In the toolroom and my home shop there were and are some "Always" and "Nevers".
Always - Wear Eye Protection. Consider others who enter the immediate vicinity & shut down the machine until they are protected or leave.
Never - Use your hand or fingers to clear chips from any operating machine tool. If chip removal becomes necessary, use only a straight breakable/expendable "stick", or use a extended tool like needle-nose pliers or a chip brush, whichever is most appropriate.
Never - Wear Gloves while operating a machine tool.
Never - Use a file on a lathe without a commercial style (round end) handle on it.
Note: Years ago as a new apprentice in the journeyman's absence, the boss saw me use a file at the lathe. The file had no handle on it. The boss immediately approached and indicated I shut down the lathe. He pulled the file from my hand and told me that if I ever used that file (without a handle) on a running machine tool again, I would be fired on the spot.
At the time I thought him a bit harsh. However, some time later, I saw the results of disobeying the file handle rule - it was ugly. After that episode, I thanked the boss for his warning - he cared.
Never - Allow a lathe turning to get long and "snake" across the floor. The edges can be scalpel sharp and wrap around an ankle or leg resulting in encircling slashes to the bone which will include cut motor nerves leaving the person crippled for life. There is a valid reason for "chip breakers".
I'll pause for now so this doesn't begin to sound like a rant. But, if a person chooses not to follow the safety rules, he hurts not only him or herself but also the people who care for them.
Always - Wear Eye Protection. Consider others who enter the immediate vicinity & shut down the machine until they are protected or leave.
Never - Use your hand or fingers to clear chips from any operating machine tool. If chip removal becomes necessary, use only a straight breakable/expendable "stick", or use a extended tool like needle-nose pliers or a chip brush, whichever is most appropriate.
Never - Wear Gloves while operating a machine tool.
Never - Use a file on a lathe without a commercial style (round end) handle on it.
Note: Years ago as a new apprentice in the journeyman's absence, the boss saw me use a file at the lathe. The file had no handle on it. The boss immediately approached and indicated I shut down the lathe. He pulled the file from my hand and told me that if I ever used that file (without a handle) on a running machine tool again, I would be fired on the spot.
At the time I thought him a bit harsh. However, some time later, I saw the results of disobeying the file handle rule - it was ugly. After that episode, I thanked the boss for his warning - he cared.
Never - Allow a lathe turning to get long and "snake" across the floor. The edges can be scalpel sharp and wrap around an ankle or leg resulting in encircling slashes to the bone which will include cut motor nerves leaving the person crippled for life. There is a valid reason for "chip breakers".
I'll pause for now so this doesn't begin to sound like a rant. But, if a person chooses not to follow the safety rules, he hurts not only him or herself but also the people who care for them.
