Safety Glasses - Oops!

[ArtMulder]

This is what happens when you're leaning over the TS to eyeball a cut and get it lined up just so with your pencil mark .... and your safety glasses fall off your face onto the blade.

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Here's where the blade impacted
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Hmm, pretty amazing that it didn't break into more parts. Bought these at LVT last year, as the older set were getting too scuffed up. Time to go shopping again.

The problem is that with my ear muffs on, the safety glasses don't sit as snug on my head as I'd like. If I really slip them behind the ears, then it breaks the seal of the ear muffs, which is quite noticeable. Maybe I should check out something like the ZEM units (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=53610&cat=1,42207)... Anyone tried out the electronic hearing protectors (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=49918&cat=1,42207)? How do you like them?

[IanW]

For my glasses, I made an elastic that goes between each earpiece/arm of the glasses. I used the stretchy elastic stuff that someone who sews would put in for a wasteband of pajama pants. Just sew a loop in each end (even I was able to do it with the sewing machine :) ).


Ian.

[Pete in Welland]

A short piece of surgical tubing between the 2 arms or you can buy sports restraints for a couple of $$ so the glasses wont fall off.

[Charles]

When I need eye protection I use a full clear face cover. Muffs fit easily over top and the cover lifts when you want to do something else before going back to the saw, and no fear of anything falling off or where did I put my glasses.

charlie

[aussie]

I've got such a fat head mine are quite snug!:tongue: I use the slip in hearing protectors I've used for years on shows and at the strip. Good enough to attenuate a T/F dragster, good enough for a table saw. I must remember to take them with me. Round 2 of the New Year drag series is on the first weekend I'm home. Like they say - gas is for washing parts, alcohol is for drinking, nitro is for racing!

[Glenn from Winnipeg]

Lucky you didn't try to grab them as they fell - that would have been my first (and last) reaction.

[ewjsmith]

Yikes! Luckily, it's only a pair glasses. I'm assuming the saw was running, correct? Now I'm not about to get on my soap box and preach - that ain't me - but I can't imagine leaning in over my saw blade while it's running. Hell that just scares the s**t out of me :shock:. Overcourse, I'm a bit over paranoid and start to think of all the really unlikely things that could happen - like for some unknown reason, blacking out while leaned in over and coming down on the blade myself. Chances of that happening are unlikely indeed but I'm just spooked by things like that (I must watch too much CSI).

Anyways, as for the glasses + ear muff issue + dust mask comfort issue - I find it's an ongoing battle to get that gear on and have it all feel right. Maybe I should start wearing my full face bike helmet :tongue:

[Dean]

Maybe I should check out something like the ZEM units (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=53610&cat=1,42207)... How do you like them?

I have a set of the ZEM protectors but don't use them very much. It isn't a question of comfort or effectiveness but I'm so used to the idea that sound has to be muffled in order to protect my hearing and I can't get my head around the idea that I can still hear well and yet be safe.
Maybe I'm just too old-school

[Dave J]

Anyone tried out the electronic hearing protectors (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=49918&cat=1,42207)? How do you like them?


I have a pair of the electronic hearing protectors from Lee Valley.

So far, I like them. I admit I did little prior research so I was slightly disappointed in how the noise attenution works (my fault).

I THOUGHT, as the catalog tells you, that sounds above a certain level (85 dB maybe?- I forget) are filtered out, while quieter sounds are still heard (such as background music, the wife calling you for dinner, etc). That is true- but what should be understood is that it's not BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. When a loud sound is "heard" by the unit, it almost instantly blocks ALL sound, including the wife. (I'll avoid the temptation to include the obvious joke at this point).

In other words, when I'm setting up the table saw with the protectors on, I hear everything (my music, the neighbours' @#$% dog barking, etc). However as soon as I start cutting, everything is blocked and I WON'T hear the dinner bell.

There is also a very short delay in the time for the protector's microphone to pick up the sound and send it to the speaker. For example, you set your wrench down on the table and then a split-second later you hear the "clink". It takes a little getting used to, but not a problem.

Overall, I'm happy with them.

[ArtMulder]

Dave, thanks for the mini-review of the electronic units. You've got some great detail there.

Lucky you didn't try to grab them as they fell - that would have been my first (and last) reaction.

Eeek!!! :shock:

Nope. I felt them slipping, realized it was too late, and focused on closing my eyes hard, and pulling my head back at the same time.

I'm assuming the saw was running, correct? Now I'm not about to get on my soap box and preach - that ain't me - but I can't imagine leaning in over my saw blade while it's running. Hell that just scares the s**t out of me

Hmmm, I try to be very safety conscious also. I've got all 10 fingers and plan to keep them!! But I lean over the blade pretty regularly. When crosscutting (with my sliding crosscut table) I sometimes just need to eyeball things closely to ensure I'm right at the pencil line. If the board is too long for a stop block, then how else can you cut it accurately to the pencil line. I suppose I could shut off the saw, line up the cut, and then turn it on and push it through. But if I've got several boards to cut... not likely.

I'm reminded of an older Kelley Mehler video where he advocated building in a lexan(?) safety screen onto your sliding crosscut jig over top of the blade. That might be something to consider.

...art

ps: ordered some new goggles from LVT on Sunday -- took advantage of the free shipping deal!