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I am an absolute stickler about safety in the workshop. I have heard horror stories of what can happen in the shop. I am very safety conscious and I have been very fortunate to have been free of any serious major accidents. I have had some minor mishaps, but because of my attention to safety, I have been able to avoid any serious situations.

I use all of the safety devices that come with my tools, I do not alter them or take them off. I use push sticks, blocks, clamps, jigs, whatever it takes to get the job done safely.

The shop is a dangerous place. Tools whizzing by at tens of thousands of RPMs, blades are razor sharp, drills twisting so fast they could catch your sleeve, and work it's way up your arm.

Even though this sounds so serious, it should not make anyone afraid to go into the shop to have fun. The key thing is to respect the power and hand tools you use. Think before you do anything. Do a dry-run before you perform a task. Try things several ways on the dry-run, thinking of any problems that might occur.

Do Not Rush through an operation. If you are sawing a piece of wood on a table saw, and you are not sure about your reach, try pushing the wood through with the saw turned off, and unplugged. Try it different ways, and pick the way the feels and looks the safest. Following the manufacturers directions and safety instructions will usually guide you in the best, safest direction.

Always keep in mind, that there are inherent safety concerns with each and every tool. A chisel has several, you can get something in your eye, you can gouge and cut yourself, and you can ruin a project or mess up a nice bench if used incorrectly.

Likewise, a drill press has many safety issues to consider. Loose clothing, like a long sleeve shirt can get caught in the bit, and pull you right up to the high speed spindle and hurt you pretty bad. Also, you can get cut with a sharp drill bit, and if your work is not securely fastened to the table, it can start violently spinning up the drill bit, and scare the pants off of you.

If you are ever in doubt, DO NOT DO IT. What I mean by that - is if it feels unsafe, why risk it. Find a friend or someone who can help you, or get online and ask another woodworker for some advice on how to approach your specific need.

Always read the safety cautions that come with your equipment. It sounds redundant, and silly, but each tool has specific safety issues and the manufacturers try to warn you about the inherent dangers certain tools posses.

One of the most important basic safety rules. If you do not get anything else off this site, my hope is that you would always wear your safety glasses, goggles, or face shield. Your eyesight is precious, and you don't want to loose that over some flying piece of debris. Ear protection is also a must with the louder tools such as routers and shop vacs.

There are some things certain disabilities lead themselves to NOT DOING, and there is nothing wrong with having your home center cut some wood to size for you, or have a friend over and help you out. Pride is not a good reason to cut corners and hurt yourself or put yourself in danger.

DISCLAIMER

I do not guarantee any of the information on this web site, it's ability to work for any particular person, the consequences and safety issues of trying any of the operations mentioned.

Modifiying a manufactueres tool or device will usually void the warranty, and can cause possibly personal injury. One should NEVER alter or modify any of the safety devices that tools come with from the factory.

I will not be held liable for any injury or accident occurring from using any of the examples, ideas, techniques or suggestions on these pages. All of the pages here are on a try-at-your-own-risk basis and presented as a public service to encourage others.

Woodworking can be dangerous, and each person's ability must be considered before any task is undertaken.