Hey guys.
I’ve been putting together a list of woodworking dos and don’ts for my shop kids. Sort of a ten+ commandments for group shops with high schoolers.
Things like:
Always check for square.
Don’t assume the machine is setup correctly.
Leave it better/ cleaner than you found it.
Know your parts measurements.
I have many, many more and different ways of saying the same things, but I would like to hear what anyone in this world thinks is a good shop saying.
Thanks
Replies
In my highschool shop there was a yellow line away from and around every machine. If someone was operating a machine no one was to cross that line. Violations were dealt with severely! So, "Stay away from and never interupt someone operating machinery"
Build a small toolbox with slots for cell phones. Class does not start until the box is full and stowed away. The ultimate distraction presents the most danger.
Thanks Lataxe and guys. The safety rules are never the issue this is more of a list of little operational tricks to help the kids think through their setups. Its been a pain this year that some kids set the machines a degree or two off 90 purposefully to mess with others. It's our standing order now to always check for square every time they use a machine.
Wish we could get the phones away but we don't touch those anymore. Too expensive to be liable for and we use them in class. I am basically paperless. For better or worse we are told to teach the kids to use their tech responsibly.
With life in general, I've noticed this: folk who have an understanding of basic physics, especially the effects of force distributions & actions of moving parts (sometimes called "mechanics") often do better at foreseeing dangerous physical possibilities than do those without such an understanding.
Its astonishing that an operator lacking such understanding doesn't realise that one of their actions with a piece of wood and a tablesaw is going to result in the sort of "force distribution" that no one wants!
A short class in "mechanics" that uses wood working actions, especially machine actions, to illustrate the physics could be a very useful precursor to the main meat of any woodworking class or course.
Lataxe, always wary of metal teeth and claws.
When using sharp hand tools (chisels, knives, ...), always have both hands (and your body) behind the edge.
If you get a feeling like "this might be dangerous" or "maybe I shouldn't do this", don't do it!
Woodworking isn't a race and time is not money. Go at a pace (generally slowly if you're a learner) that allows you to pay attention to and understand every aspect of what you're doing.
Avoid macho posturing with tools and their use. They're not weapons and you're not at war with the wood. Others in the shop are not an audience of your innate talent & skills, especially those you haven't yet acquired.
Be persistent - things are rarely "right first time" and, anyway, mistakes are the best teacher of all - if you take their lessons then go onto apply them by sticking with it.
Lataxe
You cannot effectively secure your work with your hands.
If the material is not clamped, then at least two points of contact are required (e.g work surface + fence/stop).
That' true (avoid securing work pieces by hand) for a lot of woodworking, especially that involving powered machines, but not universally true. For example, consider the operator modes of spoon making and whittling, which have only one's own hands as the vises.
It probably is best to teach that clamping and otherwise securing workpieces with devices made for the purpose should be the first or go-to option. But there are cases where hands need to be involved in securing something being worked on. In that case, such operations should be preceded by teaching of the safest way to hand-hold, along with the dangers of not doing so.
Spoon carving traditions are a good source of the general principles involved. On the other hand, there are a lot of UBoob "survivalist" style wood-manglers who perform some extremely dangerous hand-held actions with their Great Big Knives & Axes! One must choose the demos carefully, to select the safe and considerate fellows. :-)
Lataxe
Sharp tools are safer than dull tools.
Think through all operations with power tools before you turn it on and if at all unsure, do practice runs and/or ask the instructor. Move the wood around and find out that OH-BOY that ain't gonna work before you find out with actual wood and your hands.
-Sharp is smart, dull is dumb
-Always sand as if someone else was paying for the paper
In working with fifth graders after school there is one "Shop Phrase" we use and that's
"Wear your PPE. Protect your eyes, ears and lungs."
Good luck and thank you for what you do.
“[Deleted]”
Some aphorisms for you:
Always allow double the time you genuinely think you will need to complete a project. When you get really good, you can add only 50%. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-your-projects-are-always-late-and-what-to-do-about-it-replay/
Smart people make test cuts on scrap first.
Mark the waste.
Safe doesn't mean no-one got hurt today. It means there was no chance anyone could have been hurt today.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Someone saying it can't be done doesn't make that true. Think for yourself.
Machines have even less brains than you, and eat fingers.
There's no sewing back on what a jointer removes.
Not only will this machine kill you, it will hurt the whole time you are dying.
Great woodworkers can still count to 10.
Now you know why you studied trigonometry.
Perfection is impossible. Get as close as you can.
(Do your best and caulk the rest)
Wood moves. Learn to deal with it.
Sharp tools are safe tools.
Sharp fixes everything (I think this should be attributed to WoodTalk)
Is it on the floor? Did you drop it? I don't care - pick it up anyway.
That's the kind of list I'm putting together. Thanks!
- Measurements on the prints are merely "targets." Cut to ACTUAL measurement.
Never point a chisel at yourself -- always chisel away from you
Never rip a warped board on a table saw
When making mirror image pieces, like sides of a cabinet, always mark your pieces and double check before cutting
Never leave a power tool running unattended
Sometimes its better to walk away for a bit if you're getting frustrated or making a lot of mistakes. Calm yourself before you do something foolish
If you have any doubts, always take a minute to think through what you're doing before you do it
Always check that your hair, any jewelry and clothing is not long enough or loose enough to get caught in the machine if you have to get close or lean over
Never talk to a friend or coworker while using power tools
Always check used wood for nails
"Never talk to a friend or coworker while using power tools"
Noted, will only talk to acquaintances I don't work with while using power tools.
Make test cuts on same sized material.
Mockup complicated pieces. Or make 1st with an inexpensive wood.
Avoid stains all together, wood is beautiful on it's own.
Don't follow trends.
Edge grain cutting boards are easier to make, last as long, require 1/3 of the oil, and are preferred by every cook and the one chef I know over end grain.
Closed grain woods for any kitchen use.
Helical cutting heads are worth every penny.
Dust collection is worth it.
Geometry is your friend.
Made gifts are appreciated more.