Files Safety (Coarse file, Half-circle File, Cube file, Flat File)

Before you start...

• Make sure you are wearing your safety glasses and apron
• Make sure that your work is securely clamped to the workbench
• Make sure that your work area is free of clutter and that you have enough personal space to work in.
• Double check you’re using the right kind of file for your job!

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Use both hands to support and control the file
• DO - File your work relatively slowly and gently - keep the file under control
• DO - File in one direction, don’t rub the file back and forth on the wood
• DON’T - File towards yourself  - i.e in an upwards direction while you’re bending over, as you could accidentally hit yourself in the face.

Instructional Video

How to use a coarse file...


Instructional Video

How to use a half-circle file...


Instructional Video

How to use a cube file...


Instructional Video

How to use a flat file...

Electric Sander Safety

Before you start...

• Make sure you have enough room to work
• Make sure you are wearing the proper safety equipment and suitable clothing (see above)
• If you need to plug in the sander, make sure the switch is off while you plug it in

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Use your free hand to hold the piece of wood you are sanding secure.
• DO - Keep the sander moving in a slow, anti-clockwise motion
• DON’T - keep the sander in one spot while it is on, as you can burn through the paper if it is in the same spot for too long.
• DON’T - Press hard with the sander onto your work
• DO - keep your hand away from the sander - don’t sand your hand!!
• DO - when sanding edges, make especially sure to keep the sander moving, as otherwise the paper will overheat and burn.

Instructional Video

How to properly use an electric sander...

Hacksaw Safety

*TIP* This blade is for cutting metal.

Before you start...

• Make sure your metal is securely clamped to the work bench
• Make sure you are wearing all of your safety equipment.
• Make sure you have enough personal space to work without risk of hitting anyone.

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Use one hand to further support your work and hold it still
• DO - Cut with the saw at a 45 degree angle to the floor
• DO - When you are cutting, make sure all the pressure/strength is in the downward stroke, and pull up the saw gently - there should be minimal effort required in the upstroke.
• DON’T - Put your hand near to or in the path of the blade at anytime.
• DO - Cut with firm, strong strokes, or else the saw will go out of control and will not cut effectively.

Instructional Video

How to correctly use a hacksaw...

Tenon Saw

Before you start...

• Make sure your work is securely clamped to the work bench
• Make sure you are wearing your safety goggles and apron.
• Make sure you have enough personal space to work without risk of hitting anyone if you were to slip.

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Use both hands to guide the saw and add more strength to your cutting
• DON’T - Put your hand underneath the blade while you are cutting
• DO - Cut with the blade parallel to the floor, (unlike the ripsaw and the hacksaw).
• DON’T - Cut too fast or let the blade go out of control, as it is more dangerous and less effective at cutting.

Instructional Video

How to safely use a tenon saw...

Ripsaw Safety

Before you start...

• Make sure your wood is securely clamped to the work bench
• Make sure you are wearing all of your safety equipment.
• Make sure you have enough personal space to work without risk of hitting anyone.

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Use one hand to further support your work and hold it still
• DO - Cut with the saw at a 45 degree angle to the floor
• DO - When you are cutting, make sure all the pressure/strength is in the downward stroke, and pull up the saw gently - there should be minimal effort required in the upstroke.
• DON’T - Put your hand near to or in the path of the blade at anytime.
• DO - Cut with firm, strong strokes, or else the saw will go out of control and will not cut effectively.

Instructional Video

How to use the ripsaw safely...

Hand Drill

Before you start...

