School of Engineering · Playlist

Woodshop Machine Safety

Safe operation of the woodshop machines: table saw, band saw, miter saw, jointer, drill press and the Axiom CNC router.

  1. Table Saw
  2. Band Saw
  3. Miter Saw
  4. Jointer
  5. Drill Press
  6. Axiom CNC Router
Safety/Equipment

Table Saw

Guide the work, keep hands out of the blade path and prevent material from binding between the blade and fence.

Straight cuts: Category 3 in the woods lab

Straight cuts: Category 3 in the woods lab

A table saw makes straight cuts: ripping follows the grain; crosscutting goes across it. See How Saws Cut Wood and Choosing a Woodworking Machine for blade and machine selection.

Category 3 in the Woods / Construction lab. Follow category permission and supervision requirements.

Complete Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment before using this reminder. Guarding, entanglement and power isolation are covered in Machine Hazards and Housekeeping.

Before starting: check the blade, guide and feed path; Checklist

Before starting: check the blade, guide and feed path

  • Confirm that the blade suits the material and cut. With the machine stopped and isolated for setup, expose only the blade height needed for the cut, following the installed saw's instructions.
  • Check the blade guard and the saw's anti-kickback equipment. A missing or malfunctioning device means the setup is not ready. No one removes a guard in this lab. A machine that needs a guard off is the instructor's to deal with, out of class (see Machine Hazards and Housekeeping).
  • Choose the guide for the cut: the rip fence for ripping, or the approved crosscut setup. In our labs, do not use the sled with the rip fence.
  • Plan support for the board throughout the cut and place the push stick within reach before starting. Check where both hands will go as the trailing end approaches the blade.
Control blade contact and kickback throughout the cut

Control blade contact and kickback throughout the cut

Kickback is material thrown back toward the feed side by the blade. Binding between the blade and fence is one cause. Do not make a cut that traps a loose cutoff there.

  1. Use the approved guide to keep the board aligned; do not steer it freehand.
  2. For a rip cut, push the part between the fence and blade. Use the push stick to keep hands out of the blade path, including at the end of the cut.
  3. Feed steadily at a rate the blade can cut. Ease the feed through harder areas; do not force a struggling cut.
  4. Keep clear of the blade while it coasts. Stop it completely before removing scraps or reaching for a finished piece near it.

Supporting detail: Addendum 1 — Why one feed rate does not fit every cut.

If material binds or kicks back: stop and report it

If material binds or kicks back: stop and report it

Do not reach after a thrown piece or try to free material beside a moving blade. Stop the saw from a safe position and notify the instructor. Have the setup checked before restarting; clearing a jam follows the isolation procedure in Machine Hazards and Housekeeping.

If injured, move clear and stop the machine only if you can do so safely. Follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Finish normal work with the shutdown and cleanup steps in Equipment Operating Procedure.

Safety/Equipment

Band Saw

Support the work, keep the exposed blade short and feed without twisting or pinching the band.

Category 3 in both labs; vertical and horizontal setups differ

Category 3 in both labs; vertical and horizontal setups differ

A band saw cuts with a continuous toothed band. A vertical saw can follow a wood outline; a horizontal saw lowers its blade through clamped material. See How Saws Cut Wood and Choosing a Woodworking Machine.

Category 3 in the Woods / Construction lab. Both vertical and horizontal band saws are Category 3 in the Metals lab. Use the category requirements for permission and supervision.

Complete Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment. See Machine Hazards and Housekeeping for guards, entanglement and isolation, and Metal Chips and Swarf when cutting metal.

Before starting: match the blade and stabilize the work; Checklist

Before starting: match the blade and stabilize the work

  • Confirm that the installed blade suits the material, thickness and intended curve. Teeth per inch (TPI) alone do not establish suitability.
  • Check that wheel covers are closed. On the vertical saw, in our labs, set the upper blade guard approximately 1/4 inch above the work, with the machine off.
  • In our labs, use stock with a flat supporting surface. On the vertical saw it rests flat on the table; on the horizontal saw it seats against the vise's fixed surface and is firmly clamped.
  • Plan forward exits from the cut and hand positions that stay out of the blade path. Avoid a layout that requires twisting the band or repeatedly backing out.
Feed steadily; do not force a curve or withdraw against a moving band

Feed steadily; do not force a curve or withdraw against a moving band

Vertical saw: hold the work flat against the table and feed at a moderate, steady rate the blade can cut. Keep hands away from the line of cut. Do not twist the blade to force a tighter turn. In our labs, stop the machine before backing out of a long cut; wait until the band has stopped.

