Do you use face shields when routing?

[Louis Brandt]

Hello,

I’m just wondering how many of you wear face shields when routing (or for that matter, when doing other woodworking chores). I’m thinking about getting a face shield, especially to use in routing, since I’m a newbie when it comes to routers.

Opinions?

Thanks,
Louis

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Louis, I do when routing and using the lathe, however for other machines I use safety goggles that fit over my prescription glasses.

Regards, Rod.

[Jerome Hanby]

I wear safety glasses and if more than a quick cut, headphone style hearing protection and a respirator mask. If I had one of those powered mask/shield/helmet gizmos from Trend or whomever, I'd probably wear that...

[Lee Schierer]

I follows Norm's advice and always wear safety glasses and hearing protection when running the router in or out of the table.

[Bob Genovesi]

I follows Norm's advice and always wear safety glasses and hearing protection when running the router in or out of the table.

Pretty much a standard in my shop too. I've got all the options supplied at birth and have no intention of letting any go at my age.

Preserve Nature, think, look, and wear safety glasses.

[Kevin Barnett]

Something you might consider...When I know there's a good chance something is going to hit me, I put on a chainsaw helmet. It's a hard hat, earmuffs, and face protection all in one. The face protection is a painted black screen, so it doesn't get all scratched up like most face-shields. With safety glasses on underneath, I feel pretty safe. It's a good solution for me.

[Frank Drew]

Eye and ear protection always when routing, but I've only used a full face shield for turning or grinding (and when you're turning you're also doing a lot of grinding.)

[Cody Colston]

I always wear safety glasses and usually hearing protection in the shop as my DC is pretty loud. Occassionally I'll wear a face shield at the lathe when roughing out a blank, especially if the bark is still on it. Usually, though, I just wear safety glasses.

There is a point for me where having to don a bunch of safety garb will outweigh the enjoyment of woodworking, since I do this as a hobby. If I ever feel the need to dress up in the equivalent of riot gear just to cut a board, I'll give up woodworking.

[Mike Cruz]

You know, I never even CONSIDERED wearing one of those things until recently, when a 2 1/2" X 4" block (remaining piece from a cut on my table saw) flew up and caught me on the chin. Yes, I was wearing eye protection, but it dawned on me...had that hit me ANYWHERE else, I would have been in trouble!...Adam's apple, anywhere on the throat, mouth, cheek... I mean, it put a pretty nice gouge in my chin, and it was bruised for a couple of weeks.

NOTE: I have a 1 HP Ridgid TS2424. Not nearly your "powerful" saw.

Be careful...

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

no. I squint.

[Don Abele]

If I'm routing on the table or doing something where I am standing back from the router then it's just safety glasses. If the operation requires me to be down and watching what's going on, then it's a face shield. I had a router bit exploded on me once and I took a piece of the wing to the left forearm. At the time I only had on safety glasses and that convinced me that if my face was going to be that close to the operation, that I wanted my WHOLE face protected.

As for hearing protection - ALWAYS!

Be well,

Doc

[Matt Meiser]

Glasses/Safety Glasses, respirator with dust cartridges, and ear muffs here. Got to admit I'm not that good about remembering the latter since I always have glasses on and don't realize something is missing. Same thing happens when I'm at facilities for work where I need them. Occasionally I get caught because someone notices the lack of side shields.

[Mike Henderson]

I wear safety glasses but I don't like the face shields. I wear digital hearing aids and they have sound limiters in them so it's like wearing ear protection all the time.

Mike

[Greg Hines, MD]

I only wear a face shield when turning, but I wear safety glasses every time I am in the shop. I also rarely if ever am using any power tool without ear plugs.

Doc

[Jim Finn]

Hello,

I’m just wondering how many of you wear face shields when routing (or for that matter, when doing other woodworking chores). I’m thinking about getting a face shield, especially to use in routing, since I’m a newbie when it comes to routers.

Opinions?

Thanks,
Louis
I wear safty glasses at all times in the workshop and add a face shield when using table saw, miter saw, or router.

[Ben Galluzzo]

no. I squint.