• Make sure your work is securely clamped to the workbench
• Make sure you have enough room to work
• Make sure you are wearing the proper safety equipment and suitable clothing (see above)
• Make sure the cord is not in the line of where you are planning to cut
• If you need to plug in your tool, make sure the switch is off while you plug it in

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Double check that your work is securely clamped. 
• DO - Make sure you are standing with feet firmly on the ground so you don’t fall over while working.
• DO - Only start cutting when the drill is in full motion.
• DO - Apply a firm downward pressure while you are drilling, or you won’t go through the wood
• DON’T - Hold the drill at an angle or on a tilt, drill straight downwards
• DO - Keep your hands away from the drill bit when you are drilling.
• DO - Use both hands to support the drill and push down.
• DON’T - Leave the drill plugged in when not in use, as you can accidentally press the trigger and start it unintentionally.

Instructional Video

How to use a hand drill safely...

Hammer Safety

Before you start...

• Make sure you are wearing your safety glasses and apron.
• Make sure you are using the right kind of nails
• Double check that you are hammering in the right place.
• Make sure your work area is flat and free of clutter and that you have enough personal space to work.

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - For the first couple of hammer strikes, do them gently so that you don’t accidentally hit your fingers.
• DO - Use small but forceful taps to drive your nail in - don’t lift the hammer above your head to bring it down, instead, lift it about 5-10cm from the nail.
• DO - Once the nail has been stabilised in the wood after the first few hits, take away your fingers so that you don’t accidentally hit them with the hammer.
• DO - Hold the wood down and still with your free hand.
• DO - work on a flat surface, free of clutter.
• DON’T - Nail your work to the workbench! Instead, use an appropriately sized nail for your purposes, and if the nail is longer than the width of your wood, hammer the nail in with that part of the wood over a gap between two benches.

Instructional Video

How to use a hammer safely...

Band Saw Safety

*TIP* Don’t use the band saw for cutting straight or precise lines, as the blade is flexible and imprecise. Instead, you can use the scroll saw or a hand saw. 

Before you start...

• Make sure the machine is working by opening the doors and checking the wheels, then close the doors
• Using the knob at the side to loosen it, adjust the blade guard so that the amount of blade exposed is not much higher than the wood you are working with.
• Make sure that there is no clutter on the floor or around you that you could trip on or knock over, and make sure you have personal space while working with the saw 
• Put on all Safety equipment (see above)
• If you need to plug in the machine, make sure the switch is off while you plug it in, otherwise injury or an accident could result.

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Hold your work steady and push forwards into the blade gently. Make no sudden, sharp turns, or you could break the blade.
• DO - Make sure to keep your hands clear of the blade, with fingers and thumbs to the side in case you slip. The band saw is more dangerous that the scroll saw, so be extra attentive about where you put your fingers!
• DON’T - keep working if the blade breaks - turn it off and replace the blade.
• DO - If a piece of wood you need to cut is too small to cut without putting your fingers too close to the blade, you may use another piece of wood to push it forwards from behind. The wood won’t jump because the blade is going in one direction, unlike on the scroll saw.
• DO - Make sure the blade has come to a complete stop before clearing offcuts from around it.
• DO - While the blade is running, give it your full attention and turn it off when it’s not in use.(never leave it running and unattended).

Jigsaw Safety

Before you start...

• Make sure your work is securely clamped to the workbench
• Make sure you have enough room to work
• Make sure you are wearing the proper safety equipment and suitable clothing (see above)
• Make sure the cord is not in the line of where you are planning to cut
• If you need to plug in your tool, make sure the switch is off while you plug it in

Do’s and Don’ts

• DO - double check that your work is securely clamped and hold down clamped piece of wood with your free hand as extra support
• DO - Make sure you are standing with feet firmly on the ground so you don’t fall over while working.
• DO - Apply a firm downward and forward pressure when cutting so that the jigsaw doesn’t jump up and hit you.
• DON’T - Hold the jigsaw at an angle or on a tilt, always hold it flat, parallel to he floor
• DO - Keep your hands away from the blade when you are cutting 
• DO - Only start cutting when the blade is in full motion.
• DON’T - Leave the Jigsaw plugged in when not in use, as you can accidentally press the trigger and start it unintentionally.

