PRODUCT LIABILITY RELATED INJURY

Sears Roebuck and Co. Announces Recall of Table Saw Rip Fences

Product Liability

April 11, 2005

East Windsor, CT - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Sears Roebuck and Co, announced a voluntary recall of Table Saw Rip Fences . Consumers should stop using recalled Table Saw Rip Fences immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The recall involves about 41,800 Table Saw's Rip Fence Assembly items. The manufacturer of the Rip Fence is Rexon Industrial Corp. Ltd., of East Windsor, Connecticut.

The hazard to the rip fence is a metal guide that keeps material being sawed from shifting side to side as it passes through the cutting blade. This guide can come loose which could result in kickback of the material being sawed and possible injury to the operator.

Rexon, on behalf of Sears, has received 230 reports of the rip fence bracket coming loose. No injuries were reported.

The rip fence on these saws is made of silver extruded aluminum, is 31 inches in length, and has an over-locking handle with a black die-cast aluminum head. They were included with Craftsman table saw model number 137.21830.

The recalled fence was sold at Sears stores nationwide from August 2002 through November 2004. The cost of complete table saw is about $399, and the cost of the rip fence is about $40.

Sears will provide free replacement parts with instructions to consumers. For additional information, contact the Sears Craftsman Helpline at (800) 843-1682 between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

 
 
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