Absolutely. Everything gets clamped down so I don't need to go near it. It originally had an electric brake which is long gone. On slow speeds it takes forever to stop and getting a sleeve caught wouldn't make any difference to it even if you could get to the off switch. It's kind of why I like it, it's made for drilling big holes quickly, if you don't understand it, don't go there.
Now that makes sense. I couldn't figure out where all the gears were!
That I didn't know. There's a sign warning not to change gears while it's moving, but of course that would only apply to the range gears. I shall try it and see. Changing speeds isn't as easy as it might be though, it doesn't have its original handle and the replacement key is very small so quite hard to turn. Easier than changing belts though.
I know it's not a laughing matter as such, but with the warnings regarding making sure you don't get caught in it, and with their being that empty wall space to the left of it, I just keep having visions of someone face-planted into that wall like a cartoon character. That blank piece of wall is begging for a human outline painting on it. You're absolutely right, it isn't going to stop, whatever you throw at it. I see an big flat disc with a pair of soles in the middle and a long thin arm extending outwards...That's a fair old beast Julian. I bet that thing just laughs at whatever you place on it for drilling.
