I’ll be upfront and say that this post will probably get me in trouble but it is something that has been on my mind for a bit. I view fine woodworking to be in a renaissance of sorts as more and more new people come to the craft. It is exciting and somewhat nostalgic as I answer emails from beginners and scratch my head wondering if I am really qualified enough to be giving advice. This influx of beginners and the inordinate amount of lawyers in the world has created a cadre of highly safety conscious woodworkers. More is written in the blogosphere about safety and the traditional print world is following along nicely too. I think it is great that so many people want to be safe, but I wonder what wisdom we are missing out on as we sidestep a technique or tip that might be viewed as unsafe and fear a call from a lawyer hired by an overly litigious and injured listener. It seems that idiots can ignore all safety measures, work a table saw, cut off a limb, and strike it rich just because manufacturers are afraid to call an idiot an idiot.
Meanwhile in the deep, dark underbelly of the woodworking world nestled in the dusty shops of crusty professionals who have been making furniture since before the Internet and personal computers dominated our existence, wizened professionals are making beautiful pieces using techniques that might make the information age neophyte cringe. Yet these professionals can count to ten using only their two hands.
“Don’t y’all do this” is something I have heard Charles Neil utter more than a few times as he engages in a somewhat risky cut on the table saw or a climb cut with a hand held router. “This is not the safest thing in the world, but it works” is another Neil gem. Professional advice born out of 30+ years of woodworking experience.
I have attended classes in professional’s shops and been enlightened by simple techniques for beautiful joinery only to be accompanied by the disclaimer, “don’t tell anyone I told you this because it might be viewed as unsafe”. Yet the technique yielded an incredible chip free tenon shoulder right off the table saw. Any of you who have been in one of these professional’s shop will know of what I speak.
So here is where I get in trouble: how can we get these nuggets of wisdom on the open market for all to enjoy? At what point do we recognize that woodworking is working with sharp things that can cause bodily harm and it is up to us, the woodworker, to be responsible and smart enough not to injure ourselves. If I get hurt, it is my own dumb fault and no one is to blame.
It is stunning to me that when I truly uncover a new method of doing something, it is usually just a slightly less safe way that creates better results than the tactics I am using currently. For instance, have you ever cut the last 32nd of an inch off your tenon shoulder by climb cutting on the table saw? It does a great job and leaves an immaculate shoulder. If done properly it really isn’t all that dangerous, but let’s face it climb cutting with a table saw is not the best idea when trying to make a through cut or remove more than a tiny amount of wood. I won’t divulge who taught me this (you know who you are) because the woodworking safety police might lock you up.
So fess up folks, what are you doing behind closed doors in your shop that yields great results and you are afraid to write or talk about for fear of condemnation. In my mind, everything in woodworking has an element of risk and it is up to the individual to determine how comfortable they are doing it. So what do you think, am I nuts to open this can of worms? I just feel there is a lot of wisdom out there going untapped because it might be unsafe.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Sarah // Aug 25, 2010 at 1:29 pm
It is very sad indeed that there is an entire generation, for which I am a part, that has lost a great deal of both life and professional skills by being coddled – the “everyone’s a winner” generation.
Hopefully, somewhere, there are shop teachers and grandparents passing on the skills of their craft behind closed doors without the need for a disclaimer – or else woodworking will never be the same.
2 Rob Bois // Aug 25, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I do occasionally break the rules, but try to adhere to only best practices in my blog and web casting. That being said woodworking is one area where there is very little black and white, so when the black and white world of litigation gets involved things get muddy. I know some of the greatest woodworkers in recent times (think Sam Maloof) rarely used the safe practices most people espouse. But Maloof was so seasoned, and knew the limitations of tools, materials, and his own skills so well something he could do safely and with ease would be very dangerous for most of us. I follow most of the rules, and in fact in most cases if I feel a power tool operation might be too dangerous, my first instinct is to use a hand tool instead.
The one power tool where I tend to break the most rules is on the band saw. That 3″ rule I have on every other tool goes out the window far too often. I often leave the guide bearings up too high on detailed cuts because it gives me much better visibility and control over the workpiece. and I’ve gotten quite adept at ripping rough sawn wood on that bad boy – another no-no. But the band saw is a very predictable tool with no danger of kickback so I feel my fate is entirely in my hands. Now that I’ve jinxed myself, I need to go sell my band saw.
3 PickeringMike // Aug 25, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Here here! You are so on the money. It’s not a matter of doing what you think is unsafe for your capabilities, but rather, the readers/viewers not knowing their own limitations or the limitations of the technique that’s being taught. When injury occurs, they blame the teacher because their inexperience prevents them from seeing where they went wrong.
4 Larry Marshall // Aug 25, 2010 at 4:38 pm
As you said in your opening remarks, “this will probably get me in trouble.” And you want us to come to the party (grin)?
You’re absolutely correct, Shannon. On the occasions when I’ve thought of moving from blog to podcast I’ve wondered about the liabilities of standing in front of a table saw and camera at the same time.
