for a pin to secure it. Maybe I'm missing something, but it sounds like you are assuming that they wouldn't have a poor design like that- well, I did that too and it cost me a thumb.
You should not be using the shopsmith unless you take some safty trading on how to use the SS. You should always use all safty items and make sure they are operating correctly.
Sadly, If you do wood working long enough, things like this tend to happen. The one time I made a mistake was on my table saw. I was even trying to be safe and careful and I zigged when I should have zagged and it got my thumb. Cut it down the middle. Thankfully it didn't cut to the bone but as painful as it was you would have thought I lost my arm the way I was crying like a little girl in the ER. LOL My younger brother is missing one of his phalanges as well. Be safe out there gentlemen.
Alas, that's not the correct use the the jointer. The jointer blade guard -- even if the spring had been there -- is not a suitable stop (or fence) against which the angled long board should have been fed. For a bevel or chamfer, the use of a tilted blade (or tilted table in the case of the Shopsmith) should be preferred, or even better, use multiple passes with a chamfer bit with a router table -- with a fence and appropriate and push pads.
brother, buy a new guard or a $100 jointer. Safety is the most important part of any job my man. You are trying to make a $7 piece of trim with bad equipment and a low skill level and it cost you a thumb. The lesson you need to get is to get some training and guidance before tackling jobs you don't understand.
ouch! Hopefully, you are doing better. Suggest using a board on each side clamped to table on both sides of the cutting head. Yes, you need to use a push stick always. I would attach that guard in some manner too. Safety first you know the rest of the story.
I have no idea of how many revisions the jointer has gone through, but my ~83 jointer's guard definitely has a spring in it. Mine also fits firmly in the hole, I wonder if your jointer or the post has wear in it to allow that much movement. You should also be able to upgrade to the latest design, available at: www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/j_featherguardretro.htm
That's the point, the guard seems like it would stay in the hole but it doesn't. There only needs to be a small amount of play for the guard to hit the blade and get thrown out. There is no wear on my pin or the hole. There is a spring that is broken on the guard, but that had nothing to do with holding the guard in the hole or stopping me from pushing on the guard with my thumb.
Obviously either a VERY poor guard design or missing a hold down to keep it attached to the table both horizontally AND vertically with the pin secure in the table hole. I'm thinking that this could be a litigated legal issue?
For a split second I didn't comprehend what you meant & after watching "I want to respect those collective minds" who helped to made complete again and just curious, are you in northwestern states? Thanks
I think the reaching for the back of the board in order to push the whole board across the jointer is what caused the overloading of the brain and the brain, for a split second, stopped being in control of the other hand which was long enough to cause the accident....this of course has nothing to do with the old joke about not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time....it is a serious matter that us woodworkers have to deal with all the time when we are using our machines....
Early Shopsmiths are dangerous for the they did not have a lower saw blade guard and other guarding for the other 4 operations. A tool that does everything compromises each operation. Sorry you lost your thumb. A have an old Montgomery Wards Powr Kraft shopsmith but, I only use the table saw and I bought a lower blade guard. I gentleman that I work with was cutting wood & turned the saw power off & reached to grab the piece of scrap wood while the blade was still turning. His hand was thrown over the blade and he lost (2) fingers. It happen so fast too! Be safe wood working.
I want to know did you finish the gate. I Hope you didn't let a little cut stop you from building that day. For heavens sake you still had 9 fingers left. Look at the bright side you will never have to trim that nail again. :)
PS - I think a small jointer is the most dangerous tool in a wood shop. I don't use them anymore. I edge-joint for glue-up with a really good blade on my tablesaw, or with a router table, after cutting the parallel edge with a track saw. I flatten boards using a sled and shims on a thickness planer. Little tiny jointers like the Shopsmith attachment are particularly heinous IMO. It's nowhere near stable enough, nowhere near long enough (Infeed or outfeed) , it's at totally the wrong height, and its small size encourages running short stock across it - that can be just as dangerous as unsupported long stock. There's no way to make it better - separate infeed/outfeed support is too difficult to set and keep at exactly the right height.... t's a terrible design and should be taken off the market IMO.
This is a faulty early design in the feather guard. The earlier models had no mechanism to secure the feather guard's pin down, preventing it from tipping. They seem to have changed their design to address this horrible flaw in later models. Even with the fence at an acute angle, apparently more appropriate for this particular task as others have pointed out, the flying guard might then ricochet back and hit the user. In any case, at 1m into the video chrisham shows the underside of the pin very clearly, a hexagonal smooth pin without any way to fix it in place to the table top. Now, it is possible the feather-guard pin or hole is worn a bit, allowing more tilt than a new one, but the later design, to fix the guard down, keeps the feather-guard base flush against the table-top, preventing tilt regardless. Again, this early design did not have that capability (short of, say, tapping and threading the pin yourself). This is a valuable video, and a reminder that one is always taking a risk with such tools, that tools may be flawed in their design, whether new or old, and that older tools are often worse in that regard. Thank you for posting it.
Ya, good, but this is a later design and it is up to the user to insure safety. In this case the Jointer should not have been used until it was in proper working condition. Not to mention basic knowledge of how to operate the machine and safety measures to take. There is also an upgraded blade guard which not only protects your hands, but puts pressure against the work piece. I have had my upgraded guard since 1997. SAFETY FIRST @@cihamme
The guard should not move that much, side to side yes but other than that no. Yes it should have some sort of spring and yes it should have something that holds it tightly to the surface, not too tight that it won't move side to side but tight enough it will not wiggle.
Thanks for your comment, it has been addressed in earlier comments. You are right- the guard should have something to hold it in place- but in this particular design it does not.
Dropping that board on the jointer and running it the wrong way 🤔. Read up on jointer safety before your injured again. Also when shaping wood like that a router/shaper is a much safer option.
It looks like you are missing some parts there that spring and how the guard attaches. Seems like using the shop smith safety tools would also be a good idea maybe invest in safety before you use it again...
No parts missing- the spring is broken, but that doesn't attach the guard to the machine. This part, by design, has no way of attaching the guard to the machine, it basically relies on gravity... I will upgrade to a dafe machine before I do any more jointing. Thanks!
Such a sad HARD lesson to learn. Thank you for this video. ANY powered machine will NEVER say excuse me. So sorry for your horrible experience. Please be careful. Shop Smith's are GREAT machines but CAN be dangerous .... Obviously. Take care.
