PRATT

INSTITUTE
SHOP ORIENTATION MANUAL
This booklet is a reference guide and supplement to the shop orientation classes.
Study of this booklet does not qualify any student to use Pratt Shops.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
section pages
Introduction & General
Shop Safety 2
Health Hazards & Approved
Materials 3.
Shop Rules 4.
The Jointer 5-7.
The Planer 8-9.
The Table Saw 10-15.
The Band Saw 16-19.
The Drill Press 20-21.
Stationary Sanders 22-24.
INTRODUCTION

This Woodshop Orientation is designed to introduce you to the shop, to make you aware of the Shop Rules and
Safety Regulations, Procedures and most importantly introduction to the hand tools, hand power tools and power
stationary tools. It is necessary to make you aware of some of the dangers inherent in working with these tools.
You should be aware that it is impossible for you to adequately learn how to use them during this Orientation.
That is to say, when you leave here you may know what a tool looks like and what its’ function is and you will
have performed some simple tasks, but you will not have sufficient experience with that tool to use it unsuper-
vised. This Orientation is not a technique course and is only intended to provide safety and procedural instruc-
tion.

Your ID must be shown to the shop technician when you are using the shop. Your Orientation is valid for your
entire matriculated stay at Pratt. However, failure to comply with the Shop Rules and Safety Regulations will
result in the loss of shop privileges.

Keep this handout material as a reference when you use the shop. Please refer to it and the shop technician if
you have any questions about procedures or tool use.

General Shop Safety

Wood and metal working machines are designed to cut, abrade, slice, drill, etc. They are very helpful when
used properly but very dangerous when used carelessly. Lack of care, lack of attention or concentration, or lack
of tool knowledge are the most common causes of injuries in the shop. It is a rare case where some external
force causes an “accident”.

In many circumstances universities are the place where experimentation is to be encouraged and praised, but
the shop is NOT a place for experimentation with tools. Students who attempt to use tools by “figuring it out
on their own” may be ejected from the shop. The number one shop rule is “if you are not 100% sure about the
operation of a tool or the safety of a cut - ask a technician”.

Injuries are more frequent during the end of semester rush when students are often sleep deprived and under
extreme pressure to complete projects. If shop technicians suspect that any student is mentally impaired (due to
lack of sleep, medication, drugs, alcohol, stress) that student will be expelled from the shop. We are very serious
about protecting students in the shop.
With proper training and the cooperation of students most if not all injuries can be avoided.

Lastly, understand that these rules are for your benefit and safety and are necessary for a smooth running shop.
There are approximately 300 plus students who have access to the shop. So be respectful to the Wood Shop
technicians and your peers.

2.
Health hazards
Our respiratory system and our hearing are also at risk of being damaged in shop settings. Dust in the shop can
contain allergens, toxins, and carcinogens. Manufactured sheet materials often contain formaldehyde and other
chemicals which are harmful to breath. The dust of many natural woods can cause respiratory irritations, or skin
reactions. For more information on specific woods look online under Health & Safety in the Arts: Woodworking,
toxic woods.
We recommend good quality dust masks when working (especially when sanding) in the shop.
For every ones sake, we also ask that you remember to have the technician or work study turn on the dust collec-
tor for the machines you intend to use. Students who repeatedly use machines without the dust collector on may
lose their shop privilages for a period of time.
The sound decibel level in the shop is often high enough to cause hearing damage and therefore we recommend
hearing protection. The tool checkout room has ear muffs for check out.

Types of material in the shop

Softwoods containing high amounts of pitch (sap) such as fir, pine, hemlock cause pitch build-up on the blades
and other parts of machines. We may allow a few cuts to be done with these woods but if you come in the shop
planning to do a whole project with any of these woods we will not allow it. Purchase hard woods such as pop-
lar or bass wood (which are also good for painting). The terms softwood and hardwood refers to the botanical
grouping of trees rather than the properties of the wood (though most hardwoods are hard). Softwood comes
from coniferous trees and hardwood come from broad-leaved trees.
NO FOUND/RECLAIMED WOOD IS ALLOWED TO BE CUT IN OUR SHOP. Reclaimed wood can have sand,
gravel, pieces of screws/nails, paint, any of which will ruin blades and possibly become flying shrapnel.
NO PRESSURE TREATED WOOD is allow to be cut in our shop. Pressure treated lumber (which has a green tint)
contains a substantial amount of toxins harmful to breath.

examples of unsafe shoes

which are not allowed in
the shop.

