Are there kid friendly pieces of shop equipment?

Question

We need a drill press, chop saw, and panel/table saw. Kid ranges from 5 to 14 years in age.

This is for a certified private school.

Answer 1

NO, not for that age range, especially the lower 3/4 or so.
You are probably asking in the wrong place, I suggest you start with your liability insurance company and your lawyer.

If you really have your heart set on this, I would at least recommend eliminating the "chop saw" for student use, and possibly consider the Sawstop (http://www.sawstop.com/) table saw. I personally have a low opinion of the Sawstop company, but it seems their product works, though I bet if you asked them about ten year olds operating one they might start back peddling. The main objection to Sawstop (which otherwise seems to be a decent product) is that when first invented, the inventor tried to sell it to existing saw manufactures, when they weren't interested, he lobbied the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make HIS patented invention mandatory. Which some see as an attempt to use government regulation for personal gain. Another objection that has been raised is the possibility that is if users think the saw is perfectly save they may be more likely to be careless. I don't know if that is actually a valid concern. Since the Sawstop's brake is an expendable $60 part, and it destroys the saw blade (posibly another $100) when it operates, pragmatic people will not take any shortcuts on safety, however, children do not always consider the "big picture"

Answer 2

Not really and, whether it's a private school or not, you'll find the laws vary in most States but, yours shouldn't be any different then others.
Children under 18 are not allowed to run power equipment for any reason. In a school, I would check with the legal system of the State. You could be opening up a Pandora's box with this.

If you can, go to woodworkers.com they have a huge supply of any and all types of power and hand equipment for the wood worker. Another one is Miesel.com they both have equipment for you.

I would guess that you'll have adults on hand at all times around power equipment like chop saws, etc? these can and do take the fingers of professionals so? I saw a man (no pun) take four fingers off while BS'ing about fishing, he wasn't keeping his mind on what he was doing.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Unless you are running a school, you can have serious problems with anyone under 18 running power equipment. Especially if this is a business. Start them off on handtools and when they get to the power tools, be standing right over them until you are sure they are capable. Even then, if it is a business, there could be problems.