Horizontal saw: keep the work clamped. Where the saw has a hydraulic feed control, use the trained adjustment procedure to set a controlled descent for the material and section. Do not apply the vertical saw's hand-feeding method to this setup.

Supporting detail: Addendum 2 — Why thickness matters as well as material.

If the blade breaks or pinches: stand clear and stop

If the blade breaks or pinches: stand clear and stop

If the band breaks, step clear and use the emergency stop if safely reachable. Do not open wheel covers or try to catch the band. If the blade pinches, stop and get the instructor before freeing the work under the isolation procedure in Machine Hazards and Housekeeping.

Report a failure or injury through Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Wait for a complete stop before removing offcuts; follow Equipment Operating Procedure for shutdown and cleanup.

Safety/Equipment

Miter Saw

Support the board against the fence, keep clear of the full blade path and use the cutting motion taught for the installed saw.

Crosscuts and angled ends: Category 3 in the woods lab

Crosscuts and angled ends: Category 3 in the woods lab

A miter saw cuts a board to length or cuts an angled end. The miter setting turns the cut across the table; the bevel setting tilts the blade. See How Saws Cut Wood and Choosing a Woodworking Machine.

Category 3 in the Woods / Construction lab. Follow category permission and supervision requirements. Complete Equipment Operating Procedure, Personal Protective Equipment and the guard and isolation requirements in Machine Hazards and Housekeeping.

Before starting: set angles, support the board and check clearance; Checklist

Before starting: set angles, support the board and check clearance

  • With the machine off and isolated for setup, set and secure the miter and bevel angles. Mark the cut and check its alignment with the stationary blade's path; a laser, if fitted, is an alignment aid.
  • Seat the board against the fence and table. Support long ends at the same height as the saw table so the board cannot tip during the cut.
  • Check that the moving guard works and shields the blade. If a dust collector is fitted, check that it is ready for use.
  • Check the entire blade path at the selected angles, including clearance from clamps. In our labs, keep all body parts at least 6 inches from the blade and never cut small pieces. If the piece cannot be supported while maintaining that clearance, stop and ask for another method.
Keep the work still and use the motion taught for this saw

Keep the work still and use the motion taught for this saw

  1. Secure the work against the fence using the trained holding or clamping method. Do not improvise a stacked-board cut; have the instructor establish the setup.
  2. With hands outside the blade path and the blade clear of the work, start the saw and let it reach cutting speed.
  3. Make the cut with controlled feed using the motion demonstrated for the installed saw. A sliding saw needs its own cutting sequence. Have that demonstrated before using the slide; do not interpret “pull through” as permission to pull a spinning blade toward you through the board.
  4. At the end of the cut, release the trigger, keep the head controlled and wait for the blade to stop before lifting it or removing the work and cutoff.

Use a blade and material combination approved for the installed saw. Changing the blade alone does not make a woodworking miter saw suitable for metal, masonry or wet cutting.

If the board shifts or the blade binds: release the trigger

If the board shifts or the blade binds: release the trigger

Keep clear of the blade and let it stop. Do not reach in to reposition the work or free a cutoff while it moves. Notify the instructor and follow the isolation procedure before clearing a jam.

If injured, move clear and follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Normal shutdown and cleanup follow Equipment Operating Procedure.

Safety/Equipment

Jointer

Use push blocks, suitable stock and shallow cuts to keep hands clear of the cutterhead while establishing a flat face or straight edge.

Flat faces and straight edges: Category 3 in the woods lab

Flat faces and straight edges: Category 3 in the woods lab

A jointer establishes a flat face or a straight edge at a set angle to an adjacent face. It does not by itself make opposite faces parallel. See Milling Rough Lumber Square for the sequence and Choosing a Woodworking Machine for machine selection.

Category 3 in the Woods / Construction lab. Follow category permission and supervision requirements. Complete Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment; see Machine Hazards and Housekeeping for guarding and isolation.

Before starting: check the stock, guard and depth of cut; Checklist

Before starting: check the stock, guard and depth of cut

In our labs:

  • Check for nails, screws, loose knots, splits and other defects. Do not feed wood containing metal; ask the instructor about defective or unstable stock.
  • Use stock at least 1/4 inch thick and 10 inches long. These minimums do not make an otherwise unstable setup acceptable.
  • Set the infeed table for no more than 1/16 inch removal per pass, with the machine isolated for setup.
  • Check that the swinging cutterhead guard covers the cutter and returns freely. Do not use a setup that defeats it.
  • Plan the feed with the grain, with a cupped face concave-side down so the board does not roll. Have the instructor check stock that will not sit stably.
  • Have push blocks ready. Turn on dust collection and open the machine's collection gate before cutting.
Keep hands 4 inches away and transfer pressure with push blocks

Keep hands 4 inches away and transfer pressure with push blocks

In our labs, keep hands at least 4 inches from the cutterhead and never pass hands over it. Do not hook fingers around the end or side of the board. Use push blocks or the trained push-assist device; plan hand transfers before starting.

