Lathe Safety

The lathe is used to make round or cylindrical shapes. Its primary components are the bed, headstock, tailstock, and tool rest. The work is rotated using a motor in the headstock; various tools are used at the tool rest to shape the work. The tailstock is used to support longer work at the opposite end of the bed. The lathe can be used to make a variety of turned objects, including table or chair legs, spindles, goblets, and bowls.

1. Always wear a face shield and eye protection when operating the lathe.

2. Remove or fasten any loose clothing and roll sleeves above your elbows. Tie long hair up and back.

3. Be sure belt covers are in place and closed.

4. Keep the floor where you are standing clear of chips to provide good footing.

5. Make sure the stock is free from checks, loose knots, or other defects.

6. Make sure the stock is correctly mounted on the lathe.

7. For faceplate turning, carefully select the screws used to secure the work. The screws must be properly sized for the design; they must not contact the cutting tools while you are working. Use a screw in every hole provided in the faceplate.

8. Make sure all screws are tight and check them occasionally.

9. Clamp the tool rest holder and tool rest firmly.

10. Make adjustments to the tool rest only when the lathe is at a complete stop.

11. Keep the tool rest as close as reasonably possible to the stock by frequently stopping the lathe and adjusting the tool rest.

12. Adjust the tool rest height so the cutting edge of the tool is at or just below the center of the workpiece.

13. Before turning on the lathe, rotate the stock at least one full revolution by hand to make sure it clears the tool rest and all parts of the lathe.

14. Always hold the turning tool firmly against the tool rest.

15. Remove the tool rest when sanding, polishing, or finishing the workpiece.

16. Use a tailstock with a bearing center (live center) whenever possible.

17. Adjust the tailstock center so that the point is firmly embedded in the stock without impeding free rotation.

18. Run the lathe at slow speed when beginning any turning operation. When the stock is balanced and does not vibrate, the speed may be increased.

19. If the lathe vibrates, it is running too fast or the stock is not properly secured. Stop the lathe and correct the problem.

20. The speed selector on a variable speed lathe must be operated only while the lathe is turning. A variable speed lathe does not have a belt that is moved between different sized pulleys to change the speed; it typically has a knob or handle on the front that can be rotated.

21. Stand to the side when starting the lathe.

22. Keep your hands away from the stock while it is rotating.

23. Keep your tools sharp since dull tools are harder to control and leave a rough surface on the work.

24. Stop the lathe to make measurements with calipers.

25. When polishing, use a small rag folded in a pad, not wrapped around your finger.

26. Sand and polish only on the underside of the work.

27. A dust mask is recommended when sanding, especially with exotic or spalted woods.

28. Cut faceplate stock round on the band saw before mounting on the faceplate.

29. Allow glued stock or mounting blocks to cure at least 24 hours before using.

30. On faceplate turnings, keep an accurate check on cutting depth to avoid striking the mounting screws.