Sorry about your thumb bro. A lot of guys I work with have missing limbs/digits from working at the cannery (fishing town), and they still manage a steady workflow, I'm sure you'll do the same. And all the comments about using safety features properly and crap, they're cancer. I've worked construction, wood working, metal working, logging, and mechanical work, removing safety guards from 85% of my tooling, haven't had a problem in 17 years. Every close call I've had has been with other guys tools, which ironically, all had safety guards. Safety guards are freakin' deadly man! Just my 0.02 tho. Best of wishes!
Thanks- I'm certain I'll be fine without my thumb. I'm not sure I would remove safety guards, but I do agree that one should not trust them. I think the best approach would be to keep them on, but use the machine in a way that would keep you safe even if the safety features weren't there.
Two issues here. First, this poor jointer is in serious need of repair and proper care. Secondly, you didn't realize this because you have no idea how to use a jointer. I have been using that same model jointer for ten years. When cared for and used propeely, it is perfectly safe. The Shopsmith isn't at fault here. You are.
The guard isnt that great. But even then, you learn to go over the guard and not on top of it. Putting the side pressure on the peace of wood next to the guard is always the saver option. To bad for your thumb i hope it doesnt hold you back
Agreed, I hope to help prevent others from making the same mistake I did. Thanks for your comment, I'm doing just fine without my thumb. It was a year ago last Saturday...
My dad had his entire right hand crushed when a valvehead they were sitting down had the chains snap, the boss of the crew had a lot of clout and got a doctor to put his entire hand back together but about 1/3 of his ring finger didn't quite make it
Very sorry you got hurt- But why did you attempt this with a faulty guard? Did you think that's how Shopsmith designed it? Please fix it before you get hurt again.
The broken spring isn't what caused the problem, the fact that the guard can be pushed into the blade was the problem, and that IS how Shopsmith designed it. I think they should have markings on the guard that tell you not to put your hand on it or design the guard so that it can't be pushed into the blade.
I am sorry to hear about your accident but truthfully you did about 10 things wrong that nobody running a jointer would ever do. Your infeed is set way too low giving a huge gap between the cutter & table. A jointer is typically set up at 90 degrees and left there, nobody uses it for cutting a miter on the edge when you have a perfectly good tablesaw. Nobody uses the guard as a mechanism to keep the wood against the fence. That fence seems a bit short and your guard has so much slop w/ the pin that it's dangerous plus no return spring. 4in jointer exist but nobody uses them, a 6in dedicated jointer would be entry level and that garbage multi machine is just a waste of garage space. This may sound harsh but you literally did everything wrong. I would sell that machine for a few hundred bucks and be done w/ it.
i applaud you for posting this as I'm sure you knew you would get lots of snarky comments. Shouldnt there be a spring on the guard? I cut the ends of two fingers off cutting dovetails. sewd back on, they still work but they look kind of funny.
Hey Chrisham. I would definitely take some classes on the use of woodworking equipment. The only time you should ever forcefully push down on a board while running a jointer is with a grip block and even then you might be asking for trouble if you are using a weak grip block and you hit a knot without sufficient forward and downward pressure to keep it from kicking back/out on you. The whole video made me cringe from you explaining what you did to lose your thumb and then finally recreating it by doing it again. Imagine if someone or someone’s pet had wandered and gotten hit by that flying piece of guard shrapnel. Also, look up kickback events on a tablesaw. Considering what you were doing with the jointer, I worry about you injuring yourself even more when using the shopsmith tablesaw. Looks like you bought an old used one and that thing needs a good once over to make sure everything is in alignment. ALSO, considering you are using what I would consider outdated versions of the shopsmith, you are missing a lot of safety implementations of the most current shopsmiths. You can’t blame a safety mechanism that is outdated and no longer recommended or sold by the manufacturer. In the end, it comes down to knowledge, have a VERY healthy respect for anything that is sharp and spins faster than the eye can see. I am happy to see that you were continuing with your woodworking endeavor but please retrofit that thing with the latest safety equipment!
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hi. I just bought one of these jointers to use with my shopsmith. I want to thank you for making this video. it's invaluable to anyone taking up woodworking who doesn't understand just how dangerous it can be. It takes a lot of courage to make a video like this after such a tramatic accident. I really admire your character and kindness. I'm also happy to see how well you use your left hand without a full thumb. probably just as capable as I am with a full thumb. :) thanks again and God bless.
Thanks! I'm glad this was helpful to you. It was definitely scary getting back out there and using it. I finished building my gate but I will probably avoid using that jointer anymore- or the table saw, that seems really dangerous too. I'm planning to just use it as a drill press from now on. Anyway, thanks for the nice comment and be safe!
@@cihamme Really video is really helpful even if you made mistakes perhaps by doing this video you could save someone like myself or anybody new to wood working . Im thinking about buying a jointer and and now im going to be extra careful bc of you .
I actually feel bad giving this video a thumbs up
was expecting clickbait... now I'm disappointed :o/
Me to
Why its a proper how to ^ ^
Uhhhggggg.... Good one tho'.
