Woodworking isn’t an easy job and surely can be very dangerous if safety measures aren’t practiced. In order to get the projects done while being safe, there are a few key points that should be kept in mind and should be known by all woodworkers.
1. Safety Equipment
Doesn’t matter which saw you work with, be it the table saw, circular saw, or track saw; make sure you are familiar with all the safety gears. Safety glasses should be worn at all times to protect the eyes.
While working with wood, there will be debris and dust flying in the air that might get into the eyes and create serious damage. Furthermore, the dust can also get into your lungs if you keep your mouth and nose exposed.
As a result, it might cause various lungs diseases. Hence to avoid that, make sure to get a good respirator or mask to wear while working. A good hearing protection is also needed as the sound pollution that comes with working with cutting woods is harmful to your ears. Thus, ensure to keep that in mind as well.
2. Don’t Wear Baggy Clothes
What you wear is an important aspect when it comes to safety. Ensure you don’t wear loose-fitted clothes as it can be both uncomfortable and unsafe while working with wood. Make sure your clothing doesn’t get in the way of cutting or get caught in the saw. Also, avoid jewelry, neckties and clothes with longer sleeves.
3. Do Not Make Adjustment Over a Moving Blade
If you have to make changes or adjustments to the settings, then take your time with it. Do not rush and try to do so while the blade is moving.
Wait for the blade to completely stop once you disconnect it from the power and then make the required changes. Besides that, also ensure to turn off the blade when it is not in use.
Ensure a Safe Cutting Depth
Before starting to work with the wood, the wood-workers decides and keeps in mind the thickness of the wood they will be working with. The thickness of the wood will help you determine the cutting depth needed by the saw.
Before starting to work with the wood, the wood-workers decides and keeps in mind the thickness of the wood they will be working with.
However, it is also vital for the woodworker to ensure that the blade isn’t extending any more than 1/8 inches below the board that is being cut. The blade shouldn’t be exposed more than it should be for obvious safety reasons and to ensure accurate cuts.
4. Use Sharp Blades Only
While cutting the boards with a saw, make sure extra force is not required for the process. The blade should be able to cut through easily if it is sharp and if not, make sure you get the blade fixed. Only use sharp blades as it will ensure you with better and safer cuts.
5. Looking out for Live Cords
A very obvious safety measure is to look out for live chords as it might result in electrocution and major accidents if it comes in the way of your cutting process. Make sure you look out for it for a safe woodworking session.
6. Securing the Wood Before Cutting
Before you start with the cutting process, make sure that the wood piece you are working with is completely secure and stable. Ensure that there is no possibility of the wood to move while cutting as it can ruin having accurate cuts and can also be unsafe if it moves around a lot.
7. Clear out Obstructions in the Boards
Materials such as wood might have a lot of obstructions from beforehand, such as screws, nails, etc., cutting over or through those might cause your blade to be damaged. What is worse is that you might also get severely injured; hence make sure to get rid of them to have a safer cutting process.
8. Get a Blade Guard
Installing a blade guard will ensure you keep your fingers safe. Furthermore, it will also help prevent debris and saw dust from kicking back and increase the chances of creating an unsafe environment.
9. Maintain Proper Cutting Position
Maintaining a proper cutting position is very vital when it comes to woodworking and dealing with sharp blades. Do not stand completely straight or bend too much towards the tool.
It is because this might increase the chances of slipping and getting into serious accidents. Hence, make sure you know you are maintaining a safe and secure posture.
10. Make Use of a Pushing Mechanism
If the board is 3 to 4 inches away from the blade, it would be best to use a pushing mechanism to push your board through the blade. A push stick or push shoe will help you to push the board while keeping your hands safe while going through the blade.
Do not try to go all-in with your hand, especially if you are a beginner, as it can be a very risky move. Rather try to use one of these basic tools to help you get through the process with safety.
11. Keep the Work Area Tidy and Clean
Lastly, this is an important safety tip that should be maintained at all costs. Even though a lot of people might look over this safety tip, it is something that every woodworker should maintain.
Ensure to keep your surrounding and workstation clean. It will help you to get proper and accurate cuts. Keeping your workstation clean will help to avoid getting anything in the way of working, which might result in problems otherwise.
Conclusion
Maintaining safety precautions is essential to avoid any accidents and achieve the best results. Dealing with saws can be hard as it is a very dangerous tool, and it might cause damage if not used properly with proper safety measures.
Always think about safety and put it before anything else. Considering these vital factors will help you to prevent any sort of accident. Thus, Make sure you follow the safety tips in order to have the best woodworking experience!