Dummy of the year award

[merlin7]

Started out Saturday morning with a new project and mounted a new blade (FD #5), one of my favorite blades. I was having a rough time cutting as the blade just seemed to wander where ever it wanted to go, I couldn't stay in the lines, couldn't make corners very well, and if that wasn't enough, the blade seemed to be dull, After about 30 minutes, ( I can be stuborn), I decided to change the blade. As I was removing the old blade for some reason I ran my thumb across it. Guess what? I had it upside down. Put it back in correctly and finished the project with the same blade and no more problems. I just mentiion this as I figure it should quallify foer some type of award. After all, I've been cutting for almost two years now and shouldn't have made this basic mistake, should of I?

[Hawaiilad]

Don't feel bad Merle, we all have done it...for 30 minutes..not sure about that long. Try using some of the really small blade Mike sells. I have a very hard time telling what end is up on those.

[campasano]

Merle, don't feel bad because I should get the same award, only I did it on my table saw. I changed the blade to a thin blade to make some clean cuts on a project I was making. I was cutting 3/4" stock and found that the blade was not cutting but was causing tear out on the piece. I tried another piece of wood and this time the blade threw the wood back at me, luckily I was standing to the side of the table and the board flew by me. I looked at the blade and guess what, yes I put it in backward, now I should know better as I have been using table saws for over 50 years. I was lucky this time......Mike

[f250]

Of course you should have made this mistake, it gives all the rest of us something to laugh at

No, for real mistakes are going to happen. It all depends on everythign else going on around you and your distraction level at the time. We all pull bonehead moves, you just took your turn now.

Tom

[greatdane2]

We all make mistakes, some of us every day. The trick is to use safe methods ALL the time so these tools don't take off a finger or worse. A couple of hours making a jig to make a safe cut is a lot less than trying to make a jig so you can use the same tools with a few missing fingers or worse.

Alan.

[Barefoot1]

Been there and done that and yes I felt pretty lame.

[azbison]

When I get a new shipment of blades from Mike, I take a moment and lay them all flat and mark the top with a sharpie. That way when I grab a blade, I know which end is up and it's no argument.

[minowevie]

Mearle, like every one said, we have all done it. and dang sometimes you just can't tell witch way the blade is . using a revers blade helps me. for there is a little space between it and the other teeth. but mmmm still do it and often. as a matter of fact. I was using my chain saw to cut some branches off are deasert bird of paradise bushs. and they are so hard to cut, that it took me forever to cut them.I was thinking Gosh, I just sharpened this dang blade, what ,,, am I loosing my touch hear. maybe it is my bit in my drimmal. haha. nope, I had the blade turned around backwards. and who knows what damadg I did to that blade. I turned it around, and it cut just fine, exsept the debt was differant, so redid the whole thing. I wish I could say I learned from this, butttttt nope . did it again the very next time I sharpend the blade. the thing is, I am more used to using a skill saw, and the blade cuts,up, pulling the wood into the saw. and the chain saw cuts down,does this make sence. anyway. at least when I do it again, it doesn't take me so long to realize i goofed. hehe. like Dain says, we make mistakes, we are not mistakes. just humon. your friend Evie

[jigsue]

Because of lots of other commitments, there are times when I am away from the saw for weeks at a time. (like now, when I have been sailing, had family stay and organised and performed at a maritime festival). This week I shall, hopefully, get back in there and I will virtually have forgotten how everything works.

I always try a new blade on a piece of scrap first, sometimes you get the odd duff blade and other times it is because of the duff operator (me), but I do this rather than spoil a piece of decent wood or a decent cut.

Happily, it all comes back reasonably quickly - at least it has done to date - there have been one or two occasions, when I have had to refer to the manual and I have been sawing for 13 years and using this saw for about ten!!!

Sue

[sawdustus]

Been there, done that. Doesn't make me feel less stupid. As a bumper sticker I saw yesterday said;

To err is human.
To forgive is divine.
Neither is policy in the Marine Corps.

sawdustus