Equipment SAFETY tips: The Lathe

1. no loose sleeves/cuffs – they can get caught on the equipment or the wood and get spun onto the machine.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Whatever you do, no matter how bad you want to, NEVER use your lathe to baste a turkey. It gets gibblets EVERYWHERE!

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

2. Always use full face protection.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I also don’t reccomend using a lathe to spin dry your shopdog after a bath. Imagine where that live center has to go and you’ll understand why my dog bit me!

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

On a serious note, ALWAYS turn the piece by hand before turning the lathe on to be sure it won’t hit the tool rest and take your head off!

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

haha Jim – I thought you said “gobblets” everywhere .. and laughed out loud… gobble gobble.. and woodturned goblets. Get it?? lol
But giblets is funny too

4. rings are a no-no. (Although I have to say, that my rings don’t come off so I am extra cautious of how I place my hands on the lathe tools. Perhaps taping them would be a good idea.)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Well, I wouldn’t recomend wearing a tie – especially a good one – it might get a stain on it. Of course it could also get caught in the machine in which case you may find that your face has jut been remodeled.

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

6. long necklaces or strings from a hoodie sweatshirt would also fall into that category. .. how easily something disastrous could happen.

7. safety glasses—if a piece of wood flipped off and hit a “regular” pair of glasses.. not good.. or straight into unprotected eyes.. yikes…. of course, if you have the full face protection then that isn’t an issue.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Use sharp tools, especially when rounding a square blank. A dull gouge catching a thousand mile an hour piece of maple can be a disaster!

Also, keep the speed down for large objects. If you’re turning a 12” bowl at full speed the piece is going to kill you eventually.

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

Inspect the wood for any weak spots that might cause a piece to fly off.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

8. Make sure you start out a new turning with your lathe set at slowest speed.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

MsDebbie, what a great thread! This should be done more often. GREAT IDEA! By the way, with my experience with the lathe, turning the power on is a serious safety no-no

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas only 4 miles from the mill

Great subject Debbie. The best safety rule I know is to learn as much as you can about how to turn properly. This will include how to use your lathe the right way, proper chucks, good turning techniques for spindle and hollow turning, tool maintenance, etc. etc. Turning courses are good depending on the teacher, professional videos are also great. I had to learn most of what I know from books. Professional presentations are best for inexperienced turners no matter what the media in my opinion because they normally focus a lot of attention on safety and they try to cover the whole range of issues.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Rules to LIVE by !!
Super subject and great information.

-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.

I could add: “Make sure your brain is engaged before turning the lathe on”

-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.