  1. Stand to the side of the board near the cutter, not behind its feed line. Start the jointer and wait for full speed.
  2. Feed with slight, even pressure against the table and fence. Keep the board stable rather than forcing it flat.
  3. Once the leading portion has passed the cutter by more than the 4-inch margin, use the push block to apply downward pressure on the outfeed side. Transfer hands without passing them over the cutterhead.
  4. Complete the pass while maintaining control and clearance. Let the guard return over the cutter before lifting the board away.
If the board kicks back or control is lost: stop the jointer

If the board kicks back or control is lost: stop the jointer

The cutter can throw a board opposite the feed direction. Do not chase it or reach toward the cutter. Stop the jointer from a safe position and notify the instructor before another pass.

If injured, move clear and follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Wait for the cutterhead to stop before cleanup, then complete Equipment Operating Procedure.

Safety/Equipment

Drill Press

Clamp wood or metal securely, remove the chuck key and keep clear of the rotating bit, work and chips.

Guided holes: Category 2 in both labs

Guided holes: Category 2 in both labs

A drill press guides a rotating bit into work held on a table. Bit selection determines the hole it can make; see drill-bit choices for wood.

Category 2 in the Woods / Construction lab and Category 2 in the Metals lab. Follow category permission and supervision requirements.

Complete Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment. The exposed chuck and bit are an entanglement hazard (see Machine Hazards and Housekeeping). Before you start, check the clothing and hair rules: long hair secured back, no long sleeves, hoodies or jackets near the spindle, no jewelry except a silicone wedding ring, and nothing dangling.

Before starting: secure the bit, work and vise; Checklist

Before starting: secure the bit, work and vise

  • Select a bit and spindle speed suitable for the material and hole diameter. Have the instructor confirm an unfamiliar setup; a list of bit types is not approval to use every type in this press.
  • With the machine isolated for setup, seat and tighten the bit using the installed chuck's procedure. The chuck key never leaves your hand. It is not released until it is out of the chuck. Do not count on a key ejecting itself (see the chuck-key rule).
  • Clamp wood and metal to the table, or grip the work in a vise secured to the table. Secure small parts in a suitable vise or fixture; clamp larger parts with adequate support. Handholding is not workholding.
  • Check that the bit's full travel clears the table, vise and clamps. For a through-hole, provide clearance beneath the work or suitable sacrificial backing.
  • Secure the table at the required height and check that the work cannot rotate or lift when the bit catches.
Feed steadily and keep hands away from the rotating work

Feed steadily and keep hands away from the rotating work

A bit can catch and turn an unsecured part into a spinning lever. That is why a vise must be secured as well as tightened around the work.

  1. Start with the bit clear of the work. Feed steadily so it cuts without being forced.
  2. Ease the feed as the bit breaks through the underside. Keep hands clear rather than reaching underneath to support the exit.
  3. Withdraw the bit under control, then stop the spindle before releasing or moving the work.
  4. Stop before clearing chips near the bit. For metal, use the chip-handling and cleanup procedure; do not pull a stringy chip by hand.

Supporting detail: Addendum 3 — Why larger drills usually need fewer revolutions per minute.

If the bit breaks or the part comes loose: stand clear

If the bit breaks or the part comes loose: stand clear

Do not grab a spinning part. Step clear and stop the drill press using a safely reachable stop control. For a broken bit, use the emergency stop if safely reachable. Wait for motion to cease and notify the instructor; do not restart until the fault and workholding have been checked.

For injury, follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Finish normal work with shutdown and cleanup.

Safety/Equipment

Axiom CNC Router

Match the VCarve job to the router setup, secure every cut piece, and check the first movement against the preview.

CNC router: Category 2 in the Woods / Construction lab

CNC router: Category 2 in the Woods / Construction lab

The router moves a rotating cutter along programmed paths to make pockets and profiles. See G-code and Toolpaths for programmed motion.

Category 2 in the Woods / Construction lab. Use Equipment Categories and Supervision for permission and supervision. This overview follows our lab's Axiom AR4 Basic and VCarve instruction.

