There are too many potentially dangerous situations that could occur in woodworking to not take the utmost precaution when you’re in the shop. Keep these 4 tips in mind when you take on your next project.
Proper Safety Attire
It is important to wear fitted and full-coverage clothing to prevent any of your clothing from getting spun in a cutting tool and preventing any flying wood shavings from cutting your skin. On top of proper clothing, you’ll need the right equipment to ensure maximum safety. You should always wear safety glasses, thick woodworking gloves, and some form of hearing protection if the tools you are working with are especially loud.
Sobriety is Key
Even though it may seem harmless to enjoy a drink while working on your wood project, you should never operate machinery with alcohol in your system. You may not think you are intoxicated after a couple of drinks, but it is likely your stability and strength will be impacted, therefore making it dangerous to work with power tools. This could potentially cause major injury, so it is best to save the drink for celebrating your finished project.
The Sharper, the Better
You should always make sure the tools you are using are not in any way dull. Working with dull blades on wood can pose a threat of kick-back and potential injury. Also, if your blade is not as sharp as it should be, it will be very difficult to evenly cut or successfully complete your desired task. Keep your blades sharp to be safe, and you’ll have better quality results. It’s a win-win!
Ensure it’s Just Wood
Depending on where you get the wood you are working with in the shop, some wood planks may have old nails or screws in them. Be sure to inspect every piece of wood you will be cutting for any pieces of metal hiding in them. Running into a nail or screw mid-cut can cause major kick-back or could send a piece of metal flying through the air. Be safe, rather than sorry, and make sure you’re working with wood, and wood only!
As long as you follow these safety rules and you are extremely cautious when woodworking, you’re sure to “nail” your next project! Get your project started by purchasing one of our authentic barn wood kits today.