🤣
I have an identical jointer I use on a Shopsmith Power Stand. These machines, like all Shopsmith machines (I own lots of Shopsmith machinery) were built very well; almost like army tanks! Looking at my own jointer before writing this, the guard is attached with a washer and hex nut from the underside of the infeed table. The shaft is then has tension applied with a spring until it springs back firmly against the guide fence. This jointer I purchased was used from a qualified woodworking pro and the first thing I did was snap the guard open and closed many many times! If by any means it was sticking or not doing what it was supposed to do, I would have turned it down unless the seller and I could refurbish and repair it to the manufacturer specs on the spot. I also made sure there was a hinged guard on the rear of the cutterhead attached to the guide fence so it covers the cutterhead when the guide fence is in the furthest forward postion (normally for doing rabbit cuts which the table saw is a better tool to do that operation). Also checked for cracks, chips and worn out parts so this machine would be a workhorse in the shop and be worth every penny spent without spending any more pennies on it right off the bat. One thing to always remember, do not use any machine without a guard. It is an arguing point to most DIY hobbyists and even some of the pros, especially with table saws, who do this for a living but it is very very important if you want to keep all your "digits" to always use the guards and safety equipment each and every time and each and every cut. On table saws for example, even when you are cutting dados and rabbits with a dadohead cutter, you should always use a guard. There are plenty of guard upgrades out there which fit practically every manufacturer of table saw, old or new, industrial or consumer grade, so you can rip, crosscut, miter, bevel, dado, rabbit, mold and shape without sacrificing safety by using the guard. It is a much smaller price to pay then hospital bills, trust me. Anyway, back to the jointer...some things to always keep in mind. Always make light cuts no matter the hardness of the wood. Use 1/32" to 1/16" tops for any kind of milling on the jointer. Sure it take longer to achieve the final result but it will lessen the chances of losing control of the board. Joint wood 18" or longer, not any less than 3" wide and at least not any less than 3/8" thick Narrower, shorter or thinner wood with either get away from you or blow apart injuring you if not seriously within a split second! Do not joint anything other than solid wood! Any kind of sheet material such as plywood will blow apart and injure you in less than a second! When face jointing (board on the flat) always use pushblocks; two of them. A push block and push stick are also acceptable but the friction push blocks are much better to control your stock. Also, your left hand or any hands for that matter should never be over or within 6 inches from the guard face or cutterhead on either side of the machine unless on top of a push block when pushing it through. That is how lacerations happen when this paramount safety rule is ignored! When pushing the board through, the left hand with the push block will eventually as the board is getting longer on the outfeed side, bridge across (staying away from guard and cutterhead) and rest with the push block on the outfeed side to continue to hold the board flat and against the guide fence. Do this each and every time you pass the board through for flat face jointing. When edge jointing, use the same techniques as face jointing however, if the piece of wood is at least 1/3 of the fence taller (extends 1/3 above the top of the fence) then you can use your hands to push it through but again, keeping your hand 6 inches or more above the guard and cutterhead. Keep your left hand palm up and use a light finger pressure on the upper third of the board when pushing it through keeping it solid to the fence. The right hand will guide the board from the extreme top edge, do not grip the board like a pistol or have any finger or thumbs on the back end of the board. Doing so puts you in danger of injury should the board be compromised during the operation. To bevel and rabbit boards, use a table saw with a dado cutter and an appropriate guard. This is a much better machine for this operation than a jointer. Jointers should only be used to straighten out face defects and to true up edges. Stay safe and I hope these tips help!
Thanks for all the great guidance, I appreciate it. I will add that my guard pin is not threaded, so a nut cannot hold it in place. It's just hex stock that drops into a hex hole. Definitely a safety improvement to have that design with a nut, make sure you have it!
Very brave of you to make the video documenting your serious injury. You learned your lesson the hard way. Hopefully others will take notice and make sure they understand the importance of power tool safety. Good luck, and be safe.
Best to use the proper tools for the job you're trying to accomplish. A table saw, shaper, or even a router would have been a better choice for this cut. Additionally, the rear fence should have been tilted 45° towards the FRONT of the machine thereby reducing the exposure of the blades and reducing the risk of the board slipping away. Sorry about your terrible injury/accident, and a hearty THANK YOU FOR SHARING in hopes of someone else not getting injured!
Yes! You are correct about the proper way to use this machine, that would certainly have saved me a thumb. I had planned to use a router, but I thought this was a more appropriate tool- wrong again. Thanks for your helpful comments!
Chrisham I just found your video. Sorry to say your loss was operator error. That guard has a spring, AND a locking nut, to secure the guard to the jointer. You must have bought this unit used. Check an owners manual! ORDER THE PARTS, AND FIX the guard!
To some of the folks below, I just checked my jointer and it does not have a nut to hold the guard on. It just sits in the hole. After seeing this video this morning, I retrofitted my guard (same as yours) to now bolt on. I have the luxury of owning a metal lathe so I took the hexagonal post off the guard, faced the bottom of it and drilled and tapped at 1/4 inch hole in the bottom. Then put a 1/4 machine screw through the bottom to bolt the guard to the table. Im quite happy with it now. Thank you for sharing your misfortune for the rest of us to learn from. Also, Doug Reid is right in saying always tilt the fence in, not out.
Thanks! I'm glad to hear you retrofit your machine.
Man, I appreciate the video so I and others can learn. One thing I have to say is that if you have to touch a guard there is something wrong. They are there to protect from slips but even then they may not fully protect you. Even a properly installed guard may not help. Look at a table saw guard, a person is still able to push fingers under it in an extreme situation. You had to hold the guard because it was faulty but you actually could have run the machine with no guard and have been safer by keeping hands way back.
Another thing is you did the whole video with the machine plugged in. If you ever worked in a job that was safety conscience that would be 3 day suspension for the first offense and fired on the second. Not piling on but hoping someone can learn. Safety First.
Thanks for your comments, I appreciate that you took the time to think about this and have a reasonable and helpful response.
I remove the guard off of everything I buy. I found they can get you into more trouble because they tend to get in the way and you end up having to adapt as this gentleman did and bad things happen.
For anyone watching this a jointer should only be used to flatten and edge the boards. Even though you can cut angels on them, just for safety reason like this please don’t use a jointer for anything but flatting and edging a board. Use the table saw to cut the angles.
Thanks Ray, many people have said "you weren't even using it for the right job", but no one has actually elaborated. Thanks for your comments, I hope they help people!
This video lives in my head rent free and I think about this this every time I use a power tool
Thank you for sharing this with us. Could not have been easy reliving that again and again.
either get the guard fixed or remove it and don't put your hand anywhere near the blades. I have a 13" jointer from China and there is no guard on it. It might have been scary in the beginning but I have become used to it. I still don't put my hand near the blade and never over it without using a good push block.
Agreed, I would have been better off with no guard. I'm not sure it's good that you have 'become used to' not having a guard- I would try to stay scared.
hard lesson in shop(smith) safety. >_< The "push stick" solution for your guard is gonna get you in trouble again with this machine Chris. Get a replacement for your guard or repair it correctly but please oh please don't use that jointer again till you do. You can do the same edge on that board with your table saw or router !
You have a great attitude about your injury and I appreciate the warning on this.. especially as I have one of those !!!
I think this highlights that a person needs to be fully aware of their power tools. Apparently your tool was purchased used and did not receive proper maintenance. Tools need to be understood and maintained. This design is not limited to ShopSmith and blame cannot be levied on them. There is a great deal of responsibility on the operator. I would not operate it until you have it repaired and in perfect operating condition.
I shaved a thin slice off the left side of my left fingertip with a machete cutting away garden twine one year. Hurt like a bumble. The nerve endings were sensitive for years but finally became normal. It happened when I was momentarily distracted by a loud "pop" from a fire that was behind me burning debris. It doesn't have to be a complicated machine like a Shopsmith, (I have three), to do lasting damage to your digits. In Heaven, you will have your thumb again. Blessings and Safety PS: You have a loving sister.
