Woodworking Safety Manual – Quick Reference Notes

Very useful but highly dangerous; capable of ripping, crosscutting, dadoes, rabbets, bevels, and miters.
SawStop safety system stops the blade in ~$3-5\ \mathrm{ms}$ when flesh contact is detected; blade brake activates and the blade retracts below the table.
Blade height: project $\frac{1}{4}\,\text{in}$ above stock for safe cutting.
Always use a fence for ripping; use a miter gauge or sled for crosscuts; keep stock firmly against guide.
Use a push stick for stock $\le 6\ \text{in}$ wide.
Keep the over-arm guard and riving knife in place unless permitted for special setups.
Make adjustments with the machine off and blade stopped; keep fingers away when taking measurements.
Freehand cutting without the fence/sled/miter gauge is strictly forbidden.
Blade changes or any dado/brake cartridge installations are special setups requiring instructor approval and verification.

Primary use: flatten faces, straighten edges.
Guard must cover knives at all times; set depth before turning on power (typical $\sim\frac{1}{32}\ \text{in}$).
Max depth of cut: $\frac{1}{16}\,\text{in}$.
Minimum stock length: $14\,\text{in.}$; keep body parts at least $6\ \text{in}$ from cutterhead.
Use pushstick/pushblock for face-jointing flat stock or edge-jointing below fence height.
Never joint end grain; avoid loose knots or splits.

Purpose: smooth lumber to even thickness after jointing; reference surface is the joined face on the table.
Do not remove more than $\frac{1}{32}\,\text{in}$ at a time.
Stock length must exceed distance between infeed and outfeed rollers; check minimum length.
Never put hands into the planer; realign carefully with guards in place.
Do not change depth of cut after stock has started; do not plane stock with large cracks or loose knots.
If stock jams: gently push in, try slight angle shift, or lower feed table by increments (no more than $\frac{1}{8}\,\text{turn}$) until feeding resumes; do not power off while stock is in the planer.

Used for rough length cuts; stock remains on table against the fence while arm/trunnion moves toward the operator.
Maintain at least $6\ \text{in}$ of distance between blade line and fingers; hold stock firmly against the fence.
Control speed with your upper body; don’t force the saw; blade tends to climb into wood.
Cut only one piece at a time; use for crosscuts only, not ripping.
Let blade reach full speed before cutting; always return saw to rear after a cut.

Excellent for precise crosscuts; capable of $90^{\circ}$ to $\pm 45^{\circ}$; among the lab’s most dangerous machines.
Keep protective guards in place; ensure stock is firmly against table and fence.
Allow blade to reach full speed; do not force the tool; avoid arms crossing.
Do not leave area until blade stops; maintain a safety margin of $6\ \text{in}$ between body parts and blade.
Always have the stock secured by the operator.

Indispensable for curves and resawing; blade is a thin loop; fast cutting but not for finish cuts.
Adjust upper guide/guard about $\frac{1}{4}\,\text{in}$ above stock with machine at full stop.
Allow full speed before feeding; plan cuts and use relief cuts for long curves.
If stock binds, stop power and remove material after stop; backing up while running can pull blade off wheels.
Maintain a $4\,\text{in}$ margin of safety from blade; back out of long cuts only with power off.
If blade breaks, stand clear and shut off power; inform instructor.

Excellent for accurate drilling; use appropriate bits.
Secure small/odd pieces with clamps or a drill vise.
Insert bit properly, tighten chuck securely; remove chuck key before turning on or leaving area.
Keep hands away from rotating spindle; feed at a consistent rate.
Stop the drill before removing work.

Routers are fast and versatile; speeds up to $\sim 22,000\ \mathrm{rpm}$.
Unplug before changing bits or adjusting depth (except depth setting).
Insert bit to max depth then back off a bit before tightening.
Hold router firmly; keep hands/clothes away from revolving bits; operate in proper direction (against cutter rotation).
For router table: move work against cutter rotation; use backer board or pushstick for small pieces.

Disc sander: sand on downward-travel side; keep fingers at least $2\ \text{in}$ away from abrasive; keep stock against table.
Belts: use for straight edges/outside curves; belts should track properly; use proper grit (80–100 grit general use).
Portable belt sander: let it reach full speed; lift off work when stopping; use clamps; hold work securely; always use two hands.

Must wear safety glasses; point away from people; keep finger off trigger until ready.
Disconnect air when loading, unloading, or adjusting; verify nose guard works properly.
Ensure hands are not in the path of fasteners; avoid nailing near edges to prevent splitting; do not angle more than $\sim 10^{\circ}$.

Wear face shield and eye protection; remove loose clothing; tie back long hair; ensure belt covers are in place.
Ensure stock is properly mounted and free of defects.
Clamp tool rest firmly; adjust only when lathe is off; keep tool rest close to stock; set cutting edge near center height.
Rotate stock by hand before turning on to ensure clearance.
Hold turning tool firmly against the tool rest; remove tool rest during sanding/polishing.
Start at slow speeds; increase after balance; if vibrating, reduce speed or secure stock.

Always wear approved eye protection; set pressure foot against stock before starting.
Ensure blade tension is correct to prevent bending/breaking.
Do not place hands in line with blade; stop machine to remove small pieces.
Install new blades with teeth pointing down toward the table.