Some rule violations

3.
Shop rules are in place for the protection of everyone. Non-compliance of rules can result in injury to oneself or
OTHERS in the shop. All students are required to learn and practice the shop rules. Ignorance of the rules is not
a valid excuse and violators may be expelled from the shop for an extended period of time.

SHOP RULES:

1 > YOU MUST BE SURE -

If you are not 100% sure about any tool
operation or the safety of a cut - ask a technician.
DO NOT TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE
A MACHINE ON YOUR OWN !!!!!

2 > You must follow the directions of the technicians.

3 > EYE PROTECTION -

Eye safety goggles/glasses must be worn while operating
any power or hand tools in the shop. Regular eyeglasses
are not considered safety glasses.

4 > PROPER ATTIRE –

- Hair must be securely bound behind the head.
- No shoes which expose the top of the feet.
- No baggy or loose fitting clothing, no cords hanging, no scarves, no gloves,
shirt-tails must be tucked in / long sleeves rolled-up.
- No jewelry on the arms or fingers, nothing hanging from the neck,
no wrist watches.

5 > No using tools when fatigued or under the influence of

any mind impairing drugs (medication) or alcohol.
Your mind must be alert and present.

6 > Never remove blade guards without permission

from a technician.

7 > No head-sets / i-pods. The technicians must be

able to call out and get your attention.

8 > No talking to someone who is using a power tool.

Distracting a tool operator is dangerous.

9 > No horseplay or practical joking in the shop.

10 > You must pick up your off-cut pieces of material.

Someone may slip or trip on your debris.

11 > CLEAN UP YOUR MESS BEFORE LEAVING THE SHOP!!!

4.
The Jointer
The jointer is designed to make the surface of a piece of solid wood flat and straight. If used correctly the jointer
will remove any twist, bowing, or warping from the face of a board (unless these defects are too severe). The
edge can also be made straight, flat and perfectly square to the face. Your board can then be taken to the
planer or table saw to do further cutting.
The jointer (and the thickness planer) will only work for solid woods - no manufactured boards (no mdf, particle
board, pressed bamboo, acrylics, etc.)
How a jointer works can be understood by looking at the illustration below. The infeed table is adjusted slightly
lower than the outfeed table. The outfeed table remains aligned with the top edges of the cutter knives (do not
lower the outfeed table). This allows the cutterhead to remove material from the board while keeping the board
on a level plane.
The fence supports the board for jointing the edge. The fence can be tilted to achieve angled edges.
Hazards of the jointer
Injuries that occur with the jointer involve hands slipping off the board and touching the cutter head.
Kickback is also a possibility if too deep of a cut is attempted, and when jointing a board’s face this is especially
true because of the large area of blade/wood contact.
Carefully and correctly feeding your board into the jointer will prevent any injury.

cupped twisted bowed

ILLUS. 5A
DEPTH OF CUT EXAGGERATED
FOR ILLUSTRATION
In the above illustration you can see
that as the cutterhead removes mate-
rial the outfeed table supports the
board after it has been made thinner.
The outfeed table is pre-set at a height
in line with the highest point of the
The vibration of the cutterhead planing a small piece can cause it to tip blade and should not be adjusted.
into the cutterhead resulting in kickback.
Boards must be a minimum of 10 inches long
Jointing the face surface
Check that the blade guard is in good working order.
When jointing the face of a board have the cupped side down to prevent the
board from rocking as it passes over the cutterhead. (see ILLUS. 1B at right)
Check the depth of cut to be sure that it is not excessive. Excessive depth could
result in kickback.
ILLUS. 5B
5.
 Fence lock
Fence angle lock MUST BE LOOSENED BEFORE
Must be loosened MOVING FENCE
to change the fence
angle
Move fence crank

Holds fence at 90 degrees

Fence

The fence may need to be moved to accommodate the width of

your board.
When jointing the face of a board 1/32” to 1/16” is a good
amount to remove with one pass. It is far safer to make several
passes than to attempt to remove a lot of material with one pass.