That looks like a mkv 500. I have the same jointer. The guard should have a tension spring. Turn the top knob and then set into the hex hole. And never ever on any powertool put your hands on the guard. Very sorry that you lost a thumb. Good to hear you're optimistic.
Man, that hurts just thinking about it and I'm so sorry to hear that you suffered this injury. Sounds like you've already received the advice about tilting the fence inward when beveling, which BTW is common to all jointers. It not only makes the process safer but the v-block that is created actually traps the board tightly between the table and the fence. I wholeheartedly endorse the "new and improved" feather guard, which Shopsmith introduced back around 1990. They actually introduced several another retrofittable improvements to this jointer that might have minimized your injury. One is a larger diameter cutter head and larger blade wedges which prevent the tool from taking such a large cut. They also added guards to the back side of the fence that covers the back side of the cutter head when the fence is mounted close to the front edge of the bed. Be safe and pleae look into some of those retrofits. Scott
Also, the "guard" that you mention at 6:30 is the fence, not a guard. It is designed to be moved for wider (thicker) boards, but also to allow you to use the entire width of the blade over time to spread out the wear. You should be able to safely use the jointer regardless of where the fence is located.
I've had 1 major scare with a table saw. 2 seconds after i applied bandaging to my finger, i bought a better push block and installed all safety gear. i don't have enough fingers to keep taking risks
Be sure to read the current literature of your tools and bring the safety equipment they have improved on over the last 70 years up to date on them. Shopsmith provides a Jointer Retrofit kit for old Jointers Like the one pictured, and a new featherboard (which is bolted in place), which brings them up to today's standards. Know your tools, and the safety issues with especially old ones. Thanks for the hard lesson, and I wish you well.
Thank you, great advice!
Thanks for this important PSA.
I do feel for you Chris. I am also thankful to see that this incident has not kept you from using your shop equipment. I do, however, hope that you will not use the jointer again until you have repaired or replaced the blade guard and purchased a couple push blocks.
After that later demonstration of "what not to do" you should probably inspect the blades for damage. They obviously came in contact with the guard.
I see what you mean ....with the guard giving a false sense of protection. Thanks for the video! It's a great reminder for myself and others to always stay alert and respect the tool you're using.
Thanks for making this video. You open yourself up to everyone telling you how dumb you were for various reasons (which of course you already knew). But you are putting up with it to try to help other people. Who knows how many thumbs you saved by being a humble guy who cares about other people.
Thanks for your comment, that's really nice of you to say. You are correct that there are a lot of people with nothing very valuable to add to the discussion, but there have also been good people- thanks for being one of them!
thank you for painful sharing. I feel sorry for that finger.
You are a great guy , because you want to make sure others to learn.
And I learned.
I am inheriting a Shopsmith and trying to learn how to use it.
Your clip was the most important one, Thank you again.
Greetings and best wishes from North California.
I'm glad this was helpful to you- thanks for taking the time to let me know, I appreciate it. Enjoy your Shopsmith and be safe!
I taught Shopsmith woodworking for many years, and have seen the results of a few (really not many) accidents. Since that can really put a damper on things, I started asking, "Was it the tools fault, or were you doing something wrong?"
100% of the time, the answer was, "Oh, I was doing things wrong...actually I was pretty stupid." Folks, read and understand your manuals, use the guards, know how to use the tool...you were doing none of these. I am not unsympathetic, but when you get hurt, it hurts other people, too...the school that wants to offer a shop class, the kid who wants to learn woodworking, the man or woman who wants to buy a tool...anyone who loves woodworking. Shopsmith offers excellent videos on using their tools safely.
Actually, I WAS using the guard. It was designed badly- if I hadn't used it I would have just kept my hand away from there and would still have my thumb. I would argue that a badly designed safety device is worse than none at all. I trusted (and admittedly misused) the guard and lost my thumb.
Hi again, Chrisham; It will not surprise you to hear me say I disagree. To me, that is like buying an old car and learning on the trip home that it has no brakes. The operator has the responsibility to know how to safely use the product. As Mr. Toolhunter says, the manual says clearly to tilt the fence in, not out. What you are doing terrifies me. Please get and install the right safety gear, and read the manuals.(If you don't have the "Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone" often called the Shopsmith bible, , let me know and I will send you one.I'll even autograph It :))
I sincerely wish you many years of happy and safe woodworking!
I don't disagree with you, I certainly hold some responsibility for my own safety. After all, it is not like this machine just came out of nowhere and attacked me. However, using your analogy, it's more like I bought an old car, checked the brakes by pushing on them gently, started driving, and the when I pushed hard enough on the brakes they detach from the vehicle as a design flaw, not because they were old or damaged. If tilting the fence out is so dangerous and it should never be done, then it should not be an option for operating this machine.
I didn't it look at it as him attacking you, just offering a point of view. The blade guard isn't made to be used how you're using it. And, as you mentioned, it should have a spring and a nut to hold it down (mine does and looks to be the same style/age (older). This is less about a Shop Smith design and more about jointers in general. Great video and highlights the hazards present when using ANY jointer.
I have to agree with Doug on the safety aspect.
I disagree on the issue of poor design. I've owned an older model Shopsmith (built in 1955) for many years. My jointer is much older than yours, and it came with the spring and the locknut. As soon as I bought my machine with jointer (used) in 1988, I called Shopsmith for owner's manuals and "Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone." I also ordered a few new parts to replace worn and missing ones. I've never had a problem with any of my Shopsmith equipment other than wear from age.
Not trying to bash you--you've certainly suffered enough. Just hope you're able to learn from this and do the necessary repairs to your Shopsmith so it can be used safely. Please consider building a jig and also using push sticks/blocks when jointing. Take care.
You learned a good lesson about understanding the proper use of tools and equipment - luckily without too bad an injury. Get instruction from local folks who have experience or otherwise be very cautious until you understand the tool you are working with - best wishes!
Thanks for your comment- I shudder to think that I could have been pushing with four fingers instead of my thumb. Losing a thumb on my non-dominant hand hasn't been as bad as I might have thought- not that I would recommend it... I will certainly trust that I can use a machine safely if I am just *trying* to be safe.
Ran my shopsmith jointer the other day for quite a few passes. The cover works perfect on mine. As Norm Abrams said.
