I live in Florida, which means I’m close to the Central Florida mountain range… the Florida Alps. You heard that right. The three tallest peaks? Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.
While I have been to the land of the Mouse, I have one other tourist destination that I like a whole lot more… the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex. Did you really expect anything different from me? There is where real history was made. Whether it was Alan Shepherd’s first Mercury flight, the Apollo 11 mission to land on the Moon or the Space Shuttle boosting into orbit to build the International Space Station, many of our country’s crowning achievements started right here in the Sunshine State.
What impressed me the most – whether it’s standing under the massive Saturn V rocket or next to the miniature Mercury capsule – is how much safety played a part in the missions. Yes, you are basically putting people on top of a controlled explosion. The weight of the Saturn V rocket at launch time was nearly 92% fuel or explosives. So, to rate these launch systems for human use, NASA had to perform extensive tests to ensure that multiply-redundant systems were in place. And, when shortcuts were taken, we saw the tragedy that resulted.
Accuracy is also a huge concern. Just getting Gemini 6 and 7 to rendezvous in orbit took incredible calculations (in a day with very underpowered computers) and linking up with the Hubble Space Telescope to service the delicate instrument took incredible skill and dexterity.
When it comes to woodworking, safety and accuracy are no less important. When you are investing a lot of your hard-earned money in high quality wood for great projects, you want to get the best cuts, and you want to ensure that your hobby won’t leave you injured.
That’s why I am very happy to announce today that I am partnering with another Florida based company that believes strongly in accuracy and safety – MicroJig. This company is the brains behind such ubiquitous products as the GRR-Ripper push block system, the MJ Splitter system and MircoDial tapering jig.
After speaking with Bruce Wang from the company on several occasions, I have come away thoroughly impressed with the company’s laser-sharp focus on both safety and accuracy. I have been a loyal user of their products for years, and I have got to tell you that they have gotten great results. As with many woodworkers, I’m probably only scratching the surface of what’s possible with these guides. For instance, I know that I can use them to help me joint using my table saw – something I do on a regular basis without a powered jointer in my shop.
As I discover more about these tools, I will share what I learn with you. If it helps you get more safety and accuracy in your shop, that’s a win for all of us.
There are plenty of places you can find MicroJig products online, and now you can pick them up at your local Lowe’s home improvement centers, making it easy to get your hands on these suckers for your shop.
But, let’s start things off right – on this coming Monday – October 20 – I will be giving away a GRR-RIPPER 100 to three separate winners. Basically, here’s how you enter:
Tell me what safety and accuracy means to you in your shop. No, you don’t have to write War and Peace – just give me what those words mean to you. I will have my simian friend Iggy read the entries and choose the best ones. Just post them in the comments below the article.
Now, let’s get out there and make some sawdust!
Safety means i keep my job and my other hobby. Work in IT and making music completely depend on keeping all ten digits intact. Im very aware of the risks that come with woodworking and operating some fierce machines doing that. Anything that helps make that safer is a very welcome addition to my toolbox.
Then there is time. Getting injured takes so much time away. Time not spend on family, work, and hobbies including woodworking. And theres always so much that needs doing, i cant afford to loose that time.
I really want to add the grripper to my set of safety equipment. The makeshift homemade izzy swan style tablesaw i use really scares the living daylights out of me. The fear keeps me very focused, true, but its not enough. I want to keep all ten.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway and providing good content. Cheers!
Congrats on the new partnership!
Safety in my shop means I’m in Less danger out there because I pay attention to what can potentially injure me. I use safety glasses, a face shield when turning, I try and keep my splitter/blade guard on the Tablesaw (doesn’t always happen…), I always use a shop made push shoe when ripping (so a Gripper would be a great addition to the arsenal), and last but not least, I wear a dust mask. I cannot eliminate all dangers, I can however minimize their potential.
Hm… What does safety mean… everything, of course, since without it, you will not be in your shop for long. Short enough, I hope, and thanks for hosting the contest as well as thanks to microjig for making it possible!
Being safe while woodworking means that I will be able to enjoy the hobby for many years. It also means I will be able to include my daughters in the hobby and hopefully pass it on to them.
safety to me means not cutting corners or taking chances and not rush your work. Accuracy means saving money by less Waist of materials, better looking projects, and less frustration during assembly.. And one of those Grippers would look nice sitting on my table saw 🙂
Safety to me means that I will have all 10 fingers, 2 eyes, 1 nose, and 2 ears ready to use to serve my wife and my son in my other full time job: being a husband and a dad! It’s also very important for me to pass safety knowledge on to my 4 yr old son when he’s down in the workshop working with me. He may not be the best ball thrower out there, but he sure knows that when he’s in daddy’s workshop, he has to have shoes on and walk directly to the hook that holds his ear and eye protectors before he does anything else. Some of the sweetest words ever heard for me are “Daddy, can I please drill some holes?”
