You don't cut drawer fronts with a jig saw. Get back on your table saw horse.

I'm kind of an expert on this.

Ack! My cabinet maker is missing part of one of his ring fingers....gives me the heebee jeebees every time I use a saw now! (Which is pretty often!)

Joseph, I'm cutting out panels on the drawer front so it needs a jigsaw. I've managed to mangle out the basic drawer front already.

After this, I'll have to clean up the edges with a trim router.

beachem-Where's Christine (CEFreeman) when you need her (to comment) on all things power tools???

The advise my step father always gave me.......when you hear yourself think, I'm so tired only one more cut- stop there- don't do the last cut! That's when the accidents happen.

Have fun! My favorite tools are my jig saw and sander.

Well the construction is ended for today. LOL.

I survived the jigsaw and cut out what I needed but found that the drawer fronts are too thin at 1/2" for an insert.

The accident happened with the router. First time for me to use it and apparently my bit wasn't seated securely enough. It went flying and missed slicing my stomach, smashed into my foot and sliced a non stitch slice. I was using a slot cutter.

With a swollen foot and bandages, I'm calling it a day and recovering from my freak out.

You've never used a router before & you're starting with a slot cut? OK, um, you know not to try for the full depth on the first pass, right? (well, unless you're really shallow) And you know that with wood, it actually matters which way around you go with a router? No clue how much of a slot you are after, but the bigger bits often need a slower spin (one of the features I'm missing on my router...my solution: don't do them).

Also, router (and table saw) safety: If it's spinning, don't look away. So, you finish the cut/rout, stop...and watch the thing wind down (blade, bit, whatever). They can do you serious damage even just slowing down.

So glad you're OK!

Yes Megan it's my first time ever touching a router. I was testing it on a piece of wood and it barely touched the wood before the bit went flying out.

I'm going to look on CL for a variable speed router and table before attempting the slots.

I've owned a variable speed router for years and can't remember a time when I ran at less than full speed.

If a table saw could speak this is what it would say:

Don't worry about my blade. Keep your eyes and hand on the fence at all times. My blade isn't going anywhere, unlike the piece you're pushing through. If you let the piece drift from my fence, my blade will pick it up and throw it at your guts and my blade is doing about 200 miles per hour. It will leave purple and yellow bruises just above Mr. Happy if you're 5'9" tall. It makes a "rrreh" noise that all the other guys in the shop know they aren't supposed to be hearing. While I've got you doubled over, you may as well hit my "stop" button, pull yourself up, and walk it off like nothing happened.

Unlike your wife who may take you back if you don't follow her rules, I issue non-negotiable life sentences every time.

Well, that's why I don't own one--the one bit that I've used that should go slower was really big--I don't know what size of slot-cutter she's using, or if it's trying to dig a profile as well. Beachem, what I'm trying to say is to look up what speed your bit is supposed to be going, if it's a large one.

And table saw--oh, of course, those safety tips too. Kickback happens, stay out of the line. My FIL damaged himself the way I described, very lucky to not lose part of his finger--reached for his piece before the saw blade stopped, so that's probably part of why I take that one pretty seriously.

There are other ways to do slots, depending on what you're slotting for...

Megan