Cut depth scale infeed table

Outfeed table infeed table lock height crank
lock
DO NOT ADJUST!!!

Hold your board down on the table using a push-

pad on the leading end and a push board catching
on the trailing end.
As you feed the board over the cutterhead step
forward to transfer your weight and keep your
balance.

6.
Jointing the edge of a board
If you want a truly square edge check the fence for squareness. Set the cut depth to 1/32” - 1/16”.
Place your board on the table so that the flat and straight jointed face is against the fence.

7A 7B
Holding the board firmly against the fence pass the edge over the cutterhead (as in illus. 7A). Feed the board
with your right hand while keeping the left hand stationary. The left hand should not pass over the cutterhead.
When about 12 in. of your board has passed the cutterhead guard stop and transfer you left hand to the out-
feed side of the jointer (as in illus. 7B). You will need to shuffle your feet forward to maintain your balance. Next,
continue to pass the board over the cutterhead while keeping the left hand stationary holding the board firmly
against the fence.

7C 7D
With your left hand in this position (illus. 7C), as the With your left hand in this position (illus. 7D), if your
board is being pushed over the table there is the hand happens to slip down there is no chance of
chance that fingers could slip down into the injury.
cutterhead.

If your board is less than 6” wide use a push board

on the trailing end to push it over the cutterhead.

7.
The Thickness Planer
The thickness planer has a motor driven infeed roller which pulls a board through/over the planer table and
past a cutterhead which planes off the surface of the board. (see ILLUS. 2A) The table and table rollers are set
parallel to each other so that the opposite face surfaces of a board become parallel planes. As with the jointer,
ONLY SOLID WOOD can be planed - NO MDF, PARTICLE BOARD, PLYWOOD, BAMBOO, PLASTICS, OR ANY
MANUFACTURED COMPOSITE. ALSO NO RECLAIMED LUMBER IS TO BE PASSED THROUGH THE THICKNESS
PLANER.
The thickness planer is often mistakenly thought of as a tool that can take a curved or twisted board and make
it flat and straight - it will not. If your board is curved the thickness planer will give you a thinner curved board.
Your board must first be made straight and flat on one face surface (with a jointer or hand plane) and then the
thickness planer will make the other face surface parallel.

Table height adjustment

Power off switch

table height scale cutterhead on switch
table feed rollers on switch

lower rollers lock

lower rollers adjust height lever
(DO NOT ADJUST)

cutterhead

infeed outfeed
roller roller
The cutterhead planes off material from the top surface.
The lower table rollers should be set so that they barely
protrude above the table surface. If they are set too high a
snipe (deeper gouge at the end of the board) will happen. ILLUS. 2A lower table
rollers
Hazards of the Thickness Planer
Used properly the thickness planer is a relatively safe
power tool.
Kickback is a possibility if the table height is poorly
adjusted (set much too low) and wood is improperly feed
into the machine. (see ILLUS. 2B)
Reaching inside this machine to dislodge a jammed piece
(while the power is on) with a stick or your hand is ex-
tremely dangerous and should never be attempted.
FOR USE IN THE PLANER - THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF ILLUS. 2B
WOOD IS 12 INCHES.

8.
Using the Thickness Planer
Begin by checking the thickness at several places along the length to determine the thickest part of your board.
This thickest measurement will determine the table height setting. Turn the table height hand wheel to where the
indicator scale reads a position about 1/32 in. less than the thickest part of your board. This machine removes
wood on the top side so place your straight/flat side down when feeding into the machine. The infeed roller
should easily grab your board and automatically pull it through. After each pass through the machine you must
raise the table (turn the hand crank clockwise) 1/4 to 1 full rotation. Repeat this step until you achieve your de-
sired thickness.

Standing to the side, place your board down level with

the table and feed it into the machine.

NEVER STAND IN FRONT OF THE MACHINE AND FEED

A PIECE INTO THE MACHINE IN THIS WAY.
Kickback is a possibility.

