Safety Moment

Safety is the name of the game. Forget yourself and you may lose an arm. Do you work safely??

The following is a list of safety considerations when working with the lathe. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of safety considerations for ancillary equipment you would probably use in the process of working with the lathe.

Note: We do not claim that any of our safety lists are exhaustive lists, guarantying your safety. These are simply lists intended to try to help you work more safely in the shop. Be responsible and work safely.

• Clothing Safety

  • Long hair can be dangerous. Keep your hair away from the spinning lathe. Wear a headband,
    hat or net to hold long hair away from spinning lathe.
  • Don’t wear long sleeves, they can be dangerous. Keep long sleeves away from the spinning lathe.
  • Don’t wear loose jewelry that may dangle and catch on the lathe.
  • Don’t wear loose clothes that may catch in the lathe.
  • Don’t wear gloves, they may catch in the lathe.
  • Wear foot coverings (shoes/boots), not thongs (flip-flops), or sandals, dropping something on your foot, could be dangerous.
  • Wear a dust mask to protect your lungs.
  • Wear protective safety glasses/goggles to protect your eyes.
  • Wear a full face shield to protect yourself against flying objects.

• Chuck Safety

  • Turn off the lathe before tightening chuck.
  • Frequently check the tightness of the chuck.
  • Assure the back of the chuck is firmly positioned against the headstock with no threads exposed.
  • Use a washer to fill the space between the back of chuck and headstock.
  • Make sure the wood is flat against the jaws of chuck.
  • Assure the chuck key, adjusting wrenches and knockout bars are removed before turning on the lathe.

• Faceplate Safety

  • Don’t use drywall screws to hold faceplates.
  • Make sure screws are firmly in faceplate.
  • Make sure the wood is flat against the faceplate.
  • Assure the back of the faceplate is firmly positioned against the headstock with no threads exposed.
  • Use a washer to fill the space between the back of faceplate and headstock.
  • Assure the faceplate is at least 1/3 the diameter of the blank.
  • When mounting a faceplate, make sure 7 or 8 threads are in the wood.

• Tool Rest & Tailstock Safety

  • Keep the tailstock tight.
  • Frequently check the tool rest is tight.
  • Turn off the lathe to tighten the tailstock.
  • Turn off the lathe before tightening the tailstock
  • Turn the lathe off before repositioning the tool rest.
  • Don’t use excessive pressure on the tail stock, it can damage the bearings.
  • Don’t have the tool rest too low, allowing the chisel to dig in.

• Banjo Safety

  • Turn the lathe off before repositioning the banjo.

• Tool Handling Safety

  • Keep tools sharp. Dull tools cause you to press harder and potentially cause you to slip with the tool.
  • Hold turning tools firmly.
  • Keep the turning tools firmly against the tool rest.
  • Keep the tool rest as close as possible to the blank
  • Assure the blank will not hit the tool rest before starting the lathe.
  • Don’t try to take off too much material at one time.

• Environment Safety

  • Keep the workshop clean after working, woodshavings and dust are flammable and may be dangerous.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
  • Be cautious of flammable liquids you may use.
  • Don’t leave tools on the lathe that might fall off
  • Frequently remove shavings from the floor while turning. If floor is not clean, you may slip.
  • Keep your work area well-lit.
  • Keep your work area well-ventilated.
  • Assure the lathe is bolted down or otherwise fixed, preventing it from moving

• Operational Safety

  • Keep the speed of the lathe appropriate for the size and balance of the turning blank.
  • Slow down the lathe if it is shaking or vibrating.
  • Keep fingers away from rotating wood.
  • Don’t get fingers between the wood and the tool rest.
  • Keep arms and hands away from the rotating chuck.
  • Don’t leave sharp tools sitting around in a manner that makes the sharp end dangerous to thoughtless grabs.
  • Don’t stand directly in line with rotating wood.
  • Maintain the lathe.

• Finishing Safety

  • Remove the tool rest when sanding
  • Be careful with cloth finishing rags, some chemicals will spontaneously combust.
  • Don’t use cloth to apply finish on a turning lathe, use a paper towel. If the cloth
    catches on the lathe, it may draw your hand into the lathe.

• Cleaning Safety

  • Turn off the lathe before cleaning
  • Spread out oily rags and paper towels to dry before disposal.

Miscellaneous Safety

• If you drop a sharp tool, do not try to catch it. Catching could be dangerous.
• Don’t be distracted. Watch what your are doing. Distractions cause accidents.
• Don’t use the Lathe when tired.
• Keep your balance.
• Turned stock should be physically sound.
• Assure that glue (CA, white, epoxy, etc) used for repairs or fill has dried
  completely before turning on the lathe.

• Ancillary Equipment Safety

  • Bandsaws: (Attribution – Much of this content is taken from CCOHS website)

    • Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles).
    • Wear hearing protection that is suitable for the level and frequency of the noise you are exposed to in the woodworking area.
    • Wear protective footwear.
    • Tie back your hair, remove jewelry, and wear fitted clothes to avoid getting caught or pulled by the moving blade.
    • Make sure all guards are in place and properly adjusted.
    • Make sure all band wheels are enclosed.
    • Make sure the wheels and blade are in good condition.
    • Make sure the blade is positioned properly on the track.
    • Adjust blade guard height to about 3 mm or 1/8 inch to 6mm or 1/4 inch above the top of the material being cut.
      Wider gaps will place tension on the blade and increase the risk of breaking.
    • Ensure the blade is tracking correctly and runs freely in and against the upper and lower guide rollers.
    • Ensure the blade is under proper tension. A band saw equipped with automatic tension control is desirable.
    • Use band saw blades that are sharp, properly set and otherwise suitable for the job (e.g., the right tooth pitch; tooth form; blade width).
    • Keep hands away from the line of the cut, and braced against the table.
    • Hold stock firmly and flat on the table to prevent the stock from turning and drawing your fingers against the blade.
    • Use a push stick when you remove cut pieces from between the fence and saw blade or when your hands are close to the blade. Keep your hands on either side of the blade – not in line with the cutting line and the blade.
    • Make release (relief) cuts before tight curves when doing intricate scroll-type work.
    • If you need to stop cutting, hold the material firmly and shut down the saw. Wait for the blade to stop moving before removing the piece.
    • Keep the floor around a band saw clean and free of obstructions or clutter.
    • Keep the machine properly oiled and serviced.
    • Provide adequate lighting at the machine table (A light fixture with a flexible connection can provide essential lighting).
    • If maintaining or making repairs, use lockout procedures where necessary.
    • Do not use excessive force when pushing the wood past the blade.
    • Do not back the stock away from the blade while the saw is in motion if the work piece binds or pinches on the blade.
    • Do not stop a band saw by thrusting stock against the cutting edge or the side of a blade immediately after the power has been shut off.
    • Do not remove sawdust or cuttings from the table by hand or with compressed air. Use a stick or brush.
    • Do not leave a saw running unattended. Turn off the power and make sure the machine has stopped running before leaving the area.

  • Chainsaw: (Attribution – Much of this content is taken from OSHS website)

    • Check controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles to ensure that they are functioning properly and that they are adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Make sure that the chain is always sharp and that the oil tank is full.
    • Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support. Drop starting is never allowed.
    • Start the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain’s brake engaged.
    • Use approved containers for transporting fuel to the saw.
    • Dispense fuel at least 10 feet away from any sources of ignition when performing construction activities.
    • No smoking during fueling.
    • Use a funnel or a flexible hose when pouring fuel into the saw.
    • Never attempt to fuel a running or HOT saw.
    • Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the saw’s chain path. Look for nails, spikes or other metal in the tree before cutting.
    • Shut off the saw or engage its chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain.
    • Keep your hands on the saw’s handles, and maintain balance while operating the saw.
    • Proper personal protective equipment must be worn when operating the saw, which includes hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection.
    • Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.
    • Be careful that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind against the saw.
    • Watch for branches under tension; they may spring out when cut.
    • Gasoline-powered chainsaws must be equipped with a protective device that minimizes chainsaw kickback.
    • Be cautious of saw kickback. To avoid kickback, do not saw with the tip. Keep tip guard in place.

  • Fractal Burning:

    • Lichtenburg equipment can be HIGHLY DANGEROUS and LETHAL. Use at your own risk.
    • Use of Lichtenburg equipment is not recommended by the WorldWideWoodTurners.
    • For an explanation on why the Lichtenburg equipment is deemed so dangerous, see the AAW articles at https://woodturner.org/Woodturner/Resources/Safety-Materials/Safety-Fractal-Burning-Lichtenburg-Burning.aspx.
    • Because some people will use these tools, we will make the following safety observations:
      • Homemade burners should NOT BE USED, being homemade may increase the danger of the unit.
      • Don’t use the burner until you understand all of the instructions and safety precautions.
      • Read and follow all instructions prior to the use of the burner.
      • Keep under the control and supervision of a responsible adult at all times.
      • Do not plug the burner in until you have completed all preparation steps and are ready to decorate the item.
      • Ensure both probes are under your control prior to activating the burner.
      • Do not hold the probes!* The probes should be designed to stand by themselves. Place them where you want to start the burn.
      • DO NOT touch the area below the probe’s insulation or near each probe’s tip.
      • Assure the device is turned off when not in use
      • Check the surface below the probe when device is turned off, the surface below the item being decorated can show burn/melt damage and may require replacement for safety.
      • Wear shoes and stand on a rubber floor mat.
      • Wear electrically insulated rubber gloves that are designed to protect you from high voltage (Class II). Electrically insulated gloves may be purchased from most safety supply stores or from the internet.
      • Ensure the glove’s safety procedures and protocol are followed.
      • Do not use on or near any electrically conductive surfaces including tools.
      • Ensure the material to be decorated is secure and stable on a nonconductive work surface.
      • Do not attempt to decorate the item while mounted on a metal or conductive surface.
      • It is recommended that you have a second person serve as a safety observer.
      • Do not allow anyone to touch any work surface or the item being decorated while the burner is activated. The current travels through the wood and will shock you.
      • Do not coat or spray electrolyte solution on the item while the burner is activated. The electrolyte conducts the electricity.
      • Unplug the burner once you have finished the decorating.
      • Remain focused on what you are doing, safety, and use caution with this tool

    • Grinding Wheel:

      • Assure no slip or trip hazards are present.
      • Keep safety shields (spark deflectors) in position before starting the grinder.
      • Assure the electrical cords are not damaged.
      • Assure the grinding wheels are properly ‘dressed’
      • Assure the wheels do not touch the tool rest
      • Assure the gap between wheel and rest is no greater than 1.5 mm.
      • Assure grinding wheels are running true.
      • Stand to the side of the wheels when starting up.
      • Don’t use Faulty equipment.
      • Let the wheels gain maximum speed before starting to grind.
      • Don’t grind on the side of stone wheel.
      • Don’t hold small objects by hand.
      • Don’t hold with gloves, cloth, apron or pliers.
      • Don’t leave an unattended machine running.
      • Don’t bend down near the machine while it is running.
      • Don’t force the workpiece against the wheel.
      • Slowly move the workpiece across the face of the wheel uniformly.