Lessons Learned ... distilled from Turning Injuries: Learning the Hard Way
Back in April of 2003, a number of woodturners on the WoodCentral forum shared their safety-related experiences and mishaps. These were distilled down into an article that can be found at http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/readarticle.pl?dir=turning&file=articles_129.shtml If you have the time, these are very interesting to read in their entirety. If not, here are some excerpts relating the key points of the content.
CONSIDER what can go wrong before it does – EXPECT the unexpected
ALWAYS WEAR A FULL FACE SHIELD
Learn the CORRECT direction of movement for each tool
DON’T work when you are tired, preoccupied, or in a hurry
It is safer to turn ALONE to avoid distractions
Keep all tools SHARP and in proper working order
Never turn the lathe on before checking EVERYTHING, particularly the SPEED
Always use the SLOWEST possible speed – but for some applications, faster is better
REMOVE unneeded parts from the lathe – like the tool rest (when sanding) and the tail stock
Have no loose sleeves, and keep all sleeves AWAY from anything that can grab them
Stand OUT of the line of fire
Use tools only within their SAFE boundaries
Keep your face as far AWAY as possible
Move the tool slowly and CAREFULLY at all times and maintain complete concentration
Make SURE the tool doesn’t go off the end of the tool rest
RECHECK the chuck periodically to make sure it is very tight
Don’t try to make vessels TOO THIN; it doesn’t pay
Do NOT go back to work on thin edges; do them and leave them
Try to cut with the LOWER half of any tool
Try to use an OVERHAND grip with the left hand to keep the fingers out from under the tool shaft in the event of a catch
Sand only on the LOWER LEFT side
Sanding by hand alone is dangerous – it is often better to use some kind of paper HOLDER
An INSIDE LIP on the top of a bowl is a dangerous place; use only proper hollowing tools there
Keep fingers AWAY from the grinder
Do NOT attach any materials to a piece and then turn it further (like a copper wire)
GLUE BLOCKS can be dangerous; working pieces may detach unexpectedly
Putting your hands inside a bowl for any reason is DANGEROUS
RING TOOLS can be dangerous and should be used with care
Sharp edges on turnings are SHARP |