Safety Tip: Foot Switch
My Sawstop table saw has a large paddle off-switch that I can hit with my hand or even my knee if something goes wrong.
I don't have this feature on my router table or my drill press and we all know things can go wrong in a hurry, especially on a router table.
So, both tools are connected to a foot switch. I step onto the switch to turn the router or drill press on. If I take my foot off the switch the tool stops.
If I have to "get out of Dodge" in a hurry, I know the tool is powering down. I don't have to fumble for a small out of the way power switch.
When I'm through using the drill or the router table, I turn the tool off using the tool's power switch. This way, I know that it's not going to power up if I accidentally step on the foot switch.
If I am changing router bits or drill bits or saw blades, I also pull the power cord out of the outlet.
Perhaps, I'm overly careful, but power tools are inherently dangerous and everyone should be respectful what they can do to flesh in microseconds.
William Douglas Lewis
Atlanta, GA
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