Turning Wood

Woodworking The Most Important Wood Turning Safety Guidelines

Wood turning is a potentially dangerous activity. It is your responsibility to make sure you are properly educated in all aspects of wood turning and to follow safety guidelines and manufacturers recommendations regarding the proper use of product to ensure your safety. Visit the Woodworking Plans Website pages for more woodworking articles. Here are the most important wood turning safety guidelines:

1. Safe and effective use of a wood lathe requires study and knowledge of proper machine operation, tool use and correct turning techniques. It is your responsibility to read and follow all warning labels and owners/operators manuals supplied on or with machinery, chucks, tools and other products. It is your responsibility to become properly educated in all aspects of woodturning prior to turning wood.

2. Always wear a full-face shield at all times. Shop/Safety glasses alone are not sufficient protection from flying debris.

3. Exposure to wood dust can be harmful to your respiratory system. Always use a proper dust mask or air filtration helmet in addition to adequate ventilation.

4. Always wear adequate hearing protection. Long-term exposure to noise can damage hearing.

5. Do not wear loose clothing, gloves, jewelry or any objects that dangle as they may become entangled in the lathe. Always tie back long hair. Check your person and your surroundings for any other items that may be accidentally entangled.

6. Check your owner/operators manual for proper speed recommendations. If you cannot find recommended speeds, please seek the advise of a professional prior to operating the lathe. Use slower speeds for larger diameter or out of balance work. NEVER start the lathe before checking to make sure the lathe speed setting is correct for the size of work to be turned. If excess vibration or shaking occurs, stop the lathe and determine the cause before proceeding.

7. Prior to starting the lathe, rotate the work piece by hand to make sure that it clears the tool rest support and lathe bed. Also, make certain that all clamping devices are locked and that the tailstock is proper seated against the work.

8. Be sure the work piece is securely mounted and is free of imperfections or substandard glue joints that may result in the work piece separating or flying apart.

9. Make certain that the belt guard and/or control and motor covers are is in place. Check to make sure all tightening handles are properly tightened.

10. Make sure that the tool is resting on the tool rest before beginning the cut. Always run the lathe at slow speeds while making roughing cuts and NEVER use a roughing gouge on a bowl. Learn more Wood Turning articles here.

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Turning Wood with Richard Raffan (woodturning DVD preview)