Technabob » power tool

SawStop Does Its Best to Not Cut Your Finger Off

Technabob — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:02:58 +0000

If you’ve ever used a table saw, you’ve probably had the horrific image of your fingers going flying off if you slip.

The incredible SawStop system uses capacitive sensors to detect when you accidentally touch the deadly spinning blade with your flesh. The SawStop can detect skin within 5 milliseconds, and as soon as it senses flesh, an aluminum brake springs into action, stopping the blade and forcing the blade beneath the top of table. Power is instantly shut off at the same time. Your finger might get a little nick, but the injury potential is greatly limited by the system.

The technology manages to stop a saw that’s spinning at 5,000 RPM dead in its tracks. If you don’t believe it, check out this video of Steve Gass, SawStop’s creator, who’s so confident in his invention that he sticks his own finger right into the path of a spinning saw blade.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Sure, the mechanism pretty much destroys the saw blade and the mechanism in the fraction of a second that it takes to stop the blade on a dime, but I’d rather destroy $69 blade cartridge than lose my digits. And if you don’t believe it, check out these images of actual customer’s fingers which have been spared by SawStop technology.

Plus, as we learned from the video, it will also prevent hot dogs from being mangled – in case you frequently drop those into the buzz saw.

[via Make:]

Power Tool Mini Dragster Gets Motivated by Six Circular Saws

Shane McGlaun — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:58:53 +0000

You know all is right with the world when geeks have a competition specifically for DIY dragsters that are powered by power tools. Tim Allen must be so proud. The annual competition in the UK is called the Power Tool Drag Racing Championships.

The mini dragsters can hit speeds up to 70 mph on a 320-foot drag strip. The big rule is that power has to come from some sort of tool like a blower, chainsaw, or in the case of Barry Lee six big ass circle saws.

Lee used six 16-inch Makita circular saws to power his dragster. Lee says the thing worked better than expected in testing, but declined to give a top speed keeping something back for the competition. This thing must make a horrible racket as it rips down the track.

[SWNS via Metro.co.uk]

Electronic Power Lock Pick Gun: the Modern Locksmith’S Favorite Weapon

Lambert Varias — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:21:26 +0000

Keys? What keys? For busting down locked doors, all you need is a gun. An electronic power lock pick gun.

The electronic lock pick gun can be used to “open most of pin tumble locks, dimple locks, cross locks, 2-side and 4-side auto locks.” It runs on 6V rechargeable batteries and also has a LED light on its nose, so thieves locksmiths won’t have a problem if they have to work in the dark.

The gun pops locks easily thanks to its 6 different picks and its “strong vibratility.” Awesome.

You can buy an electronic lock pick gun at DealExtreme for $50.53 USD (free shipping).

[Please don't use one of these to break into my place - ED.]

[via Gadgetizer]