When I go to work, I always have the risk of being cited for having an unsafe tool. You see, I have an angle grinder with me that has no blade guard. And, well, according to some, that is unsafe.

But is it?

I think there is currently a bit of confusion amongst people about what makes a tool safe to use and what makes a tool look safe. A blade guard on an angle grinder makes the grinder look safe. And I have done my best to keep the blade guard there, but it always ends up in the way. There are times in the real world when you need to use the actual tool at its full capability. In other words, sometimes, the safety measure gets in the way.

But that is beside the point. The fact is, that particular tool is not actually safe. That’s one of the things that makes it an effective tool. It will rapidly cut what it touches.

That is different from not taking precautions. I knew a sheet-metal worker who refused to wear safety glasses. So, he would be using the grinder with his face as far from the work as possible, his eyes squinted and face turned away. What did he say about safety glasses? He said they gave you a false sense of security.

I don’t agree with that and wear safety glasses all day long. However, stuff still gets in my eyes. But there’s no denying the advantages of safety glasses, since they put a barrier on the straight path from work to eye.

I remember several years ago seeing a table saw that has a safety mechanism that stops the blade as soon as any skin touches it. That’s fantastic. Perhaps you’ve seen the demonstration where they touch the blade with a wiener and the blade stops, leaving only the slightest scratch on the hot dog. It’s excellent. And I’m sure it would stop some people from being cut (at least their wieners).

However, it could cause a false sense of security. There are still plenty of things a tablesaw can do to you without ever touching the blade.

If you go to my workshop, you will see no blade guard on the table saw. It’s still wrapped in plastic, actually, in its original box. I have never and will never put it on.

That is surely shocking to some. But I would like to propose that the normal blade guard that comes with a table saw is actually less safe than no blade guard at all. How is that possible? Well, they are transparent but that characteristic doesn’t last very long. Within a few minutes, they will be coated with dust. And then you can no longer see what’s underneath it. And the most important safety mechanism of using a table saw is being able to see what’s going on while you’re using it. You need to see where the blade is and you need to see the work piece up against the fence and you need to see that nothing’s in the way. That so-called guard is a bare minimum inclusion to reduce manufacturer liability.

Surely, some would say that there has to be some safeguard against the blade. There is one: if you’re not capable of paying attention to the dangerous thing in the room, stay out of the room.

Anyway, be prepared. The day will come when a hand-held fixed base router will be seen as too dangerous. You will need special training and a licence to use a drill. And hammers will require a full set of operational requirements. Forget about chisels and awls and knives.

Perhaps you consider I am exaggerating a bit. Well, perhaps I am. But in this world, decisions regarding the use of such tools are made by people who have never and never will use them.

They should all be forced to make a chest of drawers using handsaws with no teeth, hammers with no handles, chisels with no edges, and white school glue (safe to eat).