If your board passes only partially through the planer and stops - do not attempt to pull your board out, turn the
machine off and wait for it to completely stop before removing your board by lowering the table.

YOU CANNOT PUT MDF OR PLYWOOD THROUGH

THE THICKNESS PLANER.
SOLID WOOD ONLY!

9.
The Table Saw
The table saw is used to cut solid woods, sheet material (plywood, particle board, mdf, etc.), and various sheet
plastics. Compared to the band saw the table saw will cut more quickly, straighter, and give a smoother edge.
The table saw is the most versatile of wood shop tools.
It is also the most dangerous power tool in the shop. Complete presence of mind and care must be used when
operating the table saw. Carelessness or improper use can result in serious injury.
ALL STUDENTS (INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED THE CERTIFICATION TRAINING) MUST CHECK WITH A
TECHNICIAN BEFORE USING THE TABLE SAW. Violators of this rule may be expelled from the shop for an ex-
tended period of time.

Basic features -
The blade can be raised or lowered to adjust the depth of cut desired. The blade may also be tilted to any
angle between 90 and 45 degrees. The blade should be accompanied by a riving knife which helps prevent ma-
terial from rotating during a cut and being kickedback. Some woods have internal stresses which cause the wood
to close in on the blade as they are cut. The riving knife helps prevent the blade from being pinched in this way.
The fence is used to guide the material when rip cutting.

power on switch

blade height crank

blade angle
crank

easy off
switch

Blades -
Circular saw blade come in various designs for different operations and different materials. Using the correct
blade will give the best results and prevent blade damage. For example: ripping with a cross-cut blade will
cause excess heat which may result in a burned edge. Rip blades have larger gullets which enable the blade
to remove the large amount of wood chips created when ripping. There is a special blade for cutting acrylics.
Please consult the technician about which blade is right for the operation you wish to perform.
Dull or pitch coated blades add to the danger of kickback.

GULLET COMBINATION CROSS-CUT

BLADES BLADE
TEETH

RIP BLADES

10.
Making cuts on the table saw
Ripping
Ripping is the operation of cutting material lengthwise to a desired width.
Ripping is always done using a fence. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CUT A PIECE FREEHAND (WITHOUT A SUPPORTING
GUIDE SUCH AS THE FENCE). FREEHAND CUTTING WILL RESULT IN KICKBACK.
Generally the wider portion of the material goes between the fence and the blade, but not always.

ILLUS. 3B
ILLUS. 3A
Example: I have a piece of plywood 20” x 26” which I want to cut to 18” x 26”. I would set the fence 18” away
from the blade so that the 2” off-cut would be on the outside (or left side) of the blade (as in ILLUS. A).
ILLUS. B shows the wrong way to reduse the size of a board, with the unwanted part between the fence & blade.
STUDY THESE HAND & FINGER
POSITIONS
The correct hand positions are very important to prevent
injuries. The illustration at left shows the correct hand
positions for ripping. The left hand is in the best place
to hold the wood down and against the fence. The left
hand knuckles are down (fingers curled in) and thumb is
on top. THE LEFT HAND REMAINS STATIONARY at this
point while the material is pushed past the blade by the
right hand only. The left hand would not move beyond
the red line in this situation.
HERE (AS IN ILLUS. 3A) THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE
LEFT HAND TO PUSH THE OFFCUT MATERIAL PAST THE
BLADE.

Any piece less than 7” wide passing be-

tween the fence and the blade should be
pushed with a push stick.
ILLUS. 3C shows the correct push stick posi-
tion on the work piece. With the push stick
in the position shown in ILLUS. 3D, as far YES NO
as posible from the blade, the work piece
tends to come away from the fence causing
pressure against the side of the blade. ILLUS. 3C ILLUS. 3D
 Here the left hand is unnecessarily in danger. The left hand
should be used to push the off cut part ONLY WHEN THE SIZE
AND WEIGHT REQUIRES that it be pushed in order to maintain
straight movement of the work piece.
IF YOUR PIECE EVER GETS JAMED DURING A CUT - HOLD YOUR
PIECE IN PLACE AND TURN OFF THE SAW - DO NOT
LET GO OF YOUR PIECE OR PULL IT BACK.

