Lathe Safety

dimanche 1 juin 2014

I thought I would share a recent experience that demonstrates that no matter how careful you are it is so

easy to come undone in a big way. I bought a Technatool 1000 to do up view selling. I did that and set it

up on a sturdy bench well bolted. It operated well, no vibrations and I made a cover for the motor/belt. I decided

to finish some grinding my last chisel and let the lathe run on the lowest speed for a few minutes (185 rpm's) before I

ran the lathe through the belt changes for the last time. I finished the grinding and fortunately I had my goggles, noise

suppression gear and gloves on. I returned to the lathe (gear on), turned off the lathe with my right hand and put my left hand

on the brake wheel which was wooden and fitted to a faceplate with a left hand thread. Bang - the wooden wheel snapped

in two and flew onto my goggles, bounced off and hit me on the left forehead (temple region). Remember I had turned off the

lathe. It gave me a decent cut above my eye and left me (as it developed) with deep bruising of the forehead bone and two impressive black eyes and further

bruising to parts of the face below the eyes. Fortunately, it didn't knock me out and I was able to clean myself up and put ice on the

injury. I could not see out of left eye for 3 days. I was home alone at the time and no vehicle!!. Went to the GP no concussion or long-term damage. I inspected the hand-wheel.

It was made in the usual way and I have seen and used these before on other lathes without incident. It was held on the faceplate with

3 screws - there were only 3 suitable screw holes. In hindsight I think it would have been preferable to use 3 bolts and to countersink them

into the hand-wheel for added security. This process might have prevented the handle from flying off the handle if it split. I checked our Leady

lathe at the woodturning group - same result - 3 screws into wooden brake-wheel. I am sure there are many more set-up the same way. So a few

things - (1) use appropriate safety gear - this for sure saved me from a different outcome, even if it was goggles and not a full faceshield. (2) - if you

use a wooden home made brake wheel, please check and consider using a different system of holding, i.e bolts vs. screws. I have not replaced the

brake wheel (which came with the lathe) and have left the faceplate on which has a left hand thread. (3) If you are on blood thinners (like say warfarin)

be very careful because of the bruising. This is the advice of my GP as I am not on this drug. I know that we have all had incidents, but you

can never be too careful. :cool: Drillit.




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