Introduction
Introduction to Woodworking Machines, an Open Education Resource, is written to introduce basic woodworking machine safety and techniques to beginner woodworkers using an instructional woodshop.
This guide is not a substitute for an in-person learning experience led by a competent instructor in the woodshop. While woodworking tools and machines present risk, accidents are avoided in shops where safety is a shared priority. A safety-conscious shop creates a culture of safety first through appropriate training, properly maintained tools and safety equipment, and a well-organized workspace.
As you begin your woodworking journey, remember thoughtfulness and curiosity. Learning to work with wood and operate machines will be challenging at times. Approach each project with patience, care, and a willingness to explore. You’ll soon discover the unique satisfaction that comes from the union of your hands and mind working together to bring your creative ideas to life.
Purpose
This woodshop machine safety text is designed to complement a hands-on woodshop-based learning experience. The book covers a variety of woodworking machines and equipment commonly found in an educational woodshop. Reading this text and watching the included videos will hopefully ensure students have a solid theoretical foundation before engaging in practical work, preventing accidents and promoting projects of quality craftspersonship. This book is best used as a reference guide during a woodworking project or course, to reinforce safe practices and proper techniques learned in person while creating real-world projects.
It should be stated again: this text is not a substitute for directed, hands-on training completed under supervision in the woodshop on the specific equipment to be used. This is a supplementary tool alongside a larger curriculum. The machine operations and safety guidelines outlined in this text are by no means exhaustive. Individual workspaces have different safety procedures. Equipment from different manufacturers varies greatly, and users must always ensure they have been trained on the specific machines they will be using.
Need and Objectives
Beginning students must rely on their instructor’s technical demonstrations delivered in person. Tutorials widely available for online for out-of-class reference are often designed as commercial advertisements, created for entertainment purposes, portray incorrect and potentially unsafe operations, or are not designed for beginners. The videos, images, graphics, and text in this resource have been designed with the goal of delivering relevant and fundamental information succinctly, professionally, and in a visually attractive style. As a general primer for beginners, this resource covers basic procedures. The content covers the essentials of safe machine operation. It does not cover advanced operations, machine maintenance, or in-depth discussion of machine design.
Layout and Usage
After this introduction and a safety overview chapter, the text is organized by chapter around the specific stationary machines commonly found in an educational woodshop. Machinery chapters include overviews of the machine’s purpose and usage, labeled photos of machine anatomy, a list of safety practices, and videos of basic procedures. Chapters 2 through 4, introducing the drill press, bandsaw, and stationary sanders, are sequenced to instruct the construction of a simple push stick, explained in section 1.5: Making a Push Stick. Chapters do not necessarily need to be read sequentially. Readers can work beginning to end or refer to the section specific to the machinery they are learning.
