Turning protection

[Greg Ketell]

Ok, this is something I've been thinking about since I read of the first turning accident years ago.

In another thread Curt talks about flying turnings breaking 3/4" MDF shelves and denting refrigerators 15' away. In my own experience the bowl came off the lathe and flew all the way across the garage and hit my bench and then rolled another 10-15 feet before it came to a stop.

Everyone is quick to say "get a face shield", and I have and everyone should, without a doubt. But that is only a small part of your body that needs protection.

What about chest protection? Any piece of heavy, fast moving wood like those described above would cave in your chest pretty easily. And it doesn't even need to break any bones to kill you: there have been baseball players and basketball players who've had their hearts stopped by a hit to the chest in just the right place and just the wrong time. They lived because there were people around watching them that came to there rescue.

Does anyone protect their chest? Motocross chest protector? Umpire's gear? Keeping your cage on your lathe and actually using it??

I'm not too shy to say that I truly feared for my life when I was turning that manzanita bowl a while ago. And that is when I really started thinking about this.

Thoughts?

[Rich Aldrich]

Greg,

When I started turning the Spring of 2010, I used the guard for a while. It seems to be in the way, so I quit using it. It is still on the lathe and lately have been using it for a shelf, which adds more danger.

I am going to start using it again. I think most people treat guards like seat belts.

I like the timing of our posts, really close. I dont know if the poll was up yet when you responded, but please vote.

[Greg Ketell]

Greg,
I think most people treat guards