It’s not that I do dangerous things. It’s that I’ve seen so many neophytes take issue with actions taken by others simply because those neophytes don’t understand the tool themselves. Best example I can think of are people who warn against kickback when the pieces don’t even approach the back half of the blade.
No sir, life’s too short to deal with the lawyer-ridden, ‘we-aren’t-gonna-take-responsibility-for-our-actions’ universe that the US has become.
Of course, if you do see me in front of my table saw the blade guard has been removed for photographic purposes only.
Cheers — Larry
5 Rob Porcaro // Aug 25, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Good work, Shannon!
Woodworkers can convey this sort of information by stating, “This is what works well for me, with my skill level and experience, under my shop conditions, and for this particular job. Here are some of the benefits and risks involved with the procedure. It is up to you to decide what is the best procedure for you. Ask yourself, ‘Is this safe for me?’”
This is an honest, reasonably cautious approach that can help open the door for this kind of information and hopefully will keep the predatory lawyers away.
Rob
6 LizPf // Aug 25, 2010 at 8:15 pm
As a novice woodworker, I am very cautious about the techniques I try. I’ve lived … uh … many years with all my fingers, and I intend to keep them.
I do see a failure in teachers though — they tend to forget to say “this is an advanced technique. Don’t try this if you are a beginner.” Shannon said Charles Neil says this — but ALL teachers should be saying this, often.
Teachers (and I include bloggers) should also inform their students about the ability level of each project. While I know a bombe secretary is beyond my skill level, is a Shaker table? A spline-mitered box?
Third (and last for now), I would love to see more method comparisons. Pop Woodworking does this occasionally: Schwarz, Lang and Huey all do the same thing, in 3 different ways. I can see which way works best for my ability and tool set. I’d love to see lots more comparisons, so I can choose the method that works for me for many techniques.
7 Jeremy Kriewaldt // Aug 25, 2010 at 8:15 pm
In Australia, our High Court has re-inforced the message that in assessing whether someone is liable for negligence you have to take account of the fact that the other person should have proper regard for their own safety. Even in the States I understand that people can waive their rights where they have been informed that something is dangerous but they choose to go ahead (hence all the litigation about consent in medical cases).
So my suggestion is that we set up a website called – UnsafeWoodwork.com. At the home page every time you go there and every time you open a page is a pop up that says:
” The information you are about to read concerns a woodworking technique or practice which is considered by the poster of the information to be unsafe. By clicking OK you agree that you are solely responsible for your decision whether to use that technique or practice and any loss or damage that may arise from your attempt to use it (even if you do exactly what is described here. PS No-one here has any insurance that will answer to any claim that you might make.”
If people try to claim that someone owed a duty after all that – good luck to them!
8 Dan S. // Aug 25, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Jeremy,
I’m all for that, I’ll even right the code that makes the sight work.
I’ve often wondered if I should put a disclaimer on my blog, based on all the stuff I have read in forums over the years. The one that always gets me, are the people who know something is dangerous, but do it anyway, and then blame you when something goes wrong.
9 Ian Mackay // Aug 26, 2010 at 1:34 pm
We live in a safety pandemic. Kids wear helmets for just about everything, cars have more safety features in the sales brochures than any other features, playgrounds have soft rubbery ground surfaces….and get this, table saws detect flesh!!! How the heck am I going to butcher that deer I bagged in my bright orange flourescent hunting gear?
You’re absolutely right about the next generation losing out. I watch my 10 year old daughter and I can’t help but feel disillusioned at the amount of ‘regulation’ heaped on kids just so that they can ‘play’.
As this Ryobi/Sawstop issue clearly shows, the few are more than capable of ruining the fun for the vast majority.
I’ve done stupid things in the workshop that at very least taught me a lesson or two about respecting my tools. With all the focus on the legal side of safety issues we’re completing taking away personal accountability.
Where does this leave us? My take is that we will stagnate and possibly reverse progress. Most advances happen when someone is willing to break the rules and push limits at personal risk. Obviously not everyone should be doing this…but those who have enough experience to fully understand the ramifications of their actions are the ones capable of pushing the limits and finding the safest way to do something that was previously deemed crazy.
The world would be a much scarier place had no one sailed a ship out of sight of land, or no one dared to trust a machine to get airborne.
Ok, off soapbox.
10 danny // Aug 26, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I have been in health care for 12 years now. I can tell you without a doubt that a disclaimer, bullet point initial and signed disclaimer does not protect you from litigation. Disclaim all you want but there seems to be no limit to how stupid you can be and get paid for it.(see Congress et. al.)
11 ticovogt // Aug 27, 2010 at 11:01 am
I’ll call attention to users of Laguna tablesaws this issue. A year ago I purchased one of their new saws and in most respects it is very good, however, the on switch is placed such that my left upper thigh can contact it enough to turn it on, which happened while I was leaning against the front of the saw to install the riving knife.
There are design flaws like this that amaze me.
12 Jeroen // Aug 30, 2010 at 6:10 am
Well I’ll just say leave the USA and come to a more sensible place called Europe. Where, if you’ve messed up, its your own fault. And you can’t blame any one else but yourself.