Hey, that's better than closing your eyes when making the cut. :p

[Ben Galluzzo]

I've gotten to the point that I put safety glasses on all of the large machinery around the shop and keep ear protection on the loud pieces of equipment. I figure if I have to pick up safety glasses to get them out of the way, I might as well just put them on my face.

I also used to buy the cheaper protective equipment. They were either uncomfortable or hard to see out of or whatever. Then, they wouldn't get used. Now I spend a couple of bucks more for better stuff and I'm sure I'll use it.

[Harold Shay]

I wear a full face shield when using the lathe, I have prescription safty glasses for the rest.
Harold

[glenn bradley]

I wear prescription safety glasses so they are always on. I can't think of a time I had my face in the line of fire of the "spoil" coming off a router ;-)

[Frank Hagan]

Any recommendations on a face shield? I'm thinking I'm probably pushing my luck with just my glasses ...

[Pat Keefe]

I double up, safety classes, then either the face shield or the helmet airshield for the dusty stuff like routing or sanding on the lathe. Safety glasses are as I walk in the door or on the head before I go in. I have a few spares for the forgetful moments or visitors :D

[Mike Cutler]

Louis

I use a face shield when routing. Like Doc (Don Abele), I also took a piece of a router bit when it broke. (I get pretty close to the work when routing.)
Buy a quality face shield with replaceable shields and you won't regret the purchase one bit. Stay away from the cheapo's.

[Greg Hawthorne]

I use a 3M full face respirator 6000 Series mask and filter. Probably as effective as a ventilated mask, but not as comfortable in hot weather, although cheaper.

[Chris Kennedy]

I wear prescription safety glasses for the most part. Also, my router table fence has a bit guard, which is almost always in place. Most of the material coming from routing will be coming off horizontally and not aimed at you.

One piece of advice on face shields -- never sneeze while wearing one. DAMHIKT.

Cheers,

Chris

[ken gibbs]

I always use my face shield over my safety glasses when using my router. I have a table top router and the bit is fairly close to my face when I run my router table.

[Charles Shenk]

Face shield. Why not protect your face and eyes from the chips and dust? Also, what if your cutter comes appart? Might as well protect your face and neck. Luckily I have never blown up a cutter.

[John Loftis]

Something you might consider...When I know there's a good chance something is going to hit me, I put on a chainsaw helmet.

When I know there's a good chance something is going to hit me, I duck. But my wife is agile, crafty, and accurate, particularly when she sees the tool bills.

I hurt myself enough in the shop when I'm NOT doing 'risky' stuff. If it's dangerous enough to warrant kevlar, that's a sign that I probably should find a different way to do it.

[Larry Edgerton]

No I don't. I have 21 routers and I use them all. If you are looking at the router bit you are doing it wrong in my estimation. I keep my face above the router and nothing has hit my face in 34 years of woodworking. I listen to the router and pay close attention to the feel, but I never, never look at the bit.

[Don Abele]

...I never, never look at the bit....

Larry, this confuses me. :confused:

If you are not looking at the bit, where are you looking? To me, this is like saying you don't look at the saw blade when making a cut on the table saw or bandsaw? I can't think of a single cutting action when I would not be looking at the blade/cutter/bit/etc.

I don't have as many routers as you, nor have I been using them for as long as you, so can you clear up my confusion.

Be well,

Doc

[Larry Edgerton]

Looking at the bit does you absolutely no good and is dangerous.

Why would you look at the bit? A router has absolutely nothing to do with a tablesaw other than they both cut wood.

I may be looking at the wall, or I could have my eyes closed, it makes no difference. The work piece should be secured, and your cuts thought out with all grain problems noted, and then you make the cut by feel and sound. If you are looking at the bit you are not in the right position to be safe as you can not have control. Get your body over the router, forget looking at the bit and pay attention.

Properly running a router is a lot like learning how to use a hand plane, you have to learn to pay closer attention to your other senses, the senses of touch and hearing. You have to pay attention to the grain, because despite what the books say, there are many times you need to climb cut. And all of this without looking at the bit, both hands on the router and your body mass anchored over the router.

So no, I do not ever look at the bit, my head is above the router motor, and I do not feel the need for safety glasses.

To each his own, the OP asked if we wore safety glasses when routing. I don't.

[Clara Koss]

an accident is always waiting to happen... use protection... eyes are hard to come by....;)