Working with wood with a blade or router bit is nothing less than a war. And woodworkers know how difficult it is to deal with the wood keeping them open for injuries.
Today, we will go through the basic safety tips for woodworking so that you never get injured during work.
Check out the tips and tricks that will make you stronger. And, before everything, try to use common sense when you work!
Tips and Tricks for Woodworking Safety
Working Place
It is not always possible to select the right working place when you are dealing with the woods.
But if you can, you must pick up a place where there is a large space to work with. Also, the plain ground is better than the hills or uneven grounds.
The less distraction, the safer you are. Keep the phones, TV, vehicle, unwanted entrance, etc. away when you are working with blades.
Safety Gear
Many experienced woodworkers think that they are experienced in their work and they can do it without safety gear. This is where they go wrong! The first thing that you have to keep in mind is your safety glasses. Without properly looking at the process, you cannot complete it.
When you are working with wood and saw, there is a chance of your body and skin getting hurt. So, first, make sure you are wearing the proper eyewear for woodworking. Certify that your glasses meet the OSHA standards. We highly recommend you getting PPE for the whole process.
Along with the glasses, you have to ensure respiratory safety along with hearing safety. First of all, get a dust mask that blocks all dust and debris. You can also rely on a HEPA-filtered unit for more protection. You must acknowledge that there will surely be toxic fumes while working and you have to resist it. Get earplugs or earmuffs to keep up with the ears.
Protective Clothing
Always try to maintain the woodworking dress code when you plan to settle for woodworking. Never go for the baggy clothes as there is a chance of your clothes getting tangled inside the saw or whatever equipment you are using. Eliminating snagged dresses, try to pick up the woodworking apron that provides a snug fit.
On the contrary, do not settle for anything uncomfortable for you. Keep the balance between snug fit and comfort when you choose protective clothing. Never wear something that makes your body too hot. Working with the wood and the saw will surely make you hot and you don’t want yourself to be sweaty, my friend.
It is a good idea to cover up your exposed skin and ensure that no part of the skin is exposed. Throw away the short sleeve dresses and get your hand on the long sleeves to cover your skin. Also, full-length pants are more preferable than the short length ones. Your hands and fingers are going to do the whole work and so, the priority should be your hands.
Pick up the perfect gloves for woodworking. Selecting the appropriate footwear is also necessary because, at times, several woodworking processes include the falling down of the wood pieces on the floor. These can hurt you and it is your responsibility to keep your feet safe.
Disconnection
Whenever you are changing the blade or the bits, make sure that you have disconnected the power.
No matter if you are using an electric saw or a battery-powered saw, it is running with electricity or power. You don’t want any unwanted accidents, do you?
So while changing the blades, try to turn the switch off while changing the blades or the bits. It is better if you unplug the primary cord when you change the bits. There is a reason why they say, better safe than sorry.
Extension Cord
The more cords you use for powering the tools you use in woodworking, the more you will get confused.
If you want to avoid the tripping hazard, it is recommended that you use a single cord for your work.
If you use too many cords, they will get tangled and as a result, your work will be interrupted. A single heavy-duty cord can do all your work without any glitch.
Working Direction
When you are working with wood, work against the cutter. The router bit or blade will cut in the opposite direction or opposite motion of the wood and not in the same direction.
Feed your work against the cutting blade and never force it. If you force it on the work surface, the blade might break and cause an accident. To avoid all dangerous kickbacks, when you work. You should work against the cutter.
Running Blade
You should never reach over a blade or a bit that is already running. Let it stop moving first and then you can easily remove the dirt and debris. There is a change of slipping the blade or engaging it causing your permanent injury.
Be on the safer side and shut down the blade before cleanups. Also, remember the blade guards and try to use a push stick for keeping away the dirt.
Helping Hand
We always recommend you keep a helping hand with you when you are doing your woodworking job.
A friend or a helping hand can help you move the wood and deal with the saw. Also, if you see that something is going wrong, ask for help and make sure somebody is out there to help you.
If there is a serious injury and no one is besides, you are the one who is at fault. You surely don’t want this. So, try to reach for help when you need it.
Firm Clamping
Most of the accidents occur when the workpiece is not firmly attached to the saw table surface.
When the workpiece is not attached to the table saw firmly, during the cutting process, it can fly from one place to another. This doesn’t only risk you but also the people around you will be hurt. Clamp the piece firmly and try to use mechanical restraint.
Keep in mind that if you do not invest in good quality clamps, it might injure you more than you can imagine.
Wrap Up
Now you have learned about the safety tips for woodworking so that you can keep you and other people around you safe.
This is not the end as we have described only the basic safety tips for novice woodworking. There are other detailed tips that you must follow too. So whether you are starting with a basic wood procedure like sanding or a complicated process of creating an epoxy river table using best epoxy resin, practising safety procedures always come first.
Comment below what safety tips and tricks you follow while working with wood. Share your experience with us.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
