Tips For Safe Sawing

While both horizontal and vertical band saws are generally regarded as some of the safest machine tools in the workshop, without abiding by a few sensible but basic rules they can still be very dangerous woodworking tools to work with.

The first thing is to make sure you are always wearing a pair of safety glasses or goggles. The blade on a vertical band saw rotates at very high speeds and even the smallest piece of waste or debris will be traveling at high velocity and they are thrown out in all directions. Even if you are just doing a 10 second job, remember damage to your eyesight could be with you for life.

Worse still, the carbon steel blade can break and then you will have shards of metal flying around. It really is not worth risking your eyesight, so just get into the habit of using eye protection. And no, your prescription spectacles do not provide any protection at all.

Wear appropriate clothing while using your vertical band saw. This rule applies when you are using any machine tool, whether it is for woodworking, metalworking or hedge trimming. Avoid wearing anything that can get caught up in the band saw blade or tangled in your work. Wearing a long sleeved shirt is a definite no, as would be a scarf or necktie, or hanging jewelery, it is common sense really.

Make sure you check your vertical band saw before using it. A band saw has many wheels, blocks and guides that you need to ensure are positioned correctly for the job that you are undertaking. They need to be checked regularly for signs of wear and tear and replaced if necessary. If you are unsure then check the manufacturers recommendations. You can always give them a call for further advice, or try visiting their website if you have lost the instructions that came with your purchase.

Be safe not sorry when using your vertical band saw.