Ryobi 4V Cordless Snips Safety Hack (Defeating the Safety)

Recently I bought the Ryobi 4V cordless screwxdriver and snips. The scrwewdriv er did not come with a safety on it, so no work needed there. But the snips did, and I thought about not defeating the safety for a few seconds, until I tried to use the tool with it in place, so off it had to come.

I have another instructable on defeating Ryobi cordless tool safeties, but this one was (only slightly) more involved and figured I'd put it up just in case. There was a small hiccup in this one also, so I thought it might be worth posting, even though very similar to the other one.

Step 1 Tools needed

-a torx wrench (I believe it was a T8)
-dremel with sanding drum or the like

You're almost ready to live dangerously! Who knew that's all it took?

Comments

[za-experimenter]

It's true. The safety on electric tools isn't all that safe....it makes it harder to use not to mention pretty dangerous on some jobs!!! I use a lot of circular cutting tools, and we eventually take the safety off them. Not because we don't want to be safe, but because it's safer with them off (not to mention easier)!!

[Kiteman]

What is the benefit of disabling the safety?

[ironsmiter]

Makes it operate like Old-school tools. You remember, back when people were forced to THINK before acting? Or at least, were forced to face the consequences of stupid actions, like attempting to cut ones own fingers off with a power tool. Probably, on that particular tool, the safety is in an awkward position, for normal use (say, for a left handed person, where the safety is now under the palm, instead of conveniently where a finger could operate it). Or, it's just annoying. Like "automatic door locks" on new cars, that lock once you hit 10mph. If I wanted them locked, I would have done it myself! Sure, I stand a better chance of getting carjacked...but if I feel the urge to bail out of the car at highway speeds, I want the choice! As an aside, if the safety was electrical instead of mechanical(one drill I own is like that. very funky operation), I would vote for swapping in a flush-mount SPST. On said funky drill I own, I used a 110/220 switch out of an old power supply. Works fine, as I only put the safety on for storage, or when leaving the jobsite for lunch, ect. Good to keep the tool from activating in a toolbox, or accidental passerby "press the shiny red button" syndrome. At the same time, the 'safety' feature is invisible to normal use, once set to 'on'.

[wilwrk4tls]

Well said. It is nice to have control of things instead of them over you. And, well, the safety made using the tool much less pleasant because of the odd angle you have to twist your hand to try and manipulate it. Actually the safety is designed for left or right-handed people, but it is equally bad for either. On other tools it is a matter of the tool being dangerous using the "safety" equipment, but on this tool it is a convenience and comfort issue.

[reedz]

Well it is quite obviously so that you may be not safe.