Norm Abram: Before we get started I'd like to take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools PROPERLY will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this. There is no other more important safety rule...
[Norm points to his glasses.]
Norm Abram: ...than to wear THESE... safety glasses...
[He holds up ear protectors]
Norm Abram: ...and also HEARING protection when necessary.
Thank you for sharing your lesson with the rest of us. I am resurrecting an old Greenie jointer and because of your warning have ordered the upgraded guard. I had a serious sawmill accident when I was young and now rely mostly on hand tools. Occasionally I do need to use machines and try to be careful. As you know accidents do happen when we don't anticipate the potential hazards. As I am writing this it is causing me to think--is there a safer way I could accomplish the job I am thinking about?
It took a lot of courage for you to make this video - and you probably saved a lot of people a similar fate by doing it. Maybe 1000s of people. That's a big deal. My uncle was a master carpenter and woodworker with 45+ yrs experience - he also amputated his thumb, but it was by using a tablesaw sled with no guard on the back (business end) fence. He was tired, not paying attention, and had his thumb in the exact path of the blade. It only takes a micro-second for your life to change. When using power tools - the main thing is setting up jigs/fixtures/whatever so your hands are never anywhere near a cutter. When in my 20s I did lots of stupid things in the name of 'production'. Now... I don't care if it takes me two hours to set up for a single cut... that's what I'll do to keep my hands out of the spinning tool.
thanks for illustrating why I never joint anything except on a 90 deg angle. I feel for you, but enjoy your upbeat attitude about all this. Keep making sawdust!! Oh, you never should touch the guard!! (obviously you know) Shopsmith has a replacement upgrade guard BTW. I just bought one and it's great.
Wow I just realized how important my thumb is. I would have been terrified to use the machine again. There's a lot you did wrong, but we all make mistakes. I still have a mark from experiencing kick back on the table saw. Keep working and stay safe 👍
...✊ Sorry
😁 It depends on the thumb, my right thumb would have been a much bigger deal. There's not much I can't do...
There is no “guide” on a jointer. The guiding force is applied from the top of the board straight down into the blade. You are supposed To transfer the force of downward pressure from the front first and then onto the back. That blade cover should not be touched or used as any sort of guide for the wood.
Well said,
I'm really sorry that you had the problem you did.
I expect you do not have the manual for the jointer or the Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone book to reference. I'd get both before you do anything else bad to yourself.
A general rule is to NEVER take off more then 1/8" per pass. Second the fence tilts the other way for that type of cut...... Anyway PLEASE read this section of the online book that has to do with jointer operations:
www.shopsmith.com/academy/jointers/index.htm
If you happen to have other questions may I suggest the user forum here:
www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/
It is free and a great place to get answers about your shopsmith.
Thanks for your comment- that makes a lot more sense to tilt the fence the other way for that cut- that would be much safer- clearly I did not know what I was doing. I will be much more careful in the future and take advantage of the forums. Thanks!
What you should have done first was repair your machine! The spring that is missing, which you pointed out, keeps tension on the mounting pin, not just on the wood. You should, also, have read the operating manual (can be found on the web. No excuse!) There are videos of how to use Shopsmith (and others) tools! I've never seen anyone feed wood through a jointer with one hand!! Don't blame the tool, blame the tool using it!!! I owned a Shopsmith Mark V with bandsaw, scrollsaw & jointer. I used my jointer a lot! I have all my digits. Knowing how to use AND MAINTAIN power tools is the key to safety! Improper maintenance & use with ANY tool can cut off a thumb, or worse! Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for you. SMH
I just came on looking for how to replace blades on joiner and saw this. I myself lost the tip of my pointing finger because I was careless. I just finished jointing 3/4"× 5/8" strips, pushed the last one out and dropped my finger in ... zip. Was scared for awhile, now really cautious. Thanks for you story.
Wear protective clothing and plan your moves ahead of time.
Please unplug the machine when touching the blades or reenacting
I lost my middle finger the same way, The spring broke and the guard kicked back I thought my finger was pinched between the guard and fence but when I pulled it out the finger was gone down to the first knuckle, I have replace the guard with the upgraded one with a feather board attached....
@ekul Z when the guard kicked back I was pushing it back over the table when my finger got caught
Also you can get a proper guard from shopsmith cheap
So sorry this happened and thank you for video. I just purchased this Jointer and am now going through the original booklet and it there it states NEVER place your hand in the danger zone which you did. I’m now reading the safety manual a few times. Just found page with Safety Guard and is states “This is a spring-loaded guard which covers the cutter head. If you would like, I could copy a few pages of manual and forward to you if needed.
Use the guard, BUT fasten it on there properly. If it is fastened down it cannot come into contact with the blades. Running it completely without the guard is just asking for more trouble and possibly another missing digit or more.
One of the points of this video is that, by design, there is no way to attach the guard to the machine. I wanted to warn people about this issue.
Always keep tools in good repair. $2 spring for a thumb! Under no circumstance does a hand come close to knives. Use proper feeding technique.
So very sorry for you. I had a friend loose a thumb to a table saw. Every once in a while he’ll mutter “I guess you need a thumb for that “. Why are you still trying to jury rig that? Why not just get a working guard and use it as intended? That flying guard could easily have been another tragedy.
Thanks Andy, I'm glad there's not much I can't do without my thumb, luckily it was on my non-dominant hand. I don't intend to use this function again (or the table saw), but if I do I've learned how to properly use it.
Thanks Andy, I'm glad there's not much I can't do without my thumb, luckily it was on my non-dominant hand. I don't intend to use this function again (or the table saw), but if I do I've learned how to properly use it.
Why wasn't the guard attached to the jointer properly? Can't blame the machine for improper use.
There is no way to attach it- no threads, no pin, no nut. It's a bad design.
Refer to part 59 "514272 Guard Stud...$4.18" www.shopsmith.com/service/jointer/jointer_diagram.htm
Fuck man sorry this happened to you. Idk if it is because I use a number of machines and I have had to teach myself how to use them or if it is my undiagnosed anxiety disorder but this shit really gets my stomach in knots. I watch lots and lots of safety vids but I think these help remind me to think about every operation and choice every single time I'm running one. Thanks bud
I've always been scared to set the jointer fence to a 45° (Or any °) angle because of what happened to you. Man, I'm sorry. Thanks for the PSA. I am getting an old Shopsmith from my Dad soon. I've thought about getting a jointer attachment, but after seeing this I think I will just opt for some stand alone unit with a better guard. Shopsmith's are really handy, but not particularly great at most operations.
