Wood Shop Safety

Wood Lathe

Before Turning On The Lathe
1. Always wear safety glasses or a face shield when operating any machinery.
2. Examine stock to be turned for cracks, knots, or other flaws that might cause the wood to shatter while being turned.
3. Remove corners from stock over 3 inches square.
4. Have your instructor or studio technician inspect any work piece that has been glued together. Improperly glued pieces may separate and be thrown from the lathe.
5. After mounting stock in lathe turn it by hand to make sure the stock doesn’t hit the lathe.
6. Adjust the tool rest to between 1 / 8 and 1 / 4 inch from stock. To adjust tool rest loosen the adjustment screws on the tool rest, move it into position, and retighten the adjustment screws.
7. Check lathe tools to make sure they are sharp and all handles are securely fastened to tool.
8. When “spindle turning” make sure centers are securely fastened to the stock and that the tailstock is locked in place. If not, stock may work itself loose and be thrown from the lathe.

Operating The Wood Lathe
1. When turning on the lathe stand to either side of the stock being turned. Keep area in line with stock clear. Do not stand in line with lathe while in operation.
2. Use slow speed when rough cutting or turning large items. Use higher speeds for finish cutting, sanding and polishing. Too high a speed can cause the stock to break loose and be thrown from the machine.
3. Stop lathe before making any adjustments or to measure stock with calipers.
4. Keep hands clear of stock when turning unless sanding or polishing. Never attempt to slow down or stop rotating stock by hand.
5. Turn off lathe and remove tool rest before sanding or polishing stock. Use only small squares of sand paper or a sanding block to sand stock. Never wrap sand paper or polishing clothes around stock.
6. When using the faceplate to turn large stock keep an accurate measurement of the depth of the cut to avoid striking screws.