Popular Woodworking 2007-11 № 165, страница 58
Good habits. Not only should you have safety equipment in the shop, hut you should use it regularly. Always perform operations in the same safe manner. Rushing or cutting corners can get you cut. • Make sure you properly dispose of rags and paper towels saturated with finishes in either a sealed metal trash can or better yet get them outside your shop and lay them out flat to dry. Disposing of soiled rags in a bucket of water is not a good idea — especially with oily rags. • Do not wad any rags up when using them or after. Rags saturated with linseed oil may spontaneously ignite. Always lay your rags out flat to prevent fumes and heat from accumulating in the wrinkles and folds. • It's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher ready just in case. • Never run a heater when finishing. 8 Be careful of how you dispose of finishing chemicals. Dedicate a "satellite" container into which used solvent, paint and stain can be disposed. Check with your fire marshal to determine the best way to dispose of these chemicals. However it is possible to recycle some of the used solvents by pouring them into another container and letting the solids settle out, then re-pour the clear liquid back into another container to use it again. Mineral spirits and turpentine can be use this way. Some solvents can be poured into a shallow pan. This will allow the solvents to evaporate leaving the hard solids, which can then be put in the dumpster. 9 Always cover your workbench with cardboard or newspaper to protect it from spills. If you spill on the floor, clean it up as soon as possible. Preparedness Woodworking is largely a matter of common sense, awareness and being prepared. Most shop accidents occur as a result of either being over confident, tired or inexperienced. When you work in your shop don't rush; nothing good can come from it. There are no advantages in quick results. Develop a sense of rhythm when working in your shop; this will keep you in tune with what you are doing. Woodworking on power equipment is primarily a mechanical process. As you learn to use machines correctly, you will also learn to use them in a safe way. Remember my statement earlier: "Safety is a learned skill." Try to always use a machine in the same manner. Do not do it differently from time to time. If safety is a fundamental part of the routine of machining wood, then working wood will always be safer. I suggest that every woodworker have a safety program or a personal commitment to developing good shop habits. I've prepared a list of 18 rules that should be printed out and hung on the wall. If you ever allow anyone to use your equipment, make sure you review these simple rules with them. To download a copy of these rules, visit popularwoodworking.com/nov07. PW Marc Adams is the founder of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Ind., one of the largest woodworking schools in the world. For details, visit marcadams.com or call 317535-4013. Work with More Accuracy (and Safety) in your Woodshop The best way to use your machines is rarely explained in the manual. Find out how to operate machines to get accurate results without sacrificing safety. • Parti Learn the Skills to be Safe The groundworkfor a lifetime of accurate woodworking is to understand your tools. IN FUTURE ISSUES • Part 2 Practical Safety Devices Choose the right guards, push sticks and hold-downs to work safe. • Part 3 Power Jointers Most people use their jointers wrong, resulting in warped stock and unsafe operations. • Part 4 Miter Saw Stock miter saws are neither accurate or safe. Here's how to fix both problems. • Part 5 Band Saws Band saws are safe if used correctly; however it's easy to step over the line and get bit. • Part 6 Planers Powered planers seem like a safe machine until you start testing their limits. • Part 7 Table Saws Thefundamental skills to get good (and safe) results with the most important woodworking machines. 56 ■ Popular Woodworking November 2007 |