Sorry u lost your thumb. Must have been quite traumatic and scary. And painful. One thing I ALWAYS remember with power tools is u cannot let yourself screw up. If u do it will probably be very bad. So I'm always extremely careful when using them and use all the safety stuff. And research everything I use so I know how to use it properly and what can go wrong. Thx for making this video. All this kind of stuff helps. Plus I have the same old jointer....
Thanks Ed! Good advice.
And you still don’t have the spring on the guard. 🤔
I've bought used tools and if they are missing the guards I order one. They are there for a reason. And I never put my hands in harms way, I have never pushed a piece of wood without a push stick, I have 5 of different shapes, with each one having a grip like a hand saw. As I always say, I came with 10 and I'm going with 10. Keep your other 9, USE push sticks.
My anxiety level skyrocketed as soon as you started trying to get it to kick back on you again. You would think the first lesson was learnt. Something else could easily cause injury trying to recreate it.
I own one of these. They sell a bunch of safety equipment for this and a better blade protector. please get the correct information before using any machinery.
SO in order of it to be safe you have to buy a bunch of additional equipment for the machine?
Thank you. I really appreciate you putting this out there for us.
I am buying one of these this week, with the jointer. It may be because you remind me of myself, but I'm definitely going to be nervous as hell using it, which isn't a bad thing, it means I'll be cautious. I have the same pants and the same flip flops that I wear every day, so maybe that's why you remind me of myself lol...
It takes a lot of courage to put this out there for people. I just wanted to say thank you.
Awesome, you're exactly the sort of person I'm hoping to help. I didn't think it was possible to use these machines incorrectly- I was wrong. I hope you enjoy your machine and stay safe. Thanks for your comment, it's nice when I get comments that aren't just people calling me stupid. :)
@@cihamme I was up late thinking about this because I decided to watch before bed for some reason. It really got to me. I just keep thinking that something like this could easily happen to me if I'm not extremely careful. I'm sorry that happened to you. It's crazy how fast things can happen. How long ago was it between the accident and when you posted the video?
@@dragunov525 I think it was on February 10th so it had been a few months. I have been lucky in that it hasn't had much of an effect on my life- I have enough thumb that I can mostly still grab things and it's on my non-dominant hand. I think I'd take losing this amount of thumb over most anything else except maybe a little finger or toe... :) I have learned that I didn't cut off enough of my thumb to collect my insurance on amputated thumbs, but the little extra bit of thumb that disqualified me is worth more then the $1000 bucks I would have gotten. I'm still mad just on principle of it... Anyway, thanks again for your comments. Be careful out there.
Are you getting any kind of surgery to replace the thumb? My uncle cut both hands off and they replaced his thumbs with his toes.
Nah, I decided to just have one messed up hand, instead of missing toe and a toe on my hand... I was surprised that there aren't really any good prosthetic options, I don't think they'd be worth the trouble anyway. Losing both hands sounds rough, I'm sorry to hear that happened.
@@cihamme im sorry for your accident too. you seem to have a pretty bad ass attitude
Wow! Sorry to learn of your accident, but this is a great public service message. Nice work.
sorry for your injury just looked up the upgrade part as of 12/30/2017 it's about $70 and part of the new guard is that it is a feather board
Thanks! I think there's enough dangerous features of this machine that I'll just go for something newer with better safety features, rather than cobble together something with upgrades.
@@cihamme Keep the Shopsmith, it is a really good drill press and horizontal boring machine, decent lathe, and amazing disk sander. I wouldn't use it as a table saw, or bother with any of the accessories though.
I feel sorry for you. You obviously have no idea how a jointer should work and how the safety guards should work. The guard should not come off and should have spring tension to hold it against the fence. You should keep your hands away from that area where the guard is located. You should use the proper push sticks and learn how to feed the wood through a jointer. To me this is operator error and not the fault of the shopsmith. Any tools are dangerous if improperly used. I demonstrated tools at woodworking shows and talked to people that lost fingers and hands and it was their fault 99% of the time. Get the manuals and make sure all the guards are in place properly and take some courses on wood working and shop safety. I’m 70 years old and still have all my fingers and hands. Please learn how to feed wood into every piece of equipment you own so you can be a safe Woodworker.
I agree with you on the spring, I did not know there should be one there. However, with the guard, the fact is that it does come off, even though it looks like it will not. That it's the flaw I'm warning people about. There was nothing missing from the design that would have held the guard in place.
I'd also add that the guard should not be able to contact the blade under any circumstances, but it obviously does.
If you use faulty equipment, you get faulty results and sometimes lost digits. I think what Ron is getting at and this is my reaction also: if the guard was not in proper working condition (which it was not), it is operator error to even have that machine plugged in. Every wood worker knows there are inherent dangers to operating equipment. As with firearms, it is always safety first. You can't blame broken equipment on your lack of expertise or awareness.
70 years old, but none the wiser? I'm sure you're aware that accidents happen to even the most experienced individuals. Don't rest on your time in. I hope for your sake it never happens to you. I recently lost only the tip of my finger (for the grace of God) on my jointer despite using it and many others for over ten years. Sh-- happens. You just hope it's not severe enough to put you out of the game when it happens to you. This here, wasn't solely a case of operator error, but a combination. Being that this machine was so old, however, should've prompted a little more careful inspection. I'm sorry he lost it. The Demonstration of the accident after the fact seemed way more careless. He could have gotten injured again, either from the cutterhead grabbing the stick, or from the guard flying off. Could've injured someone else in the process as well or caused damage. It was just unnecessary to the video and it made me cringe.
I loaned an air-driven staple gun to a friend who was (I guess, haphazardly) replacing some fence boards… Much to my amazement, he contacted me to tell me that he had stapled through a finger! Of course I was shocked to hear this because (to me) I don’t own a simpler tool! It was at that point that I decided that I would not loan anything other than simple hand-tools UNLESS I know the work practices and experience level of the person borrowing the tool! Definitely not loaning out my table saw!
No matter what type of machine you’re using you never should have your hand near the cutter. Use push blocks or push sticks. Sorry about your injury.
