Old timer at the saw shop talked me out of using steel wedges last week

I've been using steel wedges for years on big removals in Portland. This guy with 40 years in the trade told me I was asking for trouble if the saw kicks back off the steel. He said go with plastic or hardwood wedges instead because they won't spark and they grab better. Picked up a set of plastic ones that same day and honestly they feel way safer on the bigger leans. Has anyone else switched off steel after hearing a similar warning?

2 comments

2 Comments

willow_anderson8520d ago

Oh man, I was totally the same way with steel wedges until I nearly had a nasty kickback last fall. Plastic wedges are now all I use for the bigger stuff, so that old timer was spot on.

felix48820d ago

Whoa, that kickback thing is no joke. I had a buddy who nearly lost a finger to a steel wedge because it slipped just right, and that was enough for me to switch over too. The plastic ones might feel a little cheap at first, but they bite way better and don't send shards flying if something goes wrong. I actually keep a few steel wedges around for really tight spots, but for the big dangerous cuts, it's plastic all the way now.