Woodworking is both a fun job and a hobby. It’s enjoyable to plan projects and decide on what you want to build. You can create your own magazine rack, floating shelves, or even an ice cream maker. When you’ve chosen what to make, you get to work, feeling excited as you watch your project progress. Then once you finally complete it, you feel fulfilled and proud of what you’ve made with your own hands.
However, woodworking can be a dangerous activity. Whether you’re a professional woodworker experienced in using power tools or a newbie just starting out, you should always prioritize your safety.
Woodworking Safety Tips when Using Power Tools
Hence, you need to know the basic power tools safety rules. Here are some of them:
01. Use Sharp Blades
These woodworking safety tips might sound unnecessary as far as safety is concerned. However, compared with blunt, damaged blades, sharp blades are safer since they create clean edges with little splinters that may hurt you and cut wood quickly. They also come with less kickback, which is a dangerous part of woodworking. Kickback happens when the saw blade, which is spinning with great speed, takes the back of the piece of wood you’re cutting and sends this piece flying at you in a flash.
The same is true of drill bits. Unlike dull bits, sharp bits don’t jam. Thus, it’s essential to invest in high-quality tools with sharp blades and bits like Data powertools and sharpen them from time to time to prevent blunt edges.
02. Wear Safety Gear
Without a clear vision, you won’t be able to carry out your projects well. While building a project and handling power tools, your whole body will be at risk. Therefore, you need to equip yourself with protective glasses and gear.
Safety goggles with a wrap-around style and gloves are among the protective gear you need to wear to protect your eyes from dust and debris and your hands from cuts and splinters. You can go for safety glasses with side shields or a full-face mask. These kinds of goggles will help protect your eyes from small chunks of wood that may fly to your face when using a power tool. As for the gloves, they’re designed to protect you from smaller cuts, such as sharp edges, blades, and nails.
Moreover, you should wear sound and respiratory protection. Since loud noises produced by power tools, like routers, sanders, drills, and saws, may impair your hearing, you need to use earplugs or earmuffs.
Aside from the loud noises, power tools, including saws, sanders, and drills, send small dust particles that may enter sinus passages and lungs, turning into an irritant. So, you need to wear respirators, such as disposable masks, which help prevent you from inhaling dust or harmful fumes.
03. Dress in the Right Attire
Sporting the right attire for woodworking is just as crucial as wearing safety gear. Loose clothes aren’t advisable because they’re more likely to get caught in revolving power tools.
Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are more suitable than T-shirts and shorts. You can also put on a comfortable jumpsuit. A leather apron will prove useful too. It will help prevent power tools, like lathes and saws, from grabbing fabric, as well as provide you with another layer of protection from pieces of flying debris.
As for footwear, use steel toe boots, which will protect your feet from large pieces of falling wood and objects. These boots even feature puncture-resistant soles whose purpose is to protect your feet from sharp objects you might step on.
04. Keep Jewellery Out of the Shop
In addition to wearing safety gear and proper attire, you should keep jewellery out of your shop or studio. Your accessories, such as necklaces, may get tangled in spinning belts and revolving blades. Besides this, a lanyard or a neck chain could get caught in a mandrel, which might put your life in danger.
If you have a special piece of jewellery that you prefer to keep with you, such as your ring or watch, make sure it’s out of reach of power tools. Remove and keep it in your pocket if you have to for added woodworking safety.
05. Stay Sober
Of course, you shouldn’t be intoxicated when handling equipment. While under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you’re more likely to make an impaired judgment while working with power tools.
Furthermore, you should avoid working on projects if you’re under some prescribed medication, especially ones that cause drowsiness. If you aren’t sure whether the medication you’re currently taking may affect your state of mind, you should wait until your treatment ends.
06. Switch Off the Power When Servicing Power Tools
Ensure the power source is disconnected when servicing your power tools. Tools that are connected to the power source are running tools. Thus, you should see to it that the tool is turned off and its primary cord unplugged if you’re going to switch blades or bits. Switch off the breaker at the power source as well if necessary. Apart from unplugging cords and turning off the breaker, you can lock out the power to make it safer.
07. Inspect the Wood for Nails
If you’re using old wood, there’s bound to be some nails left. So, before working on old wood, check whether there are nails or other fasteners on it. During the inspection, you might find some embedded nails from telltale holes.
But it’s better to use a metal detector if you plan to work on a lot of reclaimed wood. Failure to spot nails on old wood will lead to injuries or damage your saw blades.
08. Ensure That You Work Against the Cutter
All seasoned woodworkers know the importance of working against the cutter. Working against the cutter means taking your work to the cutting tool when necessary. You must feed your work against a stationary blade instead of bringing it onto the work surface since it lowers your risk of a kickback.
In simple terms, the saw blade or router bit needs to cut into the stock, not with the stock, because power tools are designed in such a way that the direction the wood moves through the tool goes in the opposite direction of the cutting head’s movement.
09. Seek Help When Needed
Seeking help is another way to avoid accidents or injuries, such as an accidental contact with a running blade and a muscle strain that results in back pain. So, if you’re not sure that you can handle a bulky piece, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Conclusion
In woodworking, safety is paramount, especially when working with power tools. You need to know how to handle power tools and what to wear to protect yourself. As long as you keep these woodworking safety tips in your mind, you’ll build projects without risk.
If you want to read more about woodworking articles, then must refer following links:
4 Tips on Choosing the Best Used Woodworking Tools
10+ Basic Carpentry Tools List for DIY
