Freehand curve cut on a tablesaw?

[Jeff Duncan]

Sometimes in life you have to understand that there are people who know more than you do. Of course it could be dangerous trying that cut if you don't know what your doing, then again many of the things we do everyday are dangerous if you don't know what your doing. Tom can make that cut safely as can many of us, doesn't mean everyone should try it. There are plenty of things I do in the shop that I don't let the help do, simply because they're too dangerous. Some people just have a "feel" for how things work and can perform things that the average person cannot. I don't think I could just hop into an Indy car and drive 180 mph, and I'm smart enough to know it without them having to put warnings on the TV telling me not to try it. Personally I'm not a fan of the "nanny state", where we try to protect everyone from everything that could possibly be dangerous. If you find something too dangerous, don't try it! If your not smart enough to know you can't do it then that's natures way of "thinning the herd" Just don't assume because it scares you, that the rest of us shouldn't get to see it.

that's my vent, and I feel better now
JeffD

[Dan Hahr]

I'm gonna go try that just for the fun of it.
Dan

[Brian W Smith]

Don't need to watch the vid.Free handing and TS's show a serious lapse in either judgment or best practices WRT equipment.

I reckon if a tradesman never has to play by OSHA rules it's OK?If your shop isn't insured,then anything goes?

[sebastian phillips]

The most important "safety device" is your brain. Don't do anything you don't understand, and plan ahead.
That being said, there are plenty of installers who cut freehand on job-site saws every day. I do, been doing it 30 years, and I can count to ten.
I've even coped chair rail in a pinch with a tablesaw-gives a perfect backcut, quick.
Before you label these practices "dangerous", let me ask you, "who runs a guard on a chainsaw"???
Nobody, that's who. Safety with a chain saw depends on the skill and forethought of the operator. Same with any tool.
I also remove guards on circular saws. Why, because inevitably they hang up when cutting compound bevels like jack rafters or mitered stringers.
I can focus on the cut, and not worry about holding the guard open with the free hand-safer.
The only 3 accidents I know about with circular saws all were on machines with guards. Two had guards that failed when the running saw was set on the floor, and the saw ran up a foot. The other incident involved a carpenter trying to hold the guard open while cutting a small jack rafter-he didn't have a good grip on the saw, and sawed across his off hand.
Think for yourself, think ahead, understand what you are doing, don't imitate anyone without completely understanding.

[peter gagliardi]

Sometimes in life you have to understand that there are people who know more than you do. Of course it could be dangerous trying that cut if you don't know what your doing, then again many of the things we do everyday are dangerous if you don't know what your doing. Tom can make that cut safely as can many of us, doesn't mean everyone should try it. There are plenty of things I do in the shop that I don't let the help do, simply because they're too dangerous. Some people just have a "feel" for how things work and can perform things that the average person cannot. I don't think I could just hop into an Indy car and drive 180 mph, and I'm smart enough to know it without them having to put warnings on the TV telling me not to try it. Personally I'm not a fan of the "nanny state", where we try to protect everyone from everything that could possibly be dangerous. If you find something too dangerous, don't try it! If your not smart enough to know you can't do it then that's natures way of "thinning the herd" Just don't assume because it scares you, that the rest of us shouldn't get to see it.

that's my vent, and I feel better now
JeffD

Jeff, I don't see that as a vent at all. One of the best posts I've read. Pretty much how I see it. I haven't watched the video, but from the description, I have probably done literally miles of the same thing.
Just like Martin said- standard operating procedure.
I also rough cope most of my hardwood crown and other moldings onsite freehand with a jobsite tablesaw. It is simply using a tool to a fuller extent than most are comfortable with, or know how to.
Yes, there is another level of danger AND skill to do these right.