[Kevin Sevcik]

Guys, you can't stump for both decreased regional fees AND increased safety hazards in the pits. Pick one. While there are many opinions being tossed around here about how hand drills and things are just as dangerous as drill presses and bandsaws, I submit that you probably don't know what you're talking about. Insurance companies live and die by knowing the actual hard numbers on what things are and aren't dangerous. If they say banning these tools makes for less risk and lower premiums... Well you might want to believe them.

As to why drill presses and bandsaws and not hand drills and dremels... Almost all cordless drills max out at less than 1/2 horsepower. Drill presses, meanwhile, start at 1/2 horsepower and move up pretty quickly from there. Bandsaws simlarly. These mini versions are still dangerous and not to be trifled with. Basically, the fact that jig saws and hand drills can be dangerous in some situations doesn't mean that these mini versions aren't more dangerous.

As to suddenly having no options for quickly cutting angle, tube, etc.... Well I've never been failed by a good old fashioned hacksaw and the only injuries they've given me are a few barked knuckles and the occasional scald from tiny hot pieces of screws.