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Home & Garden Articles
The Tao of Woodworking
Fri 06 Nov 2009 - 08:22
The Tao of Woodworking
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Easlick]Jeff Easlick
There are few hobbies that I can think of that provide as much reward as woodworking, yet can do so much damage in a fraction of an instant, just because of one mental lapse. Woodworking then, is about safety.
Safety is a mindset, an attitude. It encompasses not only prevention and protection but also organizing your tools and keeping your workspace clean.
In order to prevent injuries, you must always be focused on what is in front of you, at that moment, rather than drifting off, daydreaming or ruminating about some past or future event. This is more likely to happen the more comfortable and confident you become with your machines. When you first begin using a table saw or chop saw, your attention will be quite good. But as you become more adept at using them, your ability to think about other things increases, sometimes to the point where you're not even focused on what you're doing. This is when the most devastating events can occur. Because of this cognitive phenomenon, you must continually assess your awareness. Your focus must always be on "the now".
I once worked with a master wood craftsman who was helping me build furniture for my study. Immediately before beginning a cut he would say out loud, "We're not in a hurry." This simple mantra allowed him to focus on taking an adequate amount of time to make the cut properly while at the same time maintaining his focus on both the position of the saw blade relative to his fingers. It's a phrase that I've used ever since.
Safety also relies on protection. While you're guarding your hands against severe injury, you must also protect your hearing and eyesight as well. Woodworking machines are loud and will cause hearing loss. There are several types of hearing protectors available: One is a reusable foam plug. You squeeze them and insert them into each ear. There are also rubber plugs which are a bit more costly. However, they can be taken apart and cleaned. Saws can throw projectiles back at you, injuring an eye. Shatter resistant glasses are available in home improvement stores and come in both tinted and clear models.
Organizing your tools- Make sure that when you first begin woodworking that you spend time planning where to store every tool and machine. This will save you a lot of time, not to mention preventing you from tripping over or otherwise damaging your tools as they lie on the floor of your garage. Either buy storage bins or build them as your first project. If you are computer inclined and really want to get the most out of your time, consider purchasing and learning how to use CAD software designed with woodworkers in mind. Having the ability to "see" what it is you want to build before you build it can sometimes save you a lot of frustration.
Cleanliness- It's a fact of life that cutting and sanding wood creates a byproduct: sawdust. While the larger particles will land directly on your floor, the finer particles will become airborne and you'll end up inhaling them. This is not something that your lungs will appreciate, especially if you have allergies or COPD. Foreign objects will cause your lungs to become irritated and you may end up with chronic breathing problems.
Simple shop vacuums were designed to help with cleanup but they don't really do anything about the dust that is already airborne. That's what filtration units are designed for.
In order to protect your lungs you can do two things: invest in filtration equipment (necessary if there is no ventilation in the room that you work in) or purchase a mask. These range from very inexpensive to expensive. If you have facial hair, your only option is to buy the type that fits over your entire head.
To remove the large particles you can use one of the many shop vacs that are available. They are usually wet/dry, giving you more flexibility with your cleanups. You can also get extravagant and purchase systems that run from a central vacuum and will even attach to most of your machines. This is the most desirable strategy but also the most costly.
Although some wood shop accidents are unavoidable (getting splinters), you can prevent tragedy by mentally preparing yourself prior to using your equipment. Keep your tools organized and protect your ears with plugs, your eyes with goggles and your lungs with adequate ventilation and/or filtration units.
Invest in a good wood shop cleanup system. Learn more about shop vacuums and how the woodworking hobbyists keep their floors and equipment particle-free at http://www.topratedvacuumcleaners.net/shop_vacuums.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Easlick http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Tao-of-Woodworking&id=3184664
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