Complete Equipment Operating Procedure, Personal Protective Equipment and Machine Hazards and Housekeeping. In our labs, the router instruction requires hearing protection during operation and prior approval for material, including material brought from outside the lab.

In VCarve: match the material, preview the paths, then post

In VCarve: match the material, preview the paths, then post

  1. Create or open the .crv job. Measure the material and match its width, height, thickness and units. In the lab's demonstrated setup, XY zero is the bottom-left corner and Z zero is the material surface.
  2. Import the DXF vectors, remove unwanted geometry and join the outlines needed for the paths. Leave space for clamps and check the actual cutter path against their positions.
  3. Create the pocket and profile toolpaths. Match the selected tool to the installed cutter; check cutting depths, feeds and speeds. Plan tabs or other workholding so the cut pieces remain secured.
  4. Preview all toolpaths in their cutting order: pockets first, outside profiles last in this workflow. Check the first cutting location, remaining tabs, cut depth and clearance above clamps.
  5. Save the intended toolpaths with the demonstrated Axiom HHC CNC (mm) (*.mmg) post processor and transfer the .MMG file to the supplied USB drive. Confirm the file selected at the machine is the one you previewed.

The preview checks the programmed cut; it does not prove that the real clamps are clear. The material position and zero settings at the router must match the job.

Before running: secure the cutter, material and every cut piece; Checklist

Before running: secure the cutter, material and every cut piece

  • With router power off and the machine made safe for tool setup, remove the magnetic dust boot. Check cutter insertion and tighten the collet with the appropriate wrenches, as demonstrated.
  • Use the installed power-up procedure, insert the USB drive, and select All axis home on the controller with the travel area clear. Homing finds the machine's references; it does not locate the workpiece.
  • Clamp the material on the spoilboard, the sacrificial surface above the machine bed. Keep clamps out of the entire tool path, leave the zero corner accessible, and tighten clamps progressively in the demonstrated zig-zag order.
  • Check that the material and the pieces cut from it will remain held throughout cutting. A loose piece can be struck and thrown by the cutter.
  • Set XY zero at the job's datum and Z zero at the material surface, using the demonstrated touch-off or tool-setting puck method. Clear the puck and its cord from the tool's path after setting.
  • Raise the router as demonstrated, refit the dust boot, turn on router power, open the dust-collection gate and start dust collection.

Keep clear of the cutter and the moving carriage throughout operation. The dust boot helps collect debris; it does not make the cutting area safe to reach into.

At Run, check the spindle and first movement against the preview

At Run, check the spindle and first movement against the preview

In our lab's demonstrated controller workflow, press RUN/PAUSE, choose UDisk File, select the intended .mmg file and review SetWorkParam. Confirm the parameters with the checkout instruction before accepting them. Accepting starts a countdown, followed by spindle startup and travel to the first toolpath location.

If the spindle does not start or the first location is wrong, press STOP/CANCEL. Resolve the cause with the instructor before restarting. Do not reach in to change the router switch while the program continues moving.

In our labs, watch the process and listen for unusual noises. Keep the controller accessible. Use STOP/CANCEL for a problem with the run or the emergency stop for an emergency, as demonstrated during checkout. Notify the instructor and use Lab Conduct and Emergencies when needed.

After cutting, switch off the router before removing the work

After cutting, switch off the router before removing the work

In our lab's sequence, turn router power off, wait for the cutter to stop, raise it to the demonstrated Z clearance, and remove the dust boot before unclamping and removing the workpiece. Refit the dust boot afterward.

Cut the retaining tabs using an approved tool and its own operating procedure; the lab instruction advises against popping the parts out. Stop dust collection when it is no longer needed, return tools and clamps, and complete shutdown and cleanup.

Supporting detail

Addendum

Additional evidence, standards context, and background referenced from the main text.

  1. Safety/Equipment/Table Saw

    Addendum 1. Why one feed rate does not fit every cut

    Thickness, wood, blade and available power change how readily material cuts. Pushing harder does not fix binding or a poorly chosen setup; it can make control worse.

    Back to reference 1

  2. Safety/Equipment/Band Saw

    Addendum 2. Why thickness matters as well as material

    A thin section needs enough teeth engaged to avoid snagging; a thick section also needs room between teeth to carry chips away. Select the blade for both conditions rather than assuming all metal needs the same high TPI.

    Back to reference 2

  3. Safety/Equipment/Drill Press

    Addendum 3. Why larger drills usually need fewer revolutions per minute

    At the same spindle speed, a larger bit's outer edge travels faster. Diameter, work material and bit material all affect the speed choice. “Larger or harder means slower” is a starting trend, not a speed setting.

    Back to reference 3