Power Tools Safety

Portable Circular Saws Stock must be well supported in such a way that the kerf will not close and bind the blade.. Thin materials should be supported near the cut Be careful not to cut into the sawhorse or other supporting devices. Adjust the depth of cut to the thickness of the stock, plus 1/8 in Check the base and angle adjustment to be sure that are tight Plug the cord into a grounded outlet and be sure it will not become tangled in your work.

Portable Circular Saw Continued Always place the saw base on the stock with the blade clear before turning on the switch. During the cut, stand to one side of the cutting line. Never reach under the material being cut!!!! Some portable saws have two handles.. Ours do. Use both handles… Always unplug the machine to change blades. Always us a sharp blade. Place the base of the saw firmly on the stock before cutting Turn on the motor before the blade contacts the work Do not attempt to cut curves so sharp that the blade will twist Make certain the work is well supported..

Saber Saws Make certain the saw is properly grounded through the electrical cord. The switch must be in the “off” position before connecting to power source. Select the correct blade for your work and be sure it is properly mounted Disconnect the saw to change blades or make adjustments Place the base of the saw firmly on the stock before starting the cut Turn on the motor before the blade contacts the work Do not attempt to cut curves so sharp the blade will be twisted Make sure the work is well supported

Portable Drills Select the correct drill or bit for your work and mount it securely in the chuck Stock must be held so it will not move during the operation Turn the switch on for a moment to see if the bit is properly centered and running true. With the switch off, place the point of the bit in the layout hole Hold the drill firmly in one or both hands and at the correct drilling angle Turn the switch and feed the drill into the work

Portable Drills continued The pressure required will vary with the size of the drill and the kind of wood being drilled During the operation, keep the drill aligned with the direction of the hole When drilling deep holes, especially with a twist drill, withdraw the drill several times to clear the cuttings Always remove he bit from the drill as soon as you have completed the work, and once the bit has cooled off.

Power Planers Stand to the side of the machine. Keep hands outside the table. Dust collector must be on. Should have a helper. Only turn the dial (raise the table) ½ turn at a time. Board must be 18” long Plane off no more than 1/8”

Portable Routers The bit must be securely mounted in the chuck and the base must be tight Be sure the motor is properly grounded Be sure the is securely clamped so it will remain stationary during the routing operation Place the router base on the work, template, or guide, with the bit clear of the wood, before turning on the power. Hold it firmly when turning on the motor. Starting torque could wrench the tool from your grasp

Portable Routers Continued Hold the router with both hands and feed it smoothly through the cut in the correct directions. When the cut is complete, turn off the motor, do not lift the machine from the work until the motor has stopped. Always unplug the motor when mounting bits or making adjustments.

Power Staplers & Nailers Study the Manufacturers operating directions and follow them carefully. Use the correct type and size of fastener recommended by the manufacturer. For air powered nailers, always use the correct pressure. Be sure the compressed air is free of dust and excessive moisture. Always keep the nose of the stapler or nailer pointed toward the work. NEVER aim it toward yourself or other workers.. Check all safety features and be sure they are working.

Power Staplers & Nailers Continued Make a test by driving the staples or nails into a block of wood During use on the job, hold the nose firmly against the surface being stapled or nailed Always disconnect the power tool from the air or electrical power supply when it is not being used.

Radial Arm Saws Stock must be held firmly on the table and against the fence for all crosscutting operations The ends of long boards must be supported level with the table Before turning on the motor, be sure clamps and locking devices are tight Check the depth of the cut and table slope It must be slightly lower at back than front to prevent blade from “running” forward. Keep the guard and anti-kickback device in position

Radial Arm Saw Continued Always return the saw to the rear of the table after completing a crosscut or miter cut. Never remove stock from the table until the saw has been returned. Maintain a 6 in margin for safety Keep your hands this distance away from the path of the saw blade. Shut off the motor and wait for the blade to stop before making any adjustments Do not leave the machine before the blade has stopped.

Radial Arm Saw Continued Keep the table clean and free of scrap pieces and excessive amounts of sawdust. Do not attempt to clean off the table while the saw is running In crosscutting, always pull the blade toward you. Stock to be ripped must be flat and have one straight edge to guide it along the fence. When ripping, always feed stock into the blade so that the bottom teeth are turning toward you. This will be the side opposite the anti-kickback fingers.

Table Saw Be certain the blade is sharp and right for the job at hand Make sure the saw is equipped with a guard and USE IT… Set the blade so it extends about ¼” above the stock to be cut. Stand to one side of the operating blade and do not reach across it. Maintain a 4” margin of safety. Stock should be surfaced and at least one edge jointed before being cut on the saw. Use the fence or miter gauge to control the stock. Do not cut stock free hand.

Table Saw Continued Always use push sticks when ripping short, narrow pieces. Do not let small scrap cuttings accumulate around the saw blade. Use a push stick to move them away. Resawing setups and other special setups must be carefully made and checked before the power is turned on. Remove the dado head or any special blades after use. Other workers, helping to “tail-off” the saw, should not push or pull on the stock but only SUPPORT IT.. The Operator must control the feed and direction of the cut.

Table Saw Continued As work is completed, turn off the machine and remain until the blade has stopped. Clear the saw table and place waste in a scrap box.

Jointers Stand to the side of the machine. Use a push stick to joint narrow boards Dust collector must be on. Make sure guard is covering the blade. Keep your hands above the fence. Board must be 12” long Before turning on the machine, make adjustments for depth of cut and position of fence. The maximum cut for jointing on a small jointer is 1/8”. For an edge and 1/16” for a flat surface.

Jointers Continued Feed the work so the knives will cut “with the Grain”. Use stock that is free from knots, splits and checks. Keep your hands away from the cutter head even though the guard is in position. Maintain at least a 4” margin of safety Use a push block when planing a flat surface. Do not apply pressure directly over the knives with your hand. Do NOT plane end grain! When work is complete, turn off the machine, and stand by until the cutter head has stopped.

Band Saw Stand in front of the machine (in-line with the blade). Do not adjust the guards. The teeth of the blade point downward to pull the board into the table. Keep the project flat on the table. Keep your fingers outside the throat plate area. Make relief cuts. The guard should be 1/8” above the project.

Disk Sander/Belt Sander Stand in front of the machine (in-line with the blade). Keep the project flat on the table. Sand on the right side of the disk so that the machine pulls the project down onto the table. Do not push the project into the machine too hard – will burn/damage the project. Do not push wood/material into the machine to stop it.

Drill Press Stand in front of the machine (in-line with the blade). Place a scrap piece of wood under the project to prevent bit blow-through. Be careful of the fluting on the drill bit. It can cut you. The bit will be hot when in use. Do not leave the chuck key in the chuck.

Basic Saw Safety Keep guards in place while operating Wear Safety Glasses or a face shield to protect from sawdust and other debris.. ALL THE TIME Lock the saw securely at the angle of the cut Hold the stock firmly against the fence Keep free hand clear of the cutting area. Work only with a sharp saw blade. Use Common Sense!! Think about your operation before performing it… Measure Twice, Cut Once!!!