MC3 General Safety Instructions
1. Always wear safety glasses in the lab.
2. Keep long hair tied back.
3. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry.
4. Do not run in the classroom.
5. Do not throw objects in the room.
6. Do not use a machine unless you have been given instruction.
7. Carry tools and material safely.
8. Do not distract someone operating a machine.
Radial Arm Saw
The Radial Arm Saw is used to crosscut material to rough length.
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating the Radial Arm Saw
2. Never wear loose clothing when operating the Radial Arm Saw.
3. Never cut a board less than 18 inches in length without special permission from the instructor.
4. Be sure to hold the material securely with your left hand against the fence and the table.
The Jointer
The Jointer is used to straighten the edge of a board and square it to the face of a board.
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating the jointer
2. Never wear loose clothing or jewelry when operating the Jointer.
3. Never joint a board less than 18 inches in length.
4. Never joint the end of the board.
5. Use a push stick when jointing narrow material less than 4 inches in width.
6. Be sure to hold the material securely against the fence and the table.
7. Be sure to have your thumbs on the top edge of the board and your fingers pointing forward away from the blade.
The Table Saw
The Table Saw is primarily used to rip material with the grain to the desired board's width.
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating the table saw.
2. Never wear loose clothing when operating the table saw.
3. Never rip material that is less than 18" in length. That would be dangerous!
4. Use a push stick when ripping material less than 7" wide to guide the material past the blade.
5. Always have a lab partner help to tail off the material as it passes beyond the blade
6. Be sure to push the material completely past the blade when ripping.
7. Wait for the blade to stop before retrieving your material.
The planer
1. Be sure that all wood is free from loose knots, paint, nails, screws cracks, or other defects. Use only clean lumber.
2. See that length of stock is longer than the distance between centers of feed rolls. Stock (wood) must be 18” long
3. Make adjustments only when machine is at a dead stop.
4. Adjust cut to measurements taken on thickest parts of the board.
5. Limit cuts to 1/8th or less on narrow stock (wood).
6. Limit cuts on wide stock (wood) to 1/16th inch or less
Production Sander
1. Ask the instructor for the key to the machine to turn it on. (Remove key after switching to on position.
2. Turn on Air-Valve (Move “Red” air valve level to 6 o'clock position.
3. Turn on “Dust Collector” (switch under radio)
4. Lower the table on the Production Sander to 1.00. You will need to push the Down yellow triangle arrow on the display panel and hold until it reaches 1.00.
5. Place your stock/project on the “Thicknesser” knob.
6. Push the Up yellow triangle arrow and hold until machine table stops moving.
7. Remove stock/project and place on conveyor table.
8. Push the 2 green buttons to turn the machine on. (Be sure “Dust Collector” is ON.)
9. Place stock/project on conveyor table and walk to other side of the machine. Support material as it is coming through the machine if it is a longer piece.
10. Remove stock/project and return to operation side of the machine. Turn the “Black wheel” so the number indicator “Decreases” by .10 (counterclockwise)
11. Continue running the stock/project through machine until it is clean and /or to the desired thickness.
12. Remember to raise the table by .10 (Decrease) after each pass by turning the Black wheel (counterclockwise)
13. When you have finished using the Production Sander, push the 2 red buttons directly across from the green buttons to turn the machine off.
Sliding Table Saw
1. Place stock/project against the fence on the sliding table with the sliding table/fence on the “front side” of the blade.
2. Align your stock/project so that you remove enough material to square one end. This will be roughly 1/8th” to ¼th of an inch (Thickness of the Saw blade).
3. Turn the power “ON” by pushing the “Green Button” closest to the clamping table.
4. Hold onto your stock/project and walk forward to trim/square one end of your material.
5. After you have completed your cut “push” the Red button in and WAIT for the blade to come to a DEAD STOP.
6. Pull the sliding table back to the starting position and unclamp your stock/project.
7. Set the desired length you want to cut your stock/project to by adjusting the gauge on the sliding table fence. (Rotate the black handle counterclockwise).
8. Tighten the measurement gauge (turn clockwise) and rotate your material and place the “trimmed/ square” end against the measurement gauge and the fence. (Do Not Over Tighten)
9. Be sure stock/ project is NOT touching blade and turn the machine ON.
10. Cut the stock/material to its desired length, turn machine off and wait for the blade to come to a DEAD STOP.
Portable/Table Router
1. Fasten stock firmly with a vice or a clamp.
2. Make adjustments only when electric cord is disconnected from power source.
3. Tighten all bits and cutters with proper wrenches.
4. Ask instructor to approve all set-ups and adjustments.
5. Be sure that the switch is in an off position and the machine is on its side before plugging in electric cord.
6. Hold the machine firmly.
7. Turn on power (after permission is given).
8. Keep hands clear of revolving cutters. Feed cutter slowly into the material.
9. Turn off power and rest machine on its side when a desired cut has been finished.
10. When finished, disconnect electric cord. Clean and return machine and its parts to designated place.
The Drill Press
The Drill Press is primarily used to drill holes in material but may also be used to counterbore and countersink holes.
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating the drill press
2. Never wear loose clothing, jewelry, earbuds etc. when operating the drill press.
3. Always clean the table prior to drilling material.
4. Clamp material when using drill bits larger than 3/8" in diameter.
The Band Saw
The Band saw is primarily used to cut curves, radii, and irregular shapes in the material.
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating the drill press
2. Never wear loose clothing, jewelry, earbuds, etc. when operating the drill press.
3. Be sure to have the guard no higher than 1/4" above the material being cut.
4. Use relief cuts when making sharp turns or radii.
5. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the blade when cutting.
The Power Miter Box
The Power Miter Box is used to trim the ends of material, crosscut material to length, or cut angles up to 45 degrees.
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1. Always wear safety glasses when operating the power miter box.
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2. Never wear loose clothing or jewelry when operating the power miter box.
3. Never cut a board less than 12 inches in length without special permission from the instructor.
4. Be sure to hold the material securely with your left hand against the fence and the table. -
5. Always wait for the blade to stop before returning the machine to the upright position.
Disk Sander
1. Table guide and guard have to be securely fastened before using the Disk Sander.
2. The distance between the table and the abrasive paper should be no more than one-eighth of an inch.
3. Sand on downward motion side of Disk Sander.
4. Do not sand round dowel stock or irregular shapes.
5. When sanding molding or doing any special set-ups, get the permission of your instructor before performing any operation.
6. Use special care when sanding small or irregular pieces. Check with your instructor before performing any operation.
7. If the abrasive paper or loose or torn notify your instructor. Do not operate the machine.
8. Move your work so that you do not burn the abrasive paper. Do not get your work caught on the edge of the disk.
9. Feed stock into the abrasive material at a moderate rate of speed and pressure.