Safety first! You can fully enjoy your wood turning projects if you protect yourself from injury. Here we’ve compiled a checklist of basic safety equipment so that you can see why each piece is helpful, and make sure that you’re fully protected during your work.
Safety glasses are very important. You will be using your eyes a lot to do your project, so respect them by protecting them. The soft tissues of the eyes can be easily damaged. Look for shatter-resistant safety glasses that cover the front, bottom and sides of your face. There can be a lot of debris while you’re turning wood, so choosing the right glasses is essential.
With any woodworking project, you should wear long sleeves and long pants. Make sure that you do not have on any loose fitting clothing that could get pulled into a rotating machine. Overalls and aprons help to keep your shirt tail from being exposed. Thick canvas or leather material is great for taking the impact of flying pieces to protect your body.
Many people are injured, even killed, by power tools each year. Check your manuals and make sure that you are following the safety guidelines set forth by the manufacturer. When turning on a lathe and using freehand tools, use the tool rest to guide you. This will prevent the tool from being flung from your hands into the air. You may choose to wear a shatterproof face shield just in case this happens.
Use the lowest speed that you can on the lathe. Larger wooden dowels and bigger pieces of wood require a slower turning speed than a small wood dowel or other intricate piece. Set the speed on the lathe before you turn it on. Adjusting the speed with a dowel or other piece on the lathe can send the piece flying.
Many woods are dangerous if inhaled. Think of the sap and allergens entering your lungs. A respirator is definitely a necessary piece of equipment for woodworkers. Dust masks are fine for some types of wood, but when in doubt, wear a respirator. This will ensure that microscopic irritants do not enter your lungs. Some things will cause an immediate reaction while others can lead to long-term disability and disease. Don’t risk it, use a respirator.
Following these rules will keep you relatively safe. Use common sense and don’t work when you’re tired, frustrated, or in a hurry. Be careful and wood turning can be a very satisfying hobby.
About the Author: Dave Murphy is the founder and president of Good Wood, Inc., which makes a high quality <a href=”http://www.goodwoodinc.com/”title=”Wood Dowel”>wood dowel</a> and the best <a href=”http://www.goodwoodinc.com/”title=”Hardwood Dowel”>hardwood dowel</a> on the market. They also create wooden balls, wood knobs, wooden toy parts, custom wood parts, and more. They offer safe wood finishing, wood turning and can import from off-shore when necessary. Visit http://www.goodwoodinc.com for all of your wood product needs.
