Introduction to woodshop tools and safety

Agenda

Materials overview

General Safety Overview

Tool Overview

Tool info

Safety

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Materials - Overview of common materials

Medium density fiberboard (mdf) / hardboard / masonite / duron

• Consistent finish, thickness, flatness
• Low cost
• Relatively weak

Plywood (Birch)

• Strength
• Color (contrast for laser etching)
• Warps easily
• Inconsistent finish (grain) and thickness
• High cost

Acrylic

• Colors and opacity!
• Rigid
• Consistent finish, thickness, flatness
• Very high cost

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General Safety - Focus!

1. Avoid distracting others or getting distracted while operating a machine
2. When performing repetitive, monotonous tasks, take breaks to regain focus
3. Do not work in the shop when under the influence of stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, low blood sugar, dehydration, and alcohol/ drugs
4. While operating a shop machine, ensure that your full attention is on the “sphere of action”

General Safety - Dress Code

• Nothing loose
• Proper footwear
• Protective eyewear
• Hearing and respiratory protection

General Safety - Dress Code - Nothing Loose

• Tie up, roll up, fasten (tape), or remove any loose clothing, long sleeves, scarves, jewelry and hair
• No gloves when operating machines that can entangle

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General Safety - Dress Code - Proper Footwear

• Wear flat, no-slip, close-toed shoes that cover the top of your feet and toes (ideally leather)

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General Safety - Dress Code - Protective Eyewear

• Wear goggles (glasses are OK) to prevent dust, chips, and other projectiles from damaging your eyes

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General Safety - Dress Code - Hearing & Respiratory

• Woodworking tools (especially when combined with a loud dust collector or vacuum) can easily approach sound levels that can lead to hearing loss. Wear earbuds or ear muffs whenever possible (no headphones!)
• Wood / plastic dust can linger in the air long after the tools were in use. Wear dust masks when possible! Turn on the dust collector!

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Hand Tools

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Hand Tools - Clamps

Always secure workpieces (clamp material that you are working on to the bench / table)

After gluing pieces of wood together, ensure that they will adhere properly by clamping them together while the adhesive cures

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Hand Tools - Screwdrivers

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Hand Tools - Hammers

When you need more control (starting a nail), grip closer to the top; for power, grip closer to the bottom

For hard wood, drill a pilot hole before hammering in the nail to avoid splitting

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Hand Tools - Saw

Ensure that the saw is in good condition before using

(Teeth are sharp, blade is straight)

Begin the kerf with quick back-and-forth cuts. Once the initial notch is created, you can cut with longer strokes (cuts with the push stroke)

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Power Drill

Cordless drill used to make holes and screw in fasteners

Buttons/settings: Forward/reverse/lock control

Clutch collar - higher number means higher torque (for driving larger fasteners)

Power Tools - Best Practices & Safety

After inserting and tightening your bit in the chuck (holder), pull the trigger and check for wobble

Ensure workpiece is secure

Consider drilling a pilot hole (smaller hole) before using a large drill bit

Belt / Disk Sander

Sanders are used to rapidly shape and finish materials such as wood and aluminum

To use a belt or disk sander, press your workpiece against a spinning / moving abrasive

Belt / Disk Sander - Best Practices & Safety

Before powering on the belt sander, ensure nobody is standing directly in the path of the sander

Hold material such that the disc sander would launch it down onto the guard rather than up into the air

Similarly, angle your material such that the belt sander will not catch and launch it.

Your workpiece will be hot after running it across a sander. Be careful when handling!

Scroll Saw

Short thin blade that reciprocates through the material and table of the saw

Can be used to cut tight freehand curves and intricate patterns

Scroll Saw - Best Practices & Safety

Removable blade allows you to make closed interior cuts

Blade is flexible, take care not to break when cutting

Be sure to move the metal guard as low as possible (while still allowing your material to pass through)

Push the material through the blade gently, but don’t linger too long or you may end up with burns

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Drill Press

Use the drill press to make accurate holes in a wide variety of materials.

Drill presses typically feature an overhead drill mounted above an adjustable table.

Connect different drill bits to the drill via the adjustable chuck and key

Drill Press - Best Practices & Safety

After attaching the drill bit, spin up the drill to ensure that the bit is correctly aligned

The smaller the drill bit, the faster the speed

Speed should be faster for softer materials and slower for harder materials

Ensure material is properly secured to the table or it will catch and spin

Chop and Miter Saw

The miter saw is used to make through cuts

To produce a cut, lower the turning circular blade onto the workpiece (that is supported by the table and fence)

Chop and Miter Saw - Best Practices & Safety

Make sure your hand is at least 3 inches away from the blade

Ensure the vise is clamping your material tightly

Ensure the saw itself is clamped securely to the table

Watch out for the kerf (thickness of the blade)

Allow the blade to come to rest before lifting from the workpiece after cutting

Dremel Tool

The Dremel is a power tool used for a wide variety of functions. It’s maneuverability allows for fine detail work

With the right Dremel attachment, you can cut, sand, grind, carve, and much more.

Dremel Tool - Best Practices & Safety

As always, secure the object you are using the Dremel on

Cut at the appropriate speed for your bit and material (look it up!)

If you are cutting a thicker material, use multiple passes

If you hear the motor slowing down, you are pressing too hard

Experiment with different grips to find what’s comfortable

The workpiece and dremel bits will be hot after use!

Dremel Accessories

Dremel Accessories

Materials - Terminology [send to back - for reference]

Workpiece - an object being worked on with a tool or machine

Grain - texture seen in a cut surface of wood

Green wood - “fresh” lumber that has retained moisture (avoid cutting green wood on the machines)

Grit - abrasive material used in sanding (also refers to the degree of smoothness or granules per square inch)

Kerf - width of cut left behind from the blade

Warp - distortion of wood from its original shape

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