Equipment SAFETY tips: The Planer

one vote here for ear protection.

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

Pinch Points

-- E J ------- Always Keep a Firm Grip on Your Tool

Two goods ones above. Add remove jewelry, secure loose clothing and long hair.

-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with

What does “pinch points” refer to?

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

I am guessing pinch points would refer to how it is possible to get you fingers trapped between the board and the table and/or sides of the planer as the board is being feed by the power rollers. (Wow that was one long sentence!)

I would have to also add kick back even though it is unlikely due to the safety features on most planers.

-- James - www.walnutweasel.wordpress.com

Stand to one side of the planer during operation in case a piece shatters and the planer ejects the broken pieces.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

use pushsticks and fetherboard

take care
Dennis

Safety glasses!

-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.

If its not a floor model make sure it is secured to bench or other. Keep outfeed path clear. Oh and do not stick body parts in the machine.

Don’t forget the ear & eye protection & push sticks to preserve the fingers

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Keep the floor and surrounding area not cluttered. Unlike most other shop equipment you must walk from the front to the back while it’s running. If you trip or stumble bad things could happen.

-- Joe

out feed boards droop
and can catch on the edge of tools or workbenches
making the planer walk up the board
and fall over backwards

or bow the board so bad it breaks
and sends splinters flying

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

take very light passes. takes a bit longer, but, much safer and easier on your knives

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

NO loose clothing (could even be a shop apron or dangling tie cords, etc.) and NO gloves or the like to get caught on and/or pulled into the auto-feed pinch points that bubinga refers to.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

A pinch point could also be a board coming out of a planer ,and pinching your body, or a body part,against another object ,that you did not realize was close enough for that to happen, or is not usually there.
Feeding a shorter board ,when the planer grabs it , can pinch your hand,or fingers between the board ,and table.Potential Pinch points are every where in the shop.
Any where, any thing that can get pinched
Don’t slam your foot in the door on the way out

-- E J ------- Always Keep a Firm Grip on Your Tool