While we are on the subject of bandsaw safety, there are a couple other issues that everyone who uses these machines should be aware of. The upper blade guide should be adjusted before every cut, to ensure it is no more than 1/4-inch above the top surface of what's being cut. The upper blade guide normally has a guard that covers the blade above the work, and the saw should never be operated with this guard removed. By lowering the guide as much as possible, the upper part of the blade is covered to the maximum amount possible, providing a greater margin of safety for the operator. Another benefit of lowering the guide is that it gives the blade better support.
Of course, when sawing thick material, the guide may be several inches above the bandsaw table, and this leaves a lot of blade exposed. I make it a point to position my hands to the sides of the blade when bandsawing, never push work with your hands positioned directly in front of the blade. If the work slips, breaks, or if you lose your grip, your pushing action can force you right into the blade.
Another safety consideration comes into play when sawing round stock on the bandsaw. Any stock without a flat bottom must be supported in some way while being cut, otherwise the blade can snag in the work, and in this case the saw can cause the work to rotate, pulling your hands into the blade. This happens in the blink of an eye, and can have disastrous results. I often use a small drill-press vise to stabilize round stock while cutting on the bandsaw. It often works best if the vise is turned upside-down, which allows the entire piece of stock to be supported on the bandsaw table, as shown in the photo above
There is no way to make a bandsaw completely safe, so the operator must be acutely aware of these hazards, and keep their hands and body safely away from the danger area at all times.
This is a bandsaw being used...
This is a bandsaw being used in the friction cutting mode. Because of the shower of sparks created by this process, gloves are required, which adds additional safety concerns.
This shows how an upside-down...
This shows how an upside-down drill press vise can be used to prevent round stock from rotating when being cut on a bandsaw.
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