Wood Shop Safety

Band Saw

Before Turning On The Band Saw
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating any machinery.
2. Do not cut plaster, metal, etc on band saw. Only wood, wood composites, and plastic should be cut on band saw.
3. Make any adjustments while power is off.
4. Check blade for any damage and alignment with drive wheels.
5. Make sure the blade on the machine is the proper type for the cut you are planning. Thin blades for curves and corners, wide blades for long straight cuts. If you have any questions or need to change the blade ask your instructor or studio technician.
6. Always adjust guard to maintain a ¼ inch clearance from stock during the cut.

Operating The Band Saw
1. Keep stock clear of blade turn on band saw then feed stock through.
2. Plan cut to maximize forward cutting and minimize backing of the blade during cutting.
3. While cutting feed material at a slow to moderate speed. Do not force cut by going too fast, blade will snap.
4. Always keep fingers out of the path of the cut and a minimum of 2 inches from the blade.
5. Cut only flat stock. If you need to cut round or irregular shaped stock ask instructor or studio technician for assistance.
6. Allow machine to come to a complete stop before backing out of cut.
7. If blade breaks or comes off drive wheel, back away and shut off power to band saw by turning off dust collection system.
8. Keep area clean. Use a brush to remove chips and shavings after blade has come to a complete stop.
9. Always keep clear of the area to the right of the band saw when it is being used, because if the blade breaks, it may fly out into this area.