Wood Shop Rules

If you are unsure of how to do something, ask the Shop Manager. Any damage done to equipment due to negligence will be billed to the individual responsible.

Please notify the Shop Coordinator and/or the Shop Monitor if you have any disabilities that may require some modifications in the Shop so that appropriate arrangements may be made.

The Wood Shop Manager will make the final decision on how this shop and equipment will be used.

1. All persons must wear safety glasses upon entering the wood shop. Safety glasses can be found inside the shop or provided upon request. Please note that a face shield is not a substitute for safety glasses; it is only added protection.
2. The dust collector will be turned on with the doors closed when the shop is in use. Working with wood is dusty. You must provide your own particle mask if used. If you have dust allergies or asthma please consider using a good particle mask. This will be especially useful when sanding.
3. Appropriate attire must be worn to work in the wood shop. No jewelry or baggy clothes may be worn when working with power tools. Long hair must be tied back. No open toed shoes. Never wear gloves.
4. No student is allowed to work with power tools while alone in the shop.
5. A minimum of TWO TRAINED individuals must be in the shop to use power tools after hours (8am-5pm Monday-Friday excluding Holidays). A single Student may use the shop with permission from the Shop Manager during normal business hours. This ensures no one is left if an accident occurs.
6. No one is permitted to remove a safety guard from any tool.
7. No adjustments are to be made to any equipment except by the Shop Manager or the Shop Monitor. No exceptions.
8. Never speak to anyone using a power tool. Wait until they are done.
9. If you find any tool in need of repair, turn it off immediately and tell the Shop Monitor. Under no circumstances make repairs to the equipment yourself. Please note that broken tools will take up to two weeks to get back online.
10. Shop users are responsible for immediately cleaning up their work area and the tools when done. This must be done before another person uses the area. Brooms, hand brooms, a Shop-Vac, dustpans, and an air hose are provided. Failure to clean up can result in suspension from the shop.
11. Wood and supplies must not be stored in the shop. Projects in process may only be left with permission of the Shop Manager.
12. Only new lumber may be used in the shop. All bark must be removed from wood and wood must be properly dry. Any materials other than wood must be inspected by Shop Manager before being machined.
13. Nothing wet is to be placed on any of the tools. Drinks only in spill proof containers may be left on the sink counter top while working in the shop. No Pop Cans (Open drinks), food, etc.
14. No other material, like metal or plaster, is to be used in the wood shop without permission of the Shop Monitor.
15. No open flame in the wood shop.
16. Immediately report any and all accidents or incidents to the Shop Monitor, no matter how small.
17. If you notice that a specialty tool (Usually a small and portable one.) is missing from shop inventory talk to the Shop Manager or the Shop Monitor and arrangements may be made to order the tool. Replacement will take at least two weeks.
18. The Fire Extinguisher (ABC) is located on the west wall by the main entrance.
19. The eyewash solution is located on the west wall by the main entrance.
20. If you are unsure of something, ask the Shop Manager.

1. Wear safety glasses.
2. MAINTAIN A SIX-INCH MARGIN OF SAFETY FROM THE BLADE. This means that you must keep your hands six inches away from the path of the saw blade.
3. Keep the blade guard in position at all times.
4. Hold stock firmly on the table and against the fence.
5. After making the cut but before raising the saw make sure that the blade has come to a complete stop.
6. When making multiple cuts of various angles do not move hands under the blade whether it is moving or not.
7. When you complete your work at the saw, lower the saw and lock it in place. Sweep the workstation and the floor. All scrap goes in the scrap bin.

1. Wear safety glasses. Face shield is optional but recommended.
2. Turn on the dust extractor before turning on the table saw.
3. The saw is equipped with a blade guard. The device is the most important safety feature for this piece and may not be removed or circumvented. If there is a cut to be made on the table saw that must circumvent the guard the MONITOR must perform the cut.
4. Be certain that the blade is sharp and that it is the right blade for your work. The shop has a dedicated blade for cutting Plexiglas.
5. Set the blade so that it extends no more than 1/4-inch above the stock to be cut.
6. Stand to one side of the blade. Do not reach across it.
7. MAINTAIN A SIX-INCH MARGIN OF SAFETY FROM THE BLADE. A variety of push sticks are provided and must be used when cutting closer than six inches.
8. Make sure that the stock is fully past the blade before turning the saw off.
9. Use only new stock that is free of knots, splits and warp.
10. Do not let small scrap cuttings accumulate around the saw blade. Use a push stick to push them away.
11. Students helping to hold tailstock from the saw should not push or pull the stock. They should support it as necessary. The operator must control the feed and direction of the cut.
12. Cross cutting on the table saw is dangerous. Cross cuts 12" or under can be made on the BOSCH sliding compound miter saw.
13. As you complete your work, turn off the saw and remain until the blade has stopped.
14. Unplug the saw and clear the saw of dust and waste. Return the saw blade to zero settings. SWEEP THE WORK AREA!