Accuracy means that I don’t have to make extra cuts, wasting extra wood, which in my book, equals more time and money that could be spent elsewhere….mainly with my family!
Awesome blog Tom! Thank you so much!
Safety is always a number 1 priority! I’m always scanning the area for possible danger and making sure the work area is properly lit. I’m conscience of my hands at all times making sure that I recognize and control my hands to blade distance.
Congratulations Tom! That’s great news.
Safety and accuracy are paramount to me. The more efficiently I can achieve those two things, the more work I can get done. The GRR-Ripper push block lets me do things in the shop much more safely and quickly then alternate methods ever could. Love ’em!
Happy Monday to ya! Well, I teach wood shop in a small school, and this year we started a wood shop for juniors and seniors. I use all my own tools so far, and I put out the invitation to parents and friends for donations or long term borrowing haha. And so far the class is great, I’m even starting an afterschool wood shop program. Last month our school went through the accreditation process and safety was a number one priority in my class, and so far I have safety covered. I’m always on the hunt for anyway to make all procedures in woodworking as safe as needed for success and injury free. Thanks for having this contest and listening to our stories, peace and “safety” out. Best regards, Ted
Safety to me is tantamount to my wife having a husband, my daughter having a father, and me having a hobby in which I can de-stress from the rigors of everyday work. It is about my wife knowing that she and perhaps one day our daughter can visit the shop confidently with the knowledge of what to do, where to be, how to behave, etc. It is prudent for me to set the highest of examples so that my family can know that not only are these tools dangerous, but when properly respected and used correctly, can create wonderful pieces of craftsmanship.
What does safety mean to me? My fingers and more time building instead of going to the Emergency Room.
Safety and accuracy to me means being cautious of the power in the tools I am using. I also buy gear for my son so that he is safe.
Safety mean keeping all my fingers and being able to enjoy a normal life with my wife, kids and grand kids. Accuracy to me means my projects go together properly and look good
Safety means I keep my fingers( lungs and hearing too) and accuracy means I do good work.
Safety in my shop means more to learn! I am a begining wood worker and can’t get enough videos and articles about wood working safety. I have learned so much from sites like yours finding out better and correct techniques for things I have been doing wrong in my shop.
As far as accuracy, in my shop that is a goal that I often try but failt to achieve. Being a beginner I often find accuracy is lacking in many projects and not only do I learn a good lesson, but I get to learn how to hide or fix my mistake.
Safety means being able to hold, see, and hear my beautiful daughter after a day in the shop. Accuracy means being proud of my work. Together, they mean a hobby that lasts a lifetime and that, one day, I can share with my children, secure in the knowledge that they will be safe.
Safety and accuracy mean everything to me! As a luthier I require precision and fine tools. As a musician, I require ten fingers to be able to play the finished instrument. I found the Microjig online today and am fascinated by it’s design. It will be used in my shop for sure !
Safety means working smart and being on alert. It means not rushing though cuts. The Gripper will aid in both safety and accuracy. Keeping my hands as far away from the blade is always a plus.
The Gripper is on my wish list this year.
Congrats on teaming up with Micro-Jig.
Safety is to know the inherit risks associated with the tools used in the workshop and to understand the different types of defenses (guarding, positions, jigs, techniques) that can reduce the likelihood and severity of an injury.
Accuracy to me is the ability to produce a piece that matches the desired design that I set out to achieve.
Safety and accuracy are vitally important in my shop. As a father of 4 children, I need to be able to support them, so an injury would put that in jeopardy. I also like to have my 11 year old work with me in the shop, so I make sure all safety precautions are followed. Finally, I am a Webelos den leader and we try to do woodworking projects as often as possible. We recently build some wooden step stools. Having 5 10 year olds working in my shop can be a bit hectic. Ensuring their safety is my number 1 concern.
Accuracy is a bit different, though. Woodworking is simply a hobby of mine. I do not use it to supplement my income in any way. Therefore, I must be very careful with the material that I purchase for a project. I typically buy just enough to complete the project that I am working on. If I mess up on a cut, I may have to go purchase more wood. There are projects that I have had to put on hold until I got paid again so that I could go buy more wood. It can really stifle the momentum that you can build while doing a project.
Safety and accuracy, both should go together. Sometimes to get that perfect to the line cut you might be tempted to take off the glasses to see better, lift up that overarm dust guard to see the blade better, or remove the dust mask because it’s getting in the way. It’s important to know what’s really important, your safety. We need to remind ourselves to be safe first, and get used to being accurate with all the gear on. Then it becomes habit.
Safety to me not only means being able to use all my fingers and see with both of my eyes, it means being able to still give your 100% in my job, as a husband and as a father. It also is important to me to always demonstrate safety so that others can see it as the normal routine, the normal precautions so they can be safe. Practice what we preach.
I don’t have the Grripper but have always had it on my wishlist.