Wood Shop Safety

Wood Shop Tool Safety (a supplement to the in-class demonstration on safety)

1. Always wear safety glasses in the woodshop.

2. Always turn on the vent/exhaust fan while working in woodshop.

Table Saw

1. Examine direction of wood grain. Determine a way to cut your pattern so that you are not crossing the majority of the plys or single grains. In other words no “cross-cutting” on table saw.

2. Always use a firm grip that pins the wood to the table bed, this reduces kick-backs.

3. If the area between the fence and the blade is less than a foot, a push stick must be used to feed the panel.

4. Please, no used lumber through table saw unless thoroughly inspected!

5. Inspect each panel for nails or staples that could shorten the life of a blade.

6. When cutting full sheets have an assistant to help catch and guide excess.

7. All wood cut on table saw must engage the fence and run parallel to its length.

8. If you are making a cut less than 12” in length it might be better done on the miter saw.

9. If you are cutting a full sheet, 4’x8’, alone, you would be better served using the panel saw.

Miter Saw

1. This tool is great at cross-cutting boards that are less than 12” wide.

2. Always draw saw out from the fence, turn on, engage wood slowly pressing down, then press slowly back towards the fence.

3. Never cut small boards that put your stabilization hand within 12” of the blade, get a larger board from which to cut that piece.

4. All cuts must be made while stabilizing the board being cut with one hand, pinning the board down and back against the fence. Make sure the board isn’t warped so badly that it no longer makes contact with the fence at the cut.

Panel Saw

1. This tool is made to cross-cut full sheets of plywood and panel into more manageable pieces. Its accuracy is questionable at times, so align blade with marked panel, not the outside triangular notch. Watch the power cord as it can get caught at times preventing fluid pass.

2. May be used to rip sheets by turning the saw portion to be parallel to the bottom guide. This is great for cutting full sheets alone.

3. Again no used lumber unless thoroughly inspected!

4. This saw is not for small work. No wood that does not extend past the edges of the saw guide should be cut.

Sanders

1. Always know which direction the belt or disc is turning, and approach the surface in careful regard of that knowledge.

2. Do not sand metal, plastic, or foam on wood belts.

Band Saws

1. Always adjust throat of blade just above the surface of your board width.

2. Never cut used wood without inspection, (check for nails or staples).

3. No foam or plastics in bandsaw without consulting instructor.

4. Care should be used when cutting cylindrical boards. Wedges or board rest should be employed, consult instructor.

Wood Plane, Wood Joiner, Lathe

1. Will be instructed on a demonstration and individual basis as need arises do to their specialty.