A common mistake is to think that the cut is complete when the off cut
separates from the piece you want. The illus. at right shows a piece that
has not been pushed completely beyond the blade and is in danger of
being ejected from the saw.
PUSH YOUR PIECE COMPLETELY BEYOND THE BLADE.

er
f c to
dle the
int

ent
lef htly
po
mid h at

the h slig
to
pus

If the off cut material is large the left hand

pus

is needed to keep the material moving

straight. Both hands push at the middle
point.
The right hand presses in a slight angle
toward the fence. Placing the hands as
far away from the blade as possible may
appear safer but as the cut comes near to
being complete it would cause the blade
to be pinched between the two pieces of
plywood. This could result in kickback.

Ripping an angle on the edge of a piece

On some table saw models the blade tilts to the right on others it tilts to the left. On all table saw you have the
option on putting the fence on either side of the blade. When ripping an angle on the edge of a piece it is usu-
ally safer to put the fence in a position where the the blade tilts away from the fence (such as in ILLUS. 3E be-
low). In ILLUS. 3E the piece is free to move upwards away from the blade. If the blade tilts towards the fence (as
in ILLUS. 3F) the piece is trapped between the blade and the fence and is more prone to being ejected by the
blade.

ILLUS. 3E ILLUS. 3F

12.
Crosscutting
As the term implies, crosscutting means cutting across
the length of a piece.
Crosscutting requires very different support devices
from those used in ripping. The sliding table attach-
ment, the sliding tray (also called a sled), or the miter
gauge are used to make crosscuts.
For very large sheets of material the PANEL SAW
(shown below right) is the safest and easiest way to sliding table
crosscut.

When crosscutting with the sliding tabe or sliding

tray the hand positions are important. See ILLUS. 3G
at left - the right hand does all the pushing forward
as the left hand holds the workpiece back against
the fence.
It is a mistake to push both the fence and the off-cut
piece as in ILLUS. 3H - This could result in the blade
ILLUS. 3G being pinched and kicking back the piece.

panel saw

ILLUS. 3H

The I.D. Shop and the Furniture Shop both have a

panel saw.
If the sliding table does not have the capacity to
cut your sheet material the panel saw is the safest
way to make cuts. With the panel saw you can
rough cut pieces from a full sheet and then recut
your pieces more precisely with the table saw.

13.
Using sliding trays
Sliding trays are very effective support devices for various
purposes, the most common being 90 degree crosscutting.
The sliding tray on the right is for smaller pieces. Long pieces
cannot be supported by this small sled and should be cut
with the sliding table.
The left hand holds the work piece down and firmly against
the front fence (slightly pulling towards yourself) while the
right hand pushes the sled at a point slightly to the left of the
blade - never directly in line with the blade.
ILLUS. 3E Shows the correct way to use a sliding tray to make a crosscut. ILLUS. 3F Shows someone using the rip-
fence to measure the cut. Using the fence in for this purpose can easily result in kickback due to the tension which
may occur between the fence and the blade.

ILLUS. 3E ILLUS. 3F
NEVER USE THE FENCE (AS SHOWN HERE)
IN COMBINATION WITH A CROSSCUTTING
DEVICE.

A CLAMP SHOULD
BE HOLDING THIS
PIECE.
If your work piece is so small that your hand comes
within 4 inches of the blade the piece should be held
with a clamp (or cut on the band saw). The miter gauge can also be used to make crosscuts on
smaller pieces. It is also adjustable for making angle
cuts. 14.
Kickback is the term used to describe how a power tool can eject a piece of material towards the tool operator.
A table saw has the power to throw a full sheet of 3/4” plywood across the shop. Kickback injuries are far more
common than finger cuts. Besides the obvious danger of being violently struck by an ejected piece of wood, the
instantaneous actions of kickback could pull your hand into the blade.
Causes of kickback
- A workpiece binding between the rip fence and the blade.
(as can happen when cross-cutting with the rip fence)
- Internal stresses within wood pinching the blade. - Cutting twisted and warped wood.
- Using a dull blade or a blade with excessive build up of pitch. - Material dropping on the blade.

