Bandsaw Safety Tips For Smart Woodworking 2023

Lost a finger in a blade and have a journey for the emergency room of a hospital – can you imagine this will happen with you?

Ah, we know, no one would like his finger hanging of his skin. It’s horrible!

But believe me, these types of accident is very common for a woodworker. According to a survey of 2017, due to accidents occurring related to industrial machinery, 156 workers died and almost 36k workers of the USA injured in several states.

As a woodworker, you definitely deal with some heavy electrical machinery. A bandsaw is one of those.

Any machine with a blade can be dangerous. Bandsaws are not out of these risks. But you can easily avoid any accident if you follow some safety rules when you work with a bandsaw.

Our safety guide for bandsaw safety will help you to remain safe in your workshop. Read this whole article and learn some safety tips.

bandsaw safety tips

 

How To Maintain Bandsaw Safety

You have to follow some crucial instructions before you operate a bandsaw. Without maintaining proper safety rules, you may fall into some serious accidents that might cause you irrecoverable damage.

So, don’t try to prove yourself as a ‘SUPERHERO’!

Here we point out some safety rules which you must follow for a risk free bandsaw work. Let’s read it –

Check Your Bandsaw Before Use

Don’t forget to check your bandsaw before every use. Any part of the bandsaw will be down over time, no matter how well you maintained it.

It’s true that regular maintenance is very essential, but you also need to check the machine before every use to perfectly ensure the safety of yourself.

You can check the wheels and frames of the bandsaw before operating it to ensure that these parts remain Ok. Also, you have to include in your checklist those parts of the machine that could tear or break up.

Always remember that, you must run your safety checkup very seriously because even the strongest parts of the bandsaw can crack. So, after running a safety inspection, you will able to notice any sudden change during operating time and able to shut it down if something goes wrong.

But one of the worst problems you may face during the inspection time which called ‘click’. If you hear this ‘clicked’ sound, you should fear because this sound usually indicates that your bandsaw blade is crusty and could possibly burst in within a few seconds.

So, if you find this issue during checking time, turn off the bandsaw and wait until the machine stops spinning.

Handle The Stock Efficiently

It’s also vital to be careful when you are handling the wood piece during the cutting time. Because if you don’t handle the stock carefully, there are chances of injuries by wood splinter that can fly off when you touch the bandsaw blade with the stock.

So, when you are handling the wood, you always need to ensure that you have placed it flat on the bandsaw. If you want to make an angled cut, you only need to adjust the saw table, not the wood piece.

And don’t forget to keep your hands to the side when pushing the wood piece into the blade. Also, you must haul boards out from the back of the bandsaw for your safety.

Here, we should mention the name of the fence. A fence is a very well-known safety tool for all woodworkers. It makes a safe distance within your hand and the blade.

Besides, a fence keeps your hand in a suitable position that is essential for long cuts and rip cuts.

Ensure Safety During Curvy Cuts

Either you are a beginner or a Pro, curvy cuts will be a challenge for you. When you need to slow or fast the speed of the blade, there is a chance of injury during changing the blade speed. But there is one trick that can ensure your safety when you cut hard curves.

That is, when you cut tough curves, move the stock slowly to avoid giving excess tension on the saw blade. If you need to make ‘back out’ of a curve cut, set the wood pieces firmly in place and turn off the machine.

After the blade stops completely, remove the stock. Done! It’s a safe trick for any curved cuts you want.

But instead of backing your saw, you can make some relief cuts for better safety. When you need to cut close-fitting angles or curves, choose relief cuts is best for you.

Wearing Safety Equipment

Even if you never attend a tutorial class in a wood training center, just use your common sense to realize that, you need some safety wear during the operation of a bandsaw.

Sawdust flying is a regular matter when you cutting wood stock in a bandsaw. That’s why always use a pair of safety glasses during your working time.

You can use ear protection to avoid too much sound comes from the saw at the time of cutting.

And we don’t think that we have to describe to you the importance of working gloves. This safety wear is must have things in your workshop, especially when you deal with blades.

Safety Features Of A Bandsaw

To reduce the chances of accidents when using a using a bandsaw, the machine comes with a couple of safety features on the market in recent times. Obviously, it’s good news!

Here we will mention two main features among all of those –

Blade Guard

A blade guard works as its namesake. This safety tool protects your hands from the bandsaw blade. Always set a blade guard in bandsaw to prevent any accidental slipping of your hands.

Wheel Covers

In modern bandsaw, a wheel cover generally comes with the machine. Wheel Covers hide the bandsaw wheels inside of the frame.

The wheels of the bandsaw spun at high speed when you operate it, so ensure the wheel covers are closed when the saw is in action.

Wrap Up

Hopefully, this article will helpful for you to know more about bandsaw safety. Stay safe and live for a long time for your family.

Happy working!

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