Marc Spagnuolo, The Wood Whisperer, has named this Woodworkers’ Safety Week.
And with good reason. How many of us still have all 10 digits, don’t continually have to ask people to repeat themselves, and don’t have a woodworking battle scar or two?
I’m guilty of the second one, but that’s due to too many Pat Benatar concerts in high school.
For the female woodworkers who read this blog....you’re already wearing your safety gear so feel free to skip this post and head back to the shop.
Two things are for sure: 1) woodworking is dangerous with both hand and power tools, and 2) guys love to outdo one another with “near-miss” or “how I lost my (fill in missing body part)” stories.
Being safe in the shop doesn’t mean you aren’t cool, aren’t manly, or won’t have riveting stories to share. What it does mean is the following:
VC’s Top Ten Reasons to Practice Safety in the Shop:
10. You can wave good-bye and people won’t think you’re making a rude gesture at them.
9. You can count to 10 without removing your shoes.
8. You won’t have to quit your bowling league. (Of course, there's always duckpin bowling.)
7. You can still type on a keyboard without having to hunt and peck. (Provided you know how to type in the first place. If not, proceed to number 6).
6. You can hear your granddaughter when she says she loves you. (awwww!)
5. You can hear your wife when she says “Honey, you’ve had a hard week. Why not spend some time in your shop?”
4. You won’t have to explain to the emergency room nurses why you have a spear of curly maple protruding from your belly button.
3. You won’t soil your drawers from kick back.
2. You can still dream of becoming a hand model.
and the number one reason to be safe in the shop....
1.You won't have to listen to your wife complain about you not being safe in the shop!
There’s nothing dorky about being safe.
Wear your safety goggles & hearing protection, use push sticks and the safety features that come with your tools, and don’t stick anything in the blade that you don’t want chopped off.
Happy Woodworkers’ Safety Week!
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12 comments:
VC,
You said: "I’m guilty of the second one, but that’s due to too many Pat Benatar concerts in high school."
I almost yelled back "Huh?..." Can't hear ya!" , since that is what I tell my wife when I miss something she just said to me.
Of course, she thinks I *have* a hearing problem. I prefer to call it *selective hearing*, as age seems to be unrelated ;-) .
Selective hearing does have its advantages, doesn't it? ; )
Love the dude in the silver suit. Looks like he just got off the set of Lost in Space:D
You're right! That's "handsome, pretty" Dr. Smith. :o)
LOL! Good reasons to keep safe, especially #1!
So instead of "Love is a Battlefield" you now sing "Wood is a Battlefield"?
I recently bought a set of woodcarving chisels, having wanted to learn for a while. saved up and bought the Pre-Honed, extra sharp, right out of the baggie chisels. pulling a veiner out (how apt, that name), it slipped out of my hand, bounced haft-end on the workbench, and shot right back up into my palm. No kidding sharp..in and out DEEP and didnt even leave any blood on the blade. I sat there looking at (into) my hand thinking..'you're kidding. you havent even touched blade to wood. YOU'RE KIDDING' I had always been extra careful and respectful of my powertools, never even considering just how bad a hand tool could've hurt me. Now Im reeeeal respectful of all of it.
LOL @ Shazza.... ; )
Sean, thank you for sharing your veiner incident. ouch! Hand tools are dangerous, which is sometimes overlooked because they seem so benign.
So far, I have only ever been cut with hand tools (knock on wood), including sharp chisels, plane blades and (embarrassingly) screwdrivers. I even cut the tip of a finger off with an exacto blade.
I was just about to mention how I cut myself open with turning scraper (applying too much pressure is dangerous) but you seem to have that rule covered with your mention of a screwdriver.
Thanks for the list!
Say no to war stories week!
VG, your note of safety prompted me to write about an incident (there is no blood, cuts, breaks or dismemberment!) ... and, no, I don't count it as a "war story".
I just posted it... "Say, that's not a banana in your pocket"
Friends, you should take the time to head over to Bill Stankus' site and read his post. It is LOL hysterical!
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