Anatomy of a kickback
Refering to illus.1whenever demension (A) is lon-
ger than demention (B) there is a strong danger of
A kickback. Even a piece that is correctly oriented
to the fence (demension (B) being longer than (A))
can be kicked back if it is not correctly fed into
the saw.
B
As the piece is pushed it is very difficult to keep
the piece moving straight. The force of the blade
causes the piece to rotate slightly. This creates a
tremendous tension between the blade and the
fence.

As the back edge of piece reaches the rear With a frisbee like action, the blade then ejects
part of the blade the upward force of the blade the piece with great force and towards the saw
causes the piece to climb up and over the blade. operator.

Attempting to crosscut using the rip fence is the most common

and dangerous mistake made in school shops.
NEVER CROSSCUT USING THE RIP FENCE
The riving knife is a very important safety guide. It can prevent kickback
in many situations, but not in all situations. The riving knife gets in the way
of some crosscutting operations so it is often removed. Make sure that the
riving knife is installed before making a rip cut.
The presence of the Rifing knife does NOT make it okay to attempt cross-
cutting with the fence.
Riving knife
15.
The Band Saw
As the name implies the band saw mainly consists of a steel band (blade) which is held in tension by two (or
sometimes three) wheels and is driven through a table while being guided by upper and lower blade guides
units.
The band saw blade allows freehand curves to be cut as well as straight rips or crosscuts. The band saw table
may be tilted to make angled cuts. The upper blade guard/guide can be adjusted according to the thickness of
the material being cut.
A wide variety of materials can be cut on the band saw depending on the type of blade installed.
These include: all natural wood, manufactured sheet material, acrylics, aluminum and other non-ferrous metals,
and mild steel (on a specified metal band saw).
Band saw blades come in a wide variety of tooth sizes and shapes all designed to cut materials of particular
qualities. Therefore if you are not sure about which band saw and/or blade is suitable for your material please
ask a technician before attempting a cut.
One disadvantage of the band saw is that it does not leave as smooth of a finish cut as the table saw.
Hazards of the Band Saw
The band saw is a comparatively friendly and safer power tool than circular saws. Fortunately, kickback is not
a concern with the band saw because of the fact that the band saw blade moves downward through the table
rather that spinning towards the tool operator.
In school shops band saws are the most frequently used cutting tool and consequently injuries do happen. Be-
cause of the fact that cuts are made by pushing a piece of material into the blade the fingers or thumbs are at
risk of being cut if the operator is not very careful about hand positions. Fingers or thumbs may slip off of the
work piece and contact the blade.

Illustrations below show good and bad

thumb positions.

16.
Choosing the right band saw
In the Pratt Shops there are a variety of band saws. Generally the thicker and denser the material the larger
(and more powerful) the band saw should be. One of the most important factor in choosing a band saw is the
blade installed on it. For ripping a wide blade is best since a narrow blade will tend to wander from side to
side. If you need to cut a tight curve a wide blade will not be able to make the cut you want and you should
choose a narrow blade. The number of teeth per inch is also an important factor. A coarse tooth blade will cut
thick or hard wood easier without burning while a fine tooth blade cutting the same wood will clog up and cause
burning. Consult the technician on duty if you are not sure about this decision.

Ripping on the band saw

Ripping means cutting a piece lengthwise to a certain width.
The fence is used to guide your material. Feed your mate-
rial into the blade at a moderate speed. Excess feed speed
puts strain on the blade, the blade guides and the motor.
The sounds of the machine will tell you when you are caus-
ing undue stress which means “slow down on your feed
speed”.

THE BLADE GUARD UNIT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ADJUSTED

TO THE CORRECT HEIGHT BEFORE CUTTING. There should
be about 3/8 in. clearance between the blade guides and
the top of your work piece. Do not come to a band saw and
accept whatever blade guard setting is there - adjust it.

If the fence is set closer than 3 inches from

the blade or whenever your cut requires that
you push close to the blade use a push stick or
If your piece is small you can use a second piece of material some piece of scrap wood to complete the cut.
as a pushing device.

17.
Crosscutting
As the term implies crosscutting means cutting across the length of a piece.
The miter gauge is used to make crosscuts. The miter gauge can be set square or to any angle between 90-45
degrees. The work piece is held firm against the miter gauge as you push it into the blade.