I think it's great that you made a safety video to show how dangerous a power tool can be while wearing sandals. Also you had your own truck as a backstop for when the part goes flying. Excellent. As for those who think a jointer is the wrong tool to chamfer an edge, it is not. But the fence should be tilted the other way making an acute angle so the board doesn't slip away from the fence. Here is a good example video:
ruclips.net/video/sHuSht2EtsU/видео.html
Damn man that sucks! I badly broke my middle finger and it is not the same. I can’t really bend it and it doesn’t straighten fully. You really don’t fully appreciate the use of all your digits until one goes bye-bye.
If you don't rebuild the spring tensioner you might as well run without it. Its a liability if not working right. Most guy wont admit making such a tragic mistake but I'm shure it helped someone.
Sorry- Im not buying that-- the guard isnt even attached, My thought is that you do not have the manual or any experience using equipment like this- hardly the equipment manufacturers fault.
Do you own one of these? The guard just has a pin that drops into a hole. It's not threaded and there's no hole for a pin to secure it. Maybe I'm missing something, but it sounds like you are assuming that they wouldn't have a poor design like that- well, I did that too and it cost me a thumb.
Do you own one of these? The guard just has a pin that drops into a hole. It's not threaded and there's no hole for a pin to secure it. Maybe I'm missing something, but it sounds like you are assuming that they wouldn't have a poor design like that- well, I did that too and it cost me a thumb.
You should not be using the shopsmith unless you take some safty trading on how to use the SS. You should always use all safty items and make sure they are operating correctly.
Sadly, If you do wood working long enough, things like this tend to happen. The one time I made a mistake was on my table saw. I was even trying to be safe and careful and I zigged when I should have zagged and it got my thumb. Cut it down the middle. Thankfully it didn't cut to the bone but as painful as it was you would have thought I lost my arm the way I was crying like a little girl in the ER. LOL
My younger brother is missing one of his phalanges as well.
Be safe out there gentlemen.
Alas, that's not the correct use the the jointer. The jointer blade guard -- even if the spring had been there -- is not a suitable stop (or fence) against which the angled long board should have been fed. For a bevel or chamfer, the use of a tilted blade (or tilted table in the case of the Shopsmith) should be preferred, or even better, use multiple passes with a chamfer bit with a router table -- with a fence and appropriate and push pads.
Lesson learned for me. Thanks
brother, buy a new guard or a $100 jointer. Safety is the most important part of any job my man. You are trying to make a $7 piece of trim with bad equipment and a low skill level and it cost you a thumb. The lesson you need to get is to get some training and guidance before tackling jobs you don't understand.
ouch! Hopefully, you are doing better. Suggest using a board on each side clamped to table on both sides of the cutting head. Yes, you need to use a push stick always. I would attach that guard in some manner too. Safety first you know the rest of the story.
I have no idea of how many revisions the jointer has gone through, but my ~83 jointer's guard definitely has a spring in it. Mine also fits firmly in the hole, I wonder if your jointer or the post has wear in it to allow that much movement. You should also be able to upgrade to the latest design, available at: www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/j_featherguardretro.htm
That's the point, the guard seems like it would stay in the hole but it doesn't. There only needs to be a small amount of play for the guard to hit the blade and get thrown out. There is no wear on my pin or the hole. There is a spring that is broken on the guard, but that had nothing to do with holding the guard in the hole or stopping me from pushing on the guard with my thumb.
As they say, the Shopsmith was built before they invented safety.
Obviously either a VERY poor guard design or missing a hold down to keep it attached to the table both horizontally AND vertically with the pin secure in the table hole.
I'm thinking that this could be a litigated legal issue?
For a split second I didn't comprehend what you meant & after watching "I want to respect those collective minds" who helped to made complete again and just curious, are you in northwestern states? Thanks
The southwest, actually. Thanks for watching.
I think the reaching for the back of the board in order to push the whole board across the jointer is what caused the overloading of the brain and the brain, for a split second, stopped being in control of the other hand which was long enough to cause the accident....this of course has nothing to do with the old joke about not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time....it is a serious matter that us woodworkers have to deal with all the time when we are using our machines....
Early Shopsmiths are dangerous for the they did not have a lower saw blade guard and other guarding for the other 4 operations.
A tool that does everything compromises each operation. Sorry you lost your thumb.
A have an old Montgomery Wards Powr Kraft shopsmith but, I only use the table saw and I bought a lower blade guard.
I gentleman that I work with was cutting wood & turned the saw power off & reached to grab the piece of scrap wood while the blade was still turning. His hand was thrown over the blade and he lost (2) fingers. It happen so fast too! Be safe wood working.
It was likely a lot easier to catch the blade the first time, before the corner of the guard was chopped off giving it more clearance.
Yes, and it looked like it had caught several times, probably less severely, for the previous users...
Please use a feather board for such thin stock.
I want to know did you finish the gate. I Hope you didn't let a little cut stop you from building that day. For heavens sake you still had 9 fingers left. Look at the bright side you will never have to trim that nail again. :)
I did finish it, though I waited a couple months. It turned out really well, almost worth a thumb... 😉
PS - I think a small jointer is the most dangerous tool in a wood shop. I don't use them anymore. I edge-joint for glue-up with a really good blade on my tablesaw, or with a router table, after cutting the parallel edge with a track saw. I flatten boards using a sled and shims on a thickness planer. Little tiny jointers like the Shopsmith attachment are particularly heinous IMO. It's nowhere near stable enough, nowhere near long enough (Infeed or outfeed) , it's at totally the wrong height, and its small size encourages running short stock across it - that can be just as dangerous as unsupported long stock. There's no way to make it better - separate infeed/outfeed support is too difficult to set and keep at exactly the right height.... t's a terrible design and should be taken off the market IMO.
Thanks so much for your helpful input, I hope this has saved some people from injury.
Does it make you feel queasy sticking your thumb in that hole?
Also, are you selling that thing now, and will you give me a good price, lol
This is a faulty early design in the feather guard. The earlier models had no mechanism to secure the feather guard's pin down, preventing it from tipping. They seem to have changed their design to address this horrible flaw in later models. Even with the fence at an acute angle, apparently more appropriate for this particular task as others have pointed out, the flying guard might then ricochet back and hit the user. In any case, at 1m into the video chrisham shows the underside of the pin very clearly, a hexagonal smooth pin without any way to fix it in place to the table top. Now, it is possible the feather-guard pin or hole is worn a bit, allowing more tilt than a new one, but the later design, to fix the guard down, keeps the feather-guard base flush against the table-top, preventing tilt regardless. Again, this early design did not have that capability (short of, say, tapping and threading the pin yourself). This is a valuable video, and a reminder that one is always taking a risk with such tools, that tools may be flawed in their design, whether new or old, and that older tools are often worse in that regard. Thank you for posting it.
