Circular saw safety.

[Khriss]

I haven't used it yet , but it looks a little scary.

It needs a new blade and belts , and I was trying to think of how to improve it.

If possible.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Arbtalk mobile app

 

Table needs extending an a remote cut-off fr the engine , best have the guard extended also , K

[agg221]

I have sort of inherited something similar (it technically belongs to Mum but I suspect she won't be using it!) Mine is a separate bench and engine, connected by a long flat belt. The engine is a 1949 Lister B and the bench is a Dennison, which has never had a guard and has not had a riving knife in living memory. It was used by woodsmen who worked my grandfather's land until the clean air act of 1956 when they abandoned it in the woods. It was dragged down the track out of the woods by my grandfather behind his Hillman Imp sometime in the 1960s while my grandmother was out shopping apparently as she was not going to be impressed (she wasn't) but was also not going to be able to do anything about it. It has been in use on and off ever since.

 

From experience:

Keep out of the line of the blade. This is done by pushing the wood through with both hands on the same side of the log and then using a push stick on the end near the blade when it gets to the last cut.

Keep a good set on the blade. These blades should properly be 'smithied' for tensioning and set. The skill still exists and it is well worth getting it done as they are then taught and not floppy which keeps them a lot safer to use.

Check for cracks on your blade and remember to file gullets as well as edges.

 

My grandfather lived to the age of 94 and still had all his fingers. The woodsmen, Dad, my uncle, various cousins and I, in fact all known users, still have all fingers, toes and no scars from the sawbench. Everyone has, however, always treated it with the greatest of respect and been well aware of the risks and taken care to avoid them.

 

Alec

[Pinkfoot]

I have sort of inherited something similar (it technically belongs to Mum but I suspect she won't be using it!) Mine is a separate bench and engine, connected by a long flat belt. The engine is a 1949 Lister B and the bench is a Dennison, which has never had a guard and has not had a riving knife in living memory. It was used by woodsmen who worked my grandfather's land until the clean air act of 1956 when they abandoned it in the woods. It was dragged down the track out of the woods by my grandfather behind his Hillman Imp sometime in the 1960s while my grandmother was out shopping apparently as she was not going to be impressed (she wasn't) but was also not going to be able to do anything about it. It has been in use on and off ever since.

 

From experience:

Keep out of the line of the blade. This is done by pushing the wood through with both hands on the same side of the log and then using a push stick on the end near the blade when it gets to the last cut.

Keep a good set on the blade. These blades should properly be 'smithied' for tensioning and set. The skill still exists and it is well worth getting it done as they are then taught and not floppy which keeps them a lot safer to use.

Check for cracks on your blade and remember to file gullets as well as edges.

 

My grandfather lived to the age of 94 and still had all his fingers. The woodsmen, Dad, my uncle, various cousins and I, in fact all known users, still have all fingers, toes and no scars from the sawbench. Everyone has, however, always treated it with the greatest of respect and been well aware of the risks and taken care to avoid them.

 

Alec

Lovely post there ,thank you.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Arbtalk mobile app

[Pinkfoot]

Table needs extending an a remote cut-off fr the engine , best have the guard extended also , K

I am right next door to a couple of fellas who could do that.

I shall put a new and bigger blade on it as it has plenty of room and used to have a big one .

 

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[pete23]

Nothing wrong with that saw bench, just idiots these days with no common sense!!

 

Most certainly don't scrap it, plenty of people out there who know how to use such tools.

 

Respect has a lot to do with it.

[Kevm]

I have sort of inherited something similar (it technically belongs to Mum but I suspect she won't be using it!) Mine is a separate bench and engine, connected by a long flat belt. The engine is a 1949 Lister B and the bench is a Dennison, which has never had a guard and has not had a riving knife in living memory. It was used by woodsmen who worked my grandfather's land until the clean air act of 1956 when they abandoned it in the woods. It was dragged down the track out of the woods by my grandfather behind his Hillman Imp sometime in the 1960s while my grandmother was out shopping apparently as she was not going to be impressed (she wasn't) but was also not going to be able to do anything about it. It has been in use on and off ever since.

 

I love the historical detail and would think a picture of a Hillman imp towing a sawbench would be priceless

[agg221]

I love the historical detail and would think a picture of a Hillman imp towing a sawbench would be priceless

 

No pictures I'm afraid. It was actually Mum's Dad it belonged to (the same one who let off all the WW2 ammunition in lieu of fireworks one bonfire night). Mum and Dad were dating at the time and Dad used to go over there on Saturdays. One Saturday he turned up to find Mum and my grandmother were out shopping. Granfer had obviously had this idea in his mind for some time and Dad didn't exactly feel he could say no, so the two of them went up into the woods, lashed it behind the car (no wheels on the bench or engine) and dragged it down the track. Dad's job was to stop the engine from falling over. They then set up the engine on bearers and lined up the bench, right outside the garage near the house, went indoors and had a cup of tea, which is where they were when Mum and my grandmother got home. I think at that point Mum and Dad got the impression it may be a good idea to leave for a while and let the inevitable 'conversation' take place!

 

I need to sort out the return fuel pipe from the carb on the engine but once it's done I have a pile of wood to cut - mostly apple from the orchard, so I'll take a photo of it working, probably sometime over the summer.

 

Alec

[Brushcutter]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis16.pdf

http://www.rdmengineering.co.uk/pdffiles/wis38.pdf

https://www.ukfisa.com/assets/files/safetyLibrary/FISA%20601%20Circular%20Saws.pdf

 

All of those are worth a look. At the moment as it stands it isn't in any way shape or form compliant with PUWER.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

PUWER only applies at WORK!

 

Same with H&S Act - the clue's in the name....

[Brushcutter]

PUWER only applies at WORK!

 

Same with H&S Act - the clue's in the name....

 

Thank you. I'm well aware of that.

 

I assumed it was for work. The OP hasn't specified if it's for work or not.