Cutting cylindrical pieces takes extra care. Dowels must be held very firmly to prevent spinning when contact-
ing the blade. A round object may spin as it contacts the blade. This may cause your fingers to be pulled into the
blade before you have any chance to react. Discs or spheres must first be attached to a secondary square piece
which can add stability and prevent spinning.

A miter gauge will help you make a square cut.

It can also be set to angles up to 45 degrees.

Use a hand screw (wood

If we find you attempting to make any cuts like these
clamp) to hold small or
you may be ejected from the shop.
disc shaped pieces.

Never attempt to cut a spherical or disc shaped piece. These cuts will Tall narrow pieces are not stable and
always spin and possibly pull your fingers into the blade. can easily move in a way that pulls your
fingers into the blade. 18.
Cutting curves
Before beginning a curved cut there are a few things to consider:
Is the blade the correct width for the radius or tightness of the curve you wish to cut?
A narrower blade will cut a tighter curve (or smaller radius). Attempting to cut a curve with a blade that is too
wide will result in harmful stress on the machine & blade and could cause the blade to break.
Do you need to make relief cuts? (see illus. below ) Relief cuts reduce stress on the blade and can prevent jams.
Will the work piece run into the vertical frame member and get trapped?
Marking your work piece on the correct side will avoid getting into a jam. If your work piece gets jammed do not
try to pull it out with the power on. First turn off the power and carefully retrieve you work piece.
When cutting on the band saw avoid pulling back work that is partially cut. Pulling back work (while the
power is on) may pull the blade off the wheels!

Relief cuts prevent the blade

from getting trapped.

This cut cannot be completed because the corner

of the work piece ran into the vertical frame
member.

Two ways to achieve a radius or curved end

cut.

Strategically drilled holes make this operation

much easier.

19.
The Drill Press
The drill press enable you to bore holes in material exactly square or at an angle and with great precision and
control.
It has a depth stop mechanism which can limit the depth of a hole.
The table can be tilted for drilling at an angle.
The shop has a variety of jigs and holders which can make your drilling operations easier and more precise.

The drill press vise

twist drill bit

acrylic bit
THE TABLE LOCK MUST FIRST BE LOOSENED BEFORE
THE TABLE CAN BE ADJUSTED. brad point bit

The twist drill bit is the most common. It is a general purpose bit
which works for wood, metal, acrylic & other materials. For wood spade bit
the twist drill bit will cause some rough edges on the hole.
The acrylic bit has a special taper and cutting edge which
scrapes away the acrylic material as it penitrates. This action
causes less cracking and break out on the bottom side of the work
forstner bit
piece.
On wood the brad point or forstner bit will give a hole with sharp
edges. The brad point, spade bit, and forstner bit are only for
wood or other soft materials, never for steel or abrasive material
countersink bit
such as stone/concrete.
The hole saw is can make larger size holes in wood, acrylics, alu-
minum and (if is a bi-metal type) steel.
The countersink bit give a cone shaped hole which allow the head
of screws to fit flush with the surface.
The pilot countersink bit will drill a pilot hole and countersink in
one operation.
pilot countersink bit

20.
hole saw
Drilling operations
Choose the correct drill bit for the material you are drilling. Consult a technician if you are not sure which bit is
correct - DO NOT GUESS!
Always have a piece of sheet material (provided by the shop) covering the bed (under your piece) when drilling.
This helps prevent drilling into the table bed which will damage the bed and possibly ruin the drill bit you are
using.
Rotation speed
The bit rotation speed can make a big difference in the cutting action of the bit. For example using very high
speeds may cause burning of your work piece and dulling of the bit. In some cases high speeds are appropriate.
There are several factors involved in the choice of bit rotation speed - ask a technician.
Some drill presses have a variable speed control while other drill presses require changing the belt placement on
pulleys.
Your work piece should be secured in some way - either clamped directly to the bed or in a vice or a jig that is
clamped to the bed. Material that is not secured can easily be grabbed and spun by the bit causing injury. The
larger the bit the more likely that the bit will try to spin the piece being drilled.
Cylindrical pieces (such as dowels) can be held in a V-block (see below).
Drilling metal is far more risky than wood. With metal the drill bit usually binds in the work piece as it pen-
etrates. Metal work pieces should always be clamped or secured in a vice. If you are not experienced with metal
drilling please ask a technician for assistance.