Jaggz - that's a very helpful and informative comment, thank you for taking the time to post.
Ya, good, but this is a later design and it is up to the user to insure safety. In this case the Jointer should not have been used until it was in proper working condition. Not to mention basic knowledge of how to operate the machine and safety measures to take. There is also an upgraded blade guard which not only protects your hands, but puts pressure against the work piece. I have had my upgraded guard since 1997. SAFETY FIRST @@cihamme
I'm sorry you had the accident and lost your thumb. You need to fix the guard and use push pads to keep your fingers away from cutter planer knives.
The guard should not move that much, side to side yes but other than that no. Yes it should have some sort of spring and yes it should have something that holds it tightly to the surface, not too tight that it won't move side to side but tight enough it will not wiggle.
Thanks for your comment, it has been addressed in earlier comments. You are right- the guard should have something to hold it in place- but in this particular design it does not.
Dropping that board on the jointer and running it the wrong way 🤔. Read up on jointer safety before your injured again. Also when shaping wood like that a router/shaper is a much safer option.
I could never figure out how anyone could jointer a bevel without an angled block sandwiching the work piece. Hands never go near a blade.
My guard is bolted on. Glad more of your hand or fingers didn't get sucked in.
It looks like you are missing some parts there that spring and how the guard attaches. Seems like using the shop smith safety tools would also be a good idea maybe invest in safety before you use it again...
No parts missing- the spring is broken, but that doesn't attach the guard to the machine. This part, by design, has no way of attaching the guard to the machine, it basically relies on gravity... I will upgrade to a dafe machine before I do any more jointing. Thanks!
Such a sad HARD lesson to learn. Thank you for this video. ANY powered machine will NEVER say excuse me. So sorry for your horrible experience. Please be careful. Shop Smith's are GREAT machines but CAN be dangerous .... Obviously. Take care.
Sorry about your thumb bro. A lot of guys I work with have missing limbs/digits from working at the cannery (fishing town), and they still manage a steady workflow, I'm sure you'll do the same. And all the comments about using safety features properly and crap, they're cancer. I've worked construction, wood working, metal working, logging, and mechanical work, removing safety guards from 85% of my tooling, haven't had a problem in 17 years. Every close call I've had has been with other guys tools, which ironically, all had safety guards. Safety guards are freakin' deadly man! Just my 0.02 tho. Best of wishes!
Thanks- I'm certain I'll be fine without my thumb. I'm not sure I would remove safety guards, but I do agree that one should not trust them. I think the best approach would be to keep them on, but use the machine in a way that would keep you safe even if the safety features weren't there.
chrisham That's reasonable!
Two issues here. First, this poor jointer is in serious need of repair and proper care. Secondly, you didn't realize this because you have no idea how to use a jointer. I have been using that same model jointer for ten years. When cared for and used propeely, it is perfectly safe. The Shopsmith isn't at fault here. You are.
The guard isnt that great. But even then, you learn to go over the guard and not on top of it. Putting the side pressure on the peace of wood next to the guard is always the saver option. To bad for your thumb i hope it doesnt hold you back
Agreed, I hope to help prevent others from making the same mistake I did. Thanks for your comment, I'm doing just fine without my thumb. It was a year ago last Saturday...
My dad had his entire right hand crushed when a valvehead they were sitting down had the chains snap, the boss of the crew had a lot of clout and got a doctor to put his entire hand back together but about 1/3 of his ring finger didn't quite make it
Shouldn't that be in fiths.
Very sorry you got hurt- But why did you attempt this with a faulty guard? Did you think that's how Shopsmith designed it? Please fix it before you get hurt again.
The broken spring isn't what caused the problem, the fact that the guard can be pushed into the blade was the problem, and that IS how Shopsmith designed it. I think they should have markings on the guard that tell you not to put your hand on it or design the guard so that it can't be pushed into the blade.
Never put pressure towards any blade. Never.
thank you for the video, sorry that this happened to you but I will learn from your mistake
The parts illustration shows an attachment nut and washer - I do not own one.
Moral of the story: Don't use janky broken tools. I'm going to have to google this "shop smith" monstrosity.
I am sorry to hear about your accident but truthfully you did about 10 things wrong that nobody running a jointer would ever do. Your infeed is set way too low giving a huge gap between the cutter & table. A jointer is typically set up at 90 degrees and left there, nobody uses it for cutting a miter on the edge when you have a perfectly good tablesaw. Nobody uses the guard as a mechanism to keep the wood against the fence. That fence seems a bit short and your guard has so much slop w/ the pin that it's dangerous plus no return spring. 4in jointer exist but nobody uses them, a 6in dedicated jointer would be entry level and that garbage multi machine is just a waste of garage space. This may sound harsh but you literally did everything wrong. I would sell that machine for a few hundred bucks and be done w/ it.
i applaud you for posting this as I'm sure you knew you would get lots of snarky comments. Shouldnt there be a spring on the guard? I cut the ends of two fingers off cutting dovetails. sewd back on, they still work but they look kind of funny.
Hey Chrisham. I would definitely take some classes on the use of woodworking equipment. The only time you should ever forcefully push down on a board while running a jointer is with a grip block and even then you might be asking for trouble if you are using a weak grip block and you hit a knot without sufficient forward and downward pressure to keep it from kicking back/out on you. The whole video made me cringe from you explaining what you did to lose your thumb and then finally recreating it by doing it again. Imagine if someone or someone’s pet had wandered and gotten hit by that flying piece of guard shrapnel. Also, look up kickback events on a tablesaw. Considering what you were doing with the jointer, I worry about you injuring yourself even more when using the shopsmith tablesaw. Looks like you bought an old used one and that thing needs a good once over to make sure everything is in alignment. ALSO, considering you are using what I would consider outdated versions of the shopsmith, you are missing a lot of safety implementations of the most current shopsmiths. You can’t blame a safety mechanism that is outdated and no longer recommended or sold by the manufacturer. In the end, it comes down to knowledge, have a VERY healthy respect for anything that is sharp and spins faster than the eye can see. I am happy to see that you were continuing with your woodworking endeavor but please retrofit that thing with the latest safety equipment!
For the love of God, buy a new guard before you use that again.
Thanks, I don't plan to use this machine for anything but a drill press. I'll buy a new machine if I ever need a jointer again.