THESE MACHINE TUTORIAL PAGES ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MACHINE TRAINING AND PRACTICE - THEY ARE MEANT AS A BACKUP REFERENCE
ONLY.
ALL SHOP USERS MUST GET ADEQUATE MACHINE TRAINING IN OUR SPACES TO OPERATE ANY MACHINERY OR POWER TOOLS
REFER TO SHOP SAFETY RULES PAGE FOR REQUIREMENTS FOR MACHINE USE (SAFETY GLASSES, NO DANGLING HAIR/CLOTHES/ETC, NO HEADPHONES, AND MORE)
Don't turn the machine on yet!
# 1 most important first step when you walk up to a band saw: move the guard to a hair above the thickness of your material.
You also need to inspect the machine- never trust a shared machine to be left ready to go, safely set up for you.
Always check it
first, and move the blade guard, every time. Even if it is only a few mm, this action must be deeply ingrained habit.
Permanent injuries from exposed blade are too easy to fall into regardless of experience- but just as easy to prevent with safer habits.
The guides (bearings and/or graphite blocks) above and below the table need to be in correct position - ask for help if
you aren't trained on this. Don't attempt to move them without training.
Have cuts planned ahead of time - keep enough material to grip without ever needing to let your fingers close to the blade. Use
tools to guide material and scrap push sticks instead of risking your fingers.
If material is large/heavy, ask for help handling it so you can focus on safe cutting without distraction.
Pushing the green start button is the LAST step in this process - do not turn the machine on until you have worked through setup.