DO-IT-YOURSELF : Safety Is the Key When You Tool Along

Practicing tool safety regularly should be the first step to take when spending time in the home workshop. To add to the many hours of woodworking enjoyment, Wood magazine recommends using the following guidelines:

* Always unplug a power tool before servicing or adjusting. Let moving parts come to a standstill.

* Never wear loose-fitting clothes or dangling jewelry when using power or hand tools.

* Check the condition of a tool before using it. Inspect power cords for cracks or frays, cutting edges for sharpness, and handles for stability.

* Don’t tamper with or remove safety mechanisms from power tools. They are there for protection.

* Use the proper tool for a job. Read and understand all instruction manuals that apply to a tool before using it. Find out what it was meant to do as well as what it can’t do.

* If there is even a remote possibility of eye injury in a particular situation, don’t hesitate to wear safety goggles.

* Keep onlookers, especially young children, a safe distance away while working with tools. Always instruct others in the proper use of a tool before letting them use it.

* Work in good light. Use bulbs of sufficient wattage and have extra clamp-on or other portable lights available as needed.

* Never work with tools when in a hurry, tired, or in a bad mood.

* Put tools away after use, preferably in a locked cabinet.