Old-timer in Houston taught me to check for ghost loads on a table saw before changing blades.

He pulled out a cheap voltage tester, touched the arbor, and said 'you ever get zapped because you trusted the switch?' and now I always test before I touch, has anyone else had a close call like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim_nelson4d ago

And he just touched it with a cheap voltage tester? That's insane man. I had a buddy who thought his saw was dead, leaned in and grabbed the arbor with his bare hand. The switch was busted and the blade was still spinning, threw him across the garage. I don't even plug in a saw without confirming the outlet is off now. Ghost loads or not, I'm not taking that gamble.

lee7332d agoTop Commenter

My uncle had a similar thing happen with an old Craftsman drill press from the 50s, thing still had the original cloth wiring. He thought he unplugged it, went to change the chuck key, and that old motor kicked right on because the switch was stuck in the on position. Scared him so bad he put a padlock on the breaker box for that side of the shop.