Don't take shop safety for granted.

Fiddleback said:
I don't understand why folks aren't in the habbit of using those vise grip style drill press clamps. Its so fast and easy. If you set it up right, it holds the work down, and impedes the part from spinning.

I have a dvd of a guy making a folder, and he drills all of his drill holes without clamping one time.

I used to stop a lot of the new engineers from doing this in my previous lifetime designing antennas. The shop actually had no clamping tool to use when they hired me. Engineers. A whole lot of school, and no experience with machines. I think the drill press gets passed over when the 'fear of a tool' gets handed out. Its a bad one to underestimate too.
Click to expand...

The vise grip clamps can be dangerous too. The wrong amount of pressure and the grips can snap back open. Eventually the spring gets old and will fail.

Ive made myself a fixture out of UHMW. Its about 4"x6" and 1.75" thick drill press fixture.jpg

You can use small C-clamps (use at least 2) to fix your work. Then use larger clamps or Vise grip clamp for the whole fixture. I find it much easier to move this thing around on the drill press table with my piece still clamped than moving the whole drill press table.
 
Last edited:
KennyB said:
Clamp down work: Yes
Wear gloves: No
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

Gloves are a touchy subject around here... certainly no one advocates wearing gloves at the drill press, but many people swear by them at the grinder. Those who advocate them generally say "gloves protect you from the heat" and "better to ruin a glove than grind off a layer of skin".

I'm with you, no gloves around machines. I too have seen what can happen when power tools grab hold of a glove, and I want no part of it. If your workpiece is getting too hot to hold in your bare hands, you don't need a glove, you need to slow down and dunk it more often.
 
Another small thing that greatly adds to safety when drilling blade tangs - make sure to clamp the blade on the drill press table with the sharpened edge away from the direction the bit is rotating. A spine whack across the knuckles is infinitely better than a "spinning scimitar of death." :eek:

TedP
 
The longer you do knife making the easier it is to get complacent... This is why you stay on your toes at all times.
Speedy get well soon with thats gotta hurt :eek:
Drill press belt grinder buffer saws foredom they will all hurt you
 
james terrio said:
If your workpiece is getting too hot to hold in your bare hands, you don't need a glove, you need to slow down and dunk it more often.
Click to expand...
I don't agree. I start wanting to put down items at 110-120F. You aren't going to temper out anything below 350F. With gloves, I can hold onto pieces 220F plus. When grinding, I use mechanics style gloves that are usually wet. They conduct heat a little quicker, so I know when the piece is getting hot. Keep in mind that I do not use a tool rest, so there are no pinch points. The gloves have saved my skin more than I care to count. "No gloves around machines." is painting with too broad a brush, IMO. You just need to know when NOT to use them.(ie: drill press). I have burnt, skinned and cut digits in the past... they are a pain to work with, after. I'd rather replace a pair of gloves, thank you.

I do agree that gloves and drills, lathes, saws.... is a big no-no.
 
20130717_180050_zps06ac09d8.jpg
Make yourself something like this. You still have the freedom of moving the part around easily. Its very safe.
 
Rick Marchand said:
I start wanting to put down items at 110-120F.
Click to expand...

Sissy. :D

In all seriousness, my "No Gloves at the Grinder" rule is only a personal one. I do understand why and how some people prefer them at the grinder, as Rick pointed out nicely. If you're going to wear them, I think Rick's advice is sound. :thumbup:
Rick Marchand said:
I do agree that gloves and drills, lathes, saws.... is a big no-no.
Click to expand...

We definitely agree on that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top