1. Wear safety glasses.
2. Secure work properly.
3. Do not wear gloves or loose clothing. Ensure long hair is tied up.
4. Never start the drill press with the drill bit or cutting tool in contact with the work piece.
5. Do not attempt to drill material that does not have a flat surface. No round stock.
6. Stop the drill press before removing scrap pieces from the worktable.
7. Clean the tool and the work area when done.

1. Wear safety glasses. Dust mask (supplied by you) recommended.
2. When using the Sander, turn on the dust extractor.
3. Do not use worn out or loaded up sanding tubes or belts. There is a rubber sanding belt cleaner sander to use on loaded up sanding surfaces. Use of the cleaner will make the sanding surfaces last 10x longer.
4. Always hold work securely.
5. Move your work across the surface of the abrasive. DO NOT sand in one place, this clogs, burns and ruins the abrasive surface.
6. The sanding belt should track in the middle of the plate. Do not use the machine if the belt is rolling off one side of the other. Report any tears, holes, or flaws to the Shop Manager. Do not attempt to readjust the machine yourself.
7. Clean up when done.

1. Wear safety glasses.
2. Wheel guard doors must be closed and the blade properly adjusted before turning on the machine.
3. Adjust the upper guide assembly so it is no more than 1/4" above the work.
4. Allow the saw to reach full speed before starting to feed the work.
5. The stock must be held flat on the table.
6. Feed the saw only as fast as the teeth will remove the wood easily.
7. MAINTAIN AT LEAST A FOUR-INCH MARGIN OF SAFETY. (This means that the hands should always be at least four inches away from the blade when the saw is running.)
8. Plan cuts to avoid backing out of curves, whenever possible. Stop the machine before backing out of a long curved cut.
9. Make turns carefully and do not cut radii so small that the blade is twisted then broken.
10. Round stock should not be cut unless mounted firmly in a jig.
11. Do not let small pieces of wood accumulate around the blade. Move them out of the way with a push stick or turn off the saw, wait until the blade stops, and then clear the table.
12. If you hear a clicking noise, turn off the machine at once. This sound indicates a crack in the blade. If the blade breaks, shut off the power and move away from the machine until both wheels stop.
13. Turn off the machine as soon as you finish working. Sweep the table and the floor. All scrap in the scrap bin. Lower the upper guide assembly.

1. Wear safety glasses.
2. When using the carving chisels DO NOT FORCE THEM, do not hog out too much wood, approach knots with caution. Take care of the mallet when striking the chisels. DO NOT DROP THE CHISELS.
3. Secure stock when working. If you don't know how, ASK!
4. When cutting with a knife or razor, cut away from yourself.
5. If the tool is broken or compromised, please tell the Shop Monitor.
6. Do not drill yourself, stab yourself, cut yourself or hit yourself. If you get something in your eye wash it out
7. Put all tools back in their proper place.

1. Wear safety glasses and hearing protection.
2. Install the vacuum to the back of the table before turning on the router. Always run the vacuum when cutting
3. Never start the router with the bit in contact with the stock.
4. Don't bottom out the bit in the collet or partially insert the bit. Instead, completely insert the bit, and then back off approximately 1/16 in.
5. Use push blocks to position your hands a safe distance from the bit.
6. Large-diameter bits are for use only in a router table. Using bits over 1 in. dia. in a handheld router can easily cause you to lose control of the tool.
7. Take light cuts. Heavy cuts invite kickback. If necessary, move the fence closer to the bit or switch to a larger guide bearing.
8. Use a feather board to support the workpiece against the router table or fence.
9. Never climb-cut. Always feed the stock from right to left.
10. Avoid shaping small stock. Instead, shape a larger piece and reduce it in size afterwards. If you must shape a small piece, build an appropriate jig.
11. Always use a guard.
12. Do not force the bit or overload the router.
13. Ensure the motor is secure in the base before starting the router.
14. Clean the area around the table and empty the vacuum when necessary.

1. Wear safety glasses.
2. Before you plug in ensure the power switch is in the off position.
3. Keep all power cords away from blade.
4. Secure work pieces so only your work piece will be cut. Have both hands holding jigsaw.
5. Before powering on ensure blade is clear of work piece.
6. Apply slight downward pressure to the jigsaw on the work piece.
7. Do not force work piece into blade; let the blade do the work.
8. Plan cuts to avoid large curves.
9. Clean tool and area and store the Jigsaw properly.