Using a fence prevents your work from spinning. It also There should be a wood platform under this piece
allows you to drill more that one hole in exact alignment. and it should be clamped, not hand held.

Here you can see how

V-blocks can securely hold
a cylidrical piece for
drilling either the end or
side of the piece.

21.
Stationary Sanders

Pratt shops have several types of stationary power sanders: From left to right below -
The disc sander, The combination disc & belt sander, The edge sander, The spindle sander.
A variety of materials may be sanded including wood, acrylics, foams, and aluminum. Sanders may be designat-
ed for certain materials so check with the technician if you are not sure about which sander is appropriate.
It is very important to remember to ask the technician or work study on duty to turn on the dust collection for the
sander you wish to use. Although you may not be concerned about being harmed by dust inhalation others in the
shop are very concerned.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO SEE THAT THE DUST COLLECTION IS ON.

NO POWER SANDING PLASTER !!!

Rules for all stationary power sanders

- Do not attempt to sand very small pieces of material which cause your fingers to come close to the abrasive
surface.
- Never attempt to sand spherical shaped pieces or organic shapes (for example: pear shape) as these shapes
will spin as they contact the abrasive surface and come out of your hand. Your fingers may then contact the
abrasive surface.
- When ever possible hold material down on the table of the sander.
- Do not remove paint with any shop power sander. Occasionally a student attempts to remove paint from a
piece of wood worth about 50 cents and in the process ruins a $10 abrasive belt or disc.
- Avoid sanding at one point on the abrasive surface for long periods of time. In just a few seconds your piece
could be burning and the abrasive surface will clog up.
The disc sander
The disc sander will give the flatest surface because the abrasive disc is ILLUS. 6C
adhered to the backing plate.
A miter guage can be used to achieve very accurate square or angled
ends to your work piece.
The rotation of the disc determines which side is safe to use as only the
downward moving side should be used. Not all sanders rotate in the
same direction. If the sander rotates right to left (as in ILLUS. 6C) then
the left side is the correct side to use. Sanding on the upward moving
side will cause your work piece to come off of the table and possi-
bly out of your hands. The result could be your fingers contacting the
abrasive surface, or the results could be your piece hits you in the face.
You should, whenever possible, keep your work piece in contact with the
table as you sand. 22.
The table can also be tilted to achieve
ILLUS. 6A ILLUS. 6B
angles.
The table should be tilted downwards
rather than upwards. When the table is
Tilted upward the action of the abrasive
surface pulls the work into the wedge
formed by the angle (see ILLUS. 6A). This
can cause the work piece to burn and
jam the machine to a stop.

The vertical belt sander

The abrasive action of the vertical belt sander is somewhat different than the disc sander in that the belt moves
straight downwards rather than in a circular motion. The entire surface of the belt may be used for sanding, al-
though (as with the disc sander) work pieces should be held down on the table as much as possible.
The belt may become warped as it gets hot and worn so the sanding surface may be less than flat.
ILLUS. 6D ILLUS. 6E ILLUS. 6F

The illustrations above show three ways that the same operation could be performed. Two have potential haz-
ards. Can you see what these hazard are?
In ILLUS. 6D the piece could get wedged between the miter gauge slot and the sanding belt. In ILLUS. 6E the
edge of the piece could get pulled into the gap between the table and the sanding belt. These examples apply
to the disc sander as well.

23.
The spindle sander
The spindle sander is designed to sand inside curves.
Various size (diameter) spindles are changeable. The throat
plate must also be changed to fill the throat. Leaving excess
throat space may result in the work piece being pulled down
inside the machine (as in ILLUS. 6C).
The table may be tilted to achieve an angle.

ILLUS. 6C

You will be better able to control the sanding action

if you move your work piece against the spin of the
sander.

The above piece is in great danger of being

grabbed by the sanding cylinder and spun.
There must be at least 1/2 in. clearance on all
sides of a hole or opening.

24.