Bellingham Makers

This is Dave's attempt at a reasonable set of community woodshop standards. The purpose is to keep _everyone_ safe and comfortable. Common courtesy and leading by example are appreciated. Please leave a comment (or talk to him) if you have questions, disagreements or suggestions.

Personal Safety:

• Use hand sanitizer before entering the shop (provided)
  
• A mask is required at all times (can provide)
  
• Safety glasses and ear protection required (provided)
  
• Shoes or boots required (no open toes, sandals, etc.)
  
• No gloves (surgical OK) and no loose hair, clothing, jewelry, etc.
  
• No drug or alcohol use/impairment

Materials:

• All material should be at least 12" long, shorter pieces need to be clamped
  
• Only clean (no dirt, paint, nails, etc.) wood is allowed on all machines
  
• Cutting plastic is not allowed on the jointer or planer (carbide blades only)
  
• Cutting metal, or any conductive material, is not allowed
  
• All used wood must be checked with the metal detector before cutting
  
• All other materials require approval

Pre-Operation:

• Collect any needed accessories - push sticks, extension cord, etc.
  
• Attach the dust collector, check for and clear clogged hoses and full collector bags
  
• Make sure there is adequate in-feed and out feed space for the material
  
• Set up support stands for material that will not be adequately supported by the machine
  
• The surrounding floor should be free of dust to prevent excess risk of slipping
  
• Check the material to be cut to insure that it is free of all nails, staples, etc.

Safe Operation:

• Never operate a machine without its guard in place
  
• Keep blade exposure or cutting depth to a minimum
  
• Keep the material in solid contact with the table and fence
  
• Always cut with the long edge against the fence
  
• Always hold/clamp the largest part of the piece being cut
  
• Cutting material with your hand less than 3" from the blade/cutterhead requires push sticks
  
• Joint and face warped material before ripping it
  
• Freehand sawing is only allowed on the bandsaw and scroll saw.
  
• Do not attempt to clear the blade of loose pieces while the machine is running.

Post Operation:

• Move the blade/guard to its safe, no cut, position
  
• Clean the machine and put away any accessories
  
• Sweep or vacuum the floor surrounding the work area
  
• If you moved the machine, put it back where you found it

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