Official Luthiers Forum!

I have not read of any recent injuries on the OLF in a while, so perhaps a time for some reminders. Please post any safety tip or pictures of safety devices.

The charcoal lighter thread I posted in May has resurrected with a safety tip, steel wool is not a safe filler. My own safety reminder on the charcoal lighter:
NO Distractions! I try to think of the heat sources like glue ups, none of us would answer the phone during a glue up, but I have while heating up the blanket or charcoal bender, bad idea, these heating tools require 100% attention.

Fire extinguishers are important, I keep one by each door and one in the middle of the shop that is out and handy when using the charcoal bender. Also important to keep the breaker box clear from debris.

I would love to see some push sticks, John Hall, you mentioned you were working on an improvement for the basic push stick, I would love to see that.

I have been working with some students in a general wood shop class, grades 7-12, so I have been in working on teaching a safe shop mindset. Basic tips for beginners are welcome.

Thanks everyone, and stay safe as we roll into the holidays and distractions abound.
Rob

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Good thread.
The best tip I can give is,
and I do this ALL THE TIME!,
is, before starting any power tool up,
make sure nothing is in the way of the cutter!
Look at that table saw blade before turning it on.
Takes 2 seconds.
Once one cuts off a body part,
it is gone forever.
I was lucky,
when I was a teenager, I was using my pa's tablesaw,
and dropped a steel square on the blade as it was revolving,
and I realized just how dangerous power tools are.
I still have that square with a ding in it,
and I still have, and use that tablesaw.
Little 8 inch Delta Homecraft.
Sweet little saw, and still going strong.
I'm just now heading down to use it.
I will be careful!!!!

I use a lot of hand tools(files, rasps, chisels, planes, etc.). My tip would be to pay attention to where the hand is that's NOT pushing the tool across the wood. Make sure it's not in- line with the tool you're using. Power tools aren't the only ones that can bite. A sharp chisel can take a pretty big bite, too. Don't ask me how I learned this valuable bit of information.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Something I have learned (several times) as an engraver: I brace the ends of my thumbs together. I poked several holes in my left index finger before this was an automatic habit. Of course, chisels are much larger, but using your other hand some way as a brace will give you more control and safety.

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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement.

Take care of your lungs. If you don't understand niosh ratings ( and I don't fully understand all that stuff) have someone who knows about that kind of stuff look over your MSDS sheets and make sure you're using the right stuff.

FWIW, I don't have a phone inside my shop. If anyone calls me while I'm working you'll get my voice mail. Not only is this safe, it helps productivity.

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Keep a few sets of safety glasses around, preferably hanging on each machine. Don't forget the ear protection! Risk tolerance is something that builds the longer we do something without something serious happening. Review your work practices and change those that could bite you in a split second of inattention. In my business a task hazard analysis is performed for every job performed. If the circumstances change, a new one is completed. Stop, think and then go, before performing a task.

I pay attention not only to where my hands and arms are during the use of power tools, but my stance. I give a quick thought (all it takes is a second or two) to where my body will end up if the piece I'm working on goes through suddenly (as with a big piece through the bandsaw). At the same time, I'm making sure there's nothing underfoot (like a cast off piece) that I might lose my footing on if I change stance during an operation.
All the other things mentioned are things I'm trying to be good about too. Beth

Be especially careful when you are tired, or angry.

Just about any tool in the shop can hurt you. I have seen a sanding disk come off a 12 inch disk sander hover in the air for a full second then go like crazy in one direction. My buddy had one gore the orbit around his eye this way. It really made a mess of his face.

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I warned my kids never to come and interrupt or distract me when running my power tools. The workshop is a restricted area where children are concerned.

We don't want youngsters coming in and willy-nilly go around pushing buttons.

Bill S.

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I was using a tablesaw and the part got away from me , shot back and hit me just below my stomach . I went instanly numb, thinking IM in trouble and looked down expecting blood and realized it had hit and dented my steel belt buckle . That was waaaaaaaaayy to close for comfort . When I realized I was ok , I had to Pee REAAAAALLL BAADD .

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The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
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I am shocked that anybody would even contemplate setting a beer on a machine work surface.

Don't they know that this will inevitably cause a big ugly rust ring ?

Setting down beer on a machine surface is not, however, as heinous an offence as setting down a hot cup of coffee.

Good idea.

I can't believe how many shop pictures and stories include a TV and/or internet-connected computer in the shop.
That, and a shop beer fridge are invitations to accidents, IMO.
Ya wanna have a brew and watch a game on TV- fine- but not around tools.

John

Not on my Ridgid granite-top tablesaw.

I'm always thinking...

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Begginers !!
Dont ya know you HAVE to use a sacrafical block of wood as coaster !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

I have a colleague at work who's a one-man health hazard.
He's been in the furniture business for 35 years and has an 'old-fashioned' approach to health and safety. One day, he was using a table saw to split a piece of 1 1/2" square section oak about 3' long. He had pulled the saw into the middle of our small workshop for some reason known only to himself. When the inevitable happened and he lost his grip on the wood, the blade caught it and fired it through the reinforced glass panel in the workshop door. Anyone outside the door would have been hit around groin height - luckily there was no-one there at the time. He also wasn't using a mask or ear defenders, and regularly sprays nitro without a mask or switching the fan in the spray booth on - that way he doesn't have to worry about the dust in there, which is only there because he never cleans up...

As you can perhaps guess, he drives me crazy on a daily basis. BUT... This man is the senior staff member in my section and is supposed to be the one who teaches new staff how to use the tools and equipment. How he's survived 35 years in the business is beyond me, and the notion that he can train someone else to use equipment safely is a joke.

The point I'm making is, if YOU think something is unsafe, don't do it. In most places I've worked, management have been either ignorant of safety legislation or just didn't care (until something went wrong). Check the recommended procedures for the tools your using, read instructions, make sure the machine or equipment is safe - ignorance is no excuse. Think about what you're doing, make sure you're using the right tool for the job, make sure no-one's going to get hurt. The safe way to do something might not be the quick way, but there's more chance of keeping your organs and extremities intact.

Ok, tirade over. Time for a lie-down in a darkened room...
Cheers,
Bri

i learned the importance of a well lit shop early on in my endeavours while chopping some thumb off whilst fighting with a newly purchased jointer/planer in the dark. lesson learned i'd say. it's also important to get back on that horse and i was back at it the next day.

Also, know how sharp your tools are. We all know we should keep our tools sharp, but I really think that sometimes we really don't realize just how sharp they are.
Case in point, I have always been dissatisfied with the sharpness of my chisels and planes. I always thought I could do better. That is, until a couple of days ago. I was working on my second scratch build. It happened so fast, i don't really know how I did this, but I mamaged to graze the tip of my chisel with my index finger. Didn't hit it hard, just barely touched it. Laid my finger wide open. I'd have to say I'm more satisfied that I'm getting a good edge on my tools, now.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

I have a lamp on the same circuit as my electric bending iron so when I leave to turn off the lights in the shop I know if I left the iron on. clinton

No recent injuries? I stuck one of those long 2mm chisels through (as in with an entry and exit wound) my index finger a couple weeks ago Luckily it wasn't anything serious but it could have been if it hit the bone or some tendon

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Build log

Ouch. A 2mm? You may as well have jabbed yourself with an ice pick. The smallest I have is 1/4", or 6.5mm (haven't needed anything smaller, but then again, I'm not doing rosettes), and I get kind of nervous sometimes using it. No matter how careful you are(and believe my, I am) there's always the opportunity to make a mistake. With sharp tools, power or hand, one slip is all it takes.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.