Instructional Video

How to use a Jigsaw...

Drill Press Safety

Before you start...

• Make sure the drill press is in working order
• Make sure you are wearing all of your safety equipment (see above)
• Make sure that there is no clutter on the floor or around you that you could trip on or knock over, and make sure you have personal space while working with the saw 
• If you need to plug in the machine, make sure the switch is off while you plug it in, otherwise injury or an accident could result.

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DO - Make sure to hold the wood steady while you are drilling the hole.
• DON’T - keep working if the drill breaks - switch it off and get it fixed first
• DO - Make sure to keep your hands clear of the drill to avoid injury
• DO - While the drill is running, give it your full attention and turn it off when it’s not in use.
• DO - Turn the drill press off when not in use (never leave it running and unattended).
• DO - wait until the drill bit has come to a complete stop before removing wood from it.

Instructional Video

How to safely use the drill press...

Changing the Blade on A Scroll Saw

Before you start....

• Make sure the scroll saw is off - don’t try to to change the blade while it’s in motion!

DO’s and DON’T’s

• DON’T - grab the blade by the teeth, as you may cut yourself.
• DO - Make sure the teeth of the blade are pointing forwards and downwards.
• DON’T - Make the blade too tight - make sure there is some flex in the blade, otherwise it will break much more easily.

Instructional Video

   How to change the blade of a scroll saw...

General Safety

Safety Tips.

• Make sure work area is clear of clutter and mess
• Personal space is important while working
• Obey the safety signs around the room
• Wear all safety equipment when using the tools and remove anything that could get caught in the machine 
• When a machine is on, give it your full attention
• Have cables, cords and bags out of the walkways where someone could trip
• Tidy work area after use - put away used tools where they belong, throw away rubbish, and sweep away sawdust from the floors and surfaces.
• Report any damaged or malfunctioning equipment to the teacher
• Listen to all instructions
• Keep hands away from sharp blades
• Knot cords so that they don’t pull apart accidentally
• When plugging in a power tool, make sure the switch is off

Obey signs around the room...                  Knot cords so they don't pull apart...                 Wear appropriate protection when

                                                                                                                                           needed...

What to wear and what NOT to wear.

• Safety Glasses (when using any of the tools)
• Apron 
• Earplugs (when using machinery and loud tools)
• Dust mask (when cutting wood so you don’t inhale sawdust)
• Don’t wear long loose sleeves or clothing that may get caught in the machinery
• Remove jewellery and tie back long hair
• Wear enclosed and protective shoes

                    Wear all safety equipment - dust mask, apron, goggles, earplugs, enclosed shoes...

         

Scroll Saw Safety

Before you start...
Make sure the scroll saw blade is in order and safe to use - blade tightened to right tension, and pointing the right way, with teeth facing forwards and downwards. (See changing blades).

• Make sure that there is no clutter on the floor or around you that you could trip on or knock over, and make sure you have personal space while working with the saw 
• Put on all Safety equipment (see above)
• If you need to plug in the machine, make sure the switch is off while you plug it in, otherwise injury or an accident could result.
• Make sure the correct blade is in use (i.e. don’t use a wood blade for metal working)

Do’s and Don’ts

• DO - Make sure to hold the wood down firmly so that it does not jump, and push forwards slowly and gently so you don’t break the blade, no sudden, sharp turns.
• DON’T - keep working if the blade breaks - turn it off and replace the blade.
• DO - Make sure to keep your hands clear of the blade, with fingers and thumbs to the side in case you slip
• DO - While the blade is running, give it your full attention and turn it off when it’s not in use.
• DON’T - cut pieces of wood that are too small to hold onto without putting your fingers near the blade
• DON’T - cut a piece of wood has bumps in it and/or doesn’t sit flat and steady when you’re cutting.
• DO - Turn the scroll saw off when not in use (never leave it running and unattended).

Instructional video

How to use the scroll saw correctly.