Western Illinois University Department of Art Woodshop Orientation SAFETY is the first priority woodworking tools are inherently dangerous. Machines turn sharp saw blades and cutters at high speeds. Accidents happen quickly and can result in severe injury if safety policies and procedures are not followed. The following rules are provided to help you develop safe shop habits. The orientation will cover: guidelines for use, general safety rules, machine and hand tool safety and specific rules for each of the machines available for your use. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of others in the woodshop. The materials provides here will help you prepare for Guidelines for Use The Department of Art Woodshop is for the use of Faculty and currently enrolled Art students working on art- related projects. Students must complete the orientation and training process to be granted access. Only those who have been granted access are allowed to work in the woodshop. Materials are not provided. The woodshop is for working on wood- related projects only. Other work should be accomplished in appropriate areas of the SOA facilities. Students may only operate tools and machinery that they have been checked- off on. All tools remain in the woodshop. No work or materials may be stored in the shop. Supervisor reserves the right to terminate woodshop privileges if safety and machine use policies and procedures are violated. Dress Safely Always wear safety glasses when working in the woodshop. Remove all jewelry. Hair should be pulled back No open toe shoes such as sandals. Wear hearing protection and dust mask, as conditions require. Think Keep your attention on what you are doing at all times. Never operate a machine without proper instruction. Do not perform any operation on any machine unless you know how to do it safely. Do not distract others while they are operating machinery. Don t work when sick or tired. Always follow proper safety procedures.
If you are unsure about how to do something ask the supervisor for assistance. Shop Safety Maintain clean and organized work areas. If a machine is connected to the dust collection system turn the system on before use. Maintain a safe distance from others while they are working at a piece of equipment. Clean- up after yourself when you are finished working in the woodshop. Machine Safety To operate a machine safely, you must know more than just how to turn it on and off. You must know how to perform the basic operations and how to make simple adjustments. Always maintain a healthy respect for the tool s capabilities and limits. Never use a machine for a job it was not designed for and never experiment - if you are unsure about how to perform a certain operation, ask for help. The more you know about a machine, the safer you will be. Don t become over confident - that leads to carelessness, which causes accidents. The following are general guidelines for stationary machines. Wear eye protection at all times - some tools such as the lathe may also require the use of a face shield. Always keep your hands a safe distance from cutters and blades. Make sure all guards and safety devices are in place. Do not use a machine without the proper guards. Know the physics of the machine and where the cutting force wants to throw the wood. When feeding material through a machine with the hands, be aware of the direction you are pushing (away from blade or cutter). Never operate a power tool when alone in the shop. Defects in the wood can be dangerous. Check the stock carefully for knots, splits, and other defects. Keep the machine clean. Remove all tools, lumber, and unnecessary materials. Objects left on the machine can vibrate into revolving cutters. They can then be thrown from the machine with great force. Never clean a machine while it is running. Always work with a plan of procedure. Consider and think through each step ahead of time. Never make an adjustment unless the power is off. The tool must come to a complete stop. Your stance is also important - stand in a comfortable, balanced (defensive) position when working with power tools. Both feet should be firmly on the floor. If something doesn t sound right, or feel right - turn off the machine and inform the supervisor. Above all, think before you perform any task. Know the tool s capabilities and the work it is intended for. If you feel unsure, STOP and ask for assistance. Hand- held Power Tools Only change blades, bits, etc., when the tool is off and unplugged. It is very easy to turn it on by mistake when you pick it up.
Know what direction it should go and be prepared to react and compensate for the torque of the motor. Many rules for the corresponding stationary machinery apply as well to the hand version. Turn off before unplugging, and always check that it is turned off before plugging in. Hand Tools chisels, planes, knives etc. These tools, while they do not involve the same dangers as power machinery, should be used cautiously. Often, the type of injury sustained while misusing these tools are small cuts and lacerations - sometimes requiring stitches. Please observe the following guidelines while using hand tools. Never use a dull tool - it is actually much more dangerous than a sharp one. Think about the direction your energy is going while performing an operation. If you are holding material in your hands, be sure the action if going away from your body. Better yet, clamp the material in a vise or to the surface of a workbench. Like power tools, think through a procedure before you attempt it. Many times, we become complacent or are rushing through a job - that is when accidents are most likely to occur. Band Saw Most find the band saw one of the less- threatening pieces of equipment, however this fact can lull you into a false sense of security. Although less catastrophic than injuries on other machines, accidents on the band saw can occur if the operator doesn t follow proper safety guidelines. Know and follow the general safety rules for operating stationary woodworking machinery. Adjust the upper guide so it is from 1/8 to 1/4 inch above the stock Keep your hands out of line with the blade. Keep your fingers at least 2 inches from the blade at all times. Never perform an unfamiliar technique without hands- on training. Don t push the wood with your fingers moving toward the front of the blade. Wood can split and your fingers can go into the blade. Keep you energy directed away from the front of the blade. Use the proper size blade for the task you want to accomplish, i.e. resawing vs. cutting tight curves. Make sure the guides are properly set. If you hear an unfamiliar sound, stop the machine and inform the supervisor. Keep work area free from debris. Miter Saws The miter saw is used for cutting materials to length. It excels at precision 90 degree and angle cuts, including compound joints. They are fast, and cut angles with repeatable accuracy. All miter saws have scales showing the angle of the cut, as well as detents (positive stops) at often used miter angles. When used with a stop block, the miter saw can make short work of cutting stock to length. A big advantage is you can get a cleaner cut, especially when cutting long lengths. As opposed to
the table saw - with the miter saw, you are moving the blade into the stock instead of the other way around. Guard should be used at all times. Don t start saw with wood touching the saw blade. Always be aware of where your fingers are in relation to the blade. Don t hold the wood on the left side of the saw with your right hand. NEVER place your hands closer then 6" from the blade. Don t start cutting until the blade is moving at full speed. Cut only one piece of wood at a time. Maintain a balanced stance - stand to the left of the machine while cutting (with right hand). Sanders The most common injury when working with stationary sanders is abrasions to fingers and knuckles. Follow general safety guidelines for stationary machinery when using sanders. While using the disc sander, work on the down side of the disc - most likely the left side. Hold the work firmly. Use a dust mask. Fine dust particles are inevitable even with the use of a dust collection system. Don t attempt to sand very small pieces on the belt sander. Be sure that sanding belts are tracking properly. Don t use with a torn belt or disc. Do not touch moving belts or discs. Support the work securely against the guides before moving it against the abrasive. Drill Press The drill press is not inherently dangerous, but it deserves respect and warrants some precautions. The greatest hazard is spinning work. Large bits muster enough torque to rip work from your hand; it is best to clamp the work to the table to prevent this. Run drill at correct cutting speed - dependant on bit size and material. Use a vise or clamp to hold material. Remove chips with a brush, never by hand. Ease up on pressure as bit breaks through material. Don't drill with too much pressure; if the bit is dull - replace it. If drill binds, shut off machine; turn chuck backwards by hand to free bit. When drilling deep holes withdraw drill to clear chips frequently. Never wear gloves, loose clothing or jewelry when using a drill press. Tie long hair back. Support the underside of the stock to be drilled. Insert bit into drill chuck and tighten with the chuck key. Remove chuck key from the drill chuck before starting the drill press. Make all drill press adjustments with the power shut off. Keep hands and fingers at least two inches from rotating drill bits. Never stop the rotation of the drill chuck and spindle with your hands or fingers. Always clean the drill press table and work area upon completion of the drilling task.
Scroll Saw The Scroll Saw is the ideal tool when fine, intricate curved cuts are required. Many of the same band saw guidelines apply to the scroll saw. Adjust the hold- down to apply light pressure to the work. Watch your fingers use push sticks where appropriate. Be very careful at the end of the cut to keep fingers clear. The blade can spring forward as it completes the cut. When steering along a curved cut, do not warp the blade sideways from its natural position. Air- powered Nail Gun The use of air- powered nail guns speed the process of assembling and fastening components. Be sure compressor and/or air supply is turned on. Use the appropriate nail gun and nail size for the work you are doing. Be very careful how you hold the work while nailing. Never place your hand where the nail can leave the material and strike your finger. Turn off compressor and/or disconnect the air supply upon completion. Conclusion Review these orientation materials and the extensive information on the woodshop website to prepare for the online test. Upon successful completion of a certification test, you are required to complete the machine skills check- off test on the following tools: Band saw Sanders (Disc/Belt, Spindle, Horizontal & Orbital) Miter saw Drill press Scroll saw Air nail gun Contact Robert Brownlow or the Department Chair, Charles Wright, if you have any questions about the Department of Art Safety requirements.