WOOD LATHE
SAFETY
Don’t Get Wound Up in your Work!
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Roll up loose sleeves
Tie back long hair
Remove loose clothing
Remove necklaces, neck ties and hood
draw strings.
Look Carefully for:
• Wood with cracks
• Wood with nails and foreign objects
• Wood with loose knots
These items can cause the wood
to break and fly off the lathe,
possibly hitting you!
Mandrel
Purpose: Extends through pen
tubes to hold them for turning.
After Installing Your Wood on the
Lathe:
• Rotate the wood around once by hand
before turning on the lathe.
• Make sure it isn’t going to hit the tool rest
or another part of the lathe.
• Make sure the wood is centered and
balanced before starting the lathe.
ON/OFF Switch and Speed
Control
When Turning On the Lathe
• Start on the slowest speed and check for
vibration or out-of-balance.
• Stand to one side in case the wood spins
off the lathe so it won’t hit you.
• Check the wood frequently to make sure it
isn’t coming loose.
Keep Your Hands Away From
Revolving Wood.
• Stop the lathe to make any adjustments,
including moving the tool rest closer to the
work.
• Remove the tool rest for sanding safely.
TOOL REST
Purpose: Provides support for
tools while shaving wood.
Keep Tool Rest Within ¼” of Wood!
• Prevents your hand from getting caught
between the tool rest and the wood.
• As wood is removed, you will constantly
have to readjust the tool rest.
TAILSTOCK
Purpose: Supports the end of
the mandrel.
LATHE TOOLS
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Must be kept in contact with the tool rest.
Should be held firmly.
Work best if they are sharp.
Select the right tool for the job.
The gouge is best for rough cutting while rounding.
The skew is best for making something flat.
KEEP TOOLS SHARP!
• Cut wood only with tools. Hitting metal
dulls the tools.
• Have the teacher help you use the grinder.
• Sharp tools cut faster and cleaner
(smoothly).
• Less force is needed so you won’t have to
push as hard.
Always Wear a Face Shield and
Safety Glasses.
• A face shield protects your face in the
event the wood breaks or comes flying off
the lathe.
• Safety glasses protect your eyes in case
shavings or sawdust fly up under the face
shield.
Glue Must be Dried Completely
Before Turning Glued Items on
the Lathe.
Keep the Floor Clear of Sawdust
and Objects You Could Trip Over.
Stand back away from the lathe
area 6 feet or more if you are
observing.
Name 6 items that can easily
get caught in the lathe.
1. _________________
2. _________________
3. _________________
4. _________________
5. _________________
6. _________________
Name 4 things that could be
wrong with the wood, causing
it to break and fly off the
lathe, possibly hitting you.
7. _________________
8. _________________
9. _________________
10. _________________
11. After installing your wood on
the lathe, why should you rotate the
wood around once by hand before
turning on the lathe?
_______________________
When turning on the lathe:
12. What speed should you start it
on? _______________________
13. Where should you stand?
___________________________
14. Before sanding on the lathe,
what must be removed from the
lathe?
15. What must be done to the lathe
before making any adjustments?
16. How close should the tool rest
be to the wood at all times?
17. What has to be done to the
tool rest as you make the wood
smaller?
18. What causes the lathe tools to
get dull?
Give 2 advantages of using
sharp tools.
19. ______________________
20. ______________________
21. What does a face shield protect
you from?
22. What do safety glasses
protect against?
23. What is the purpose of the
Mandrel?
24. What is the purpose of the
Tailstock?
25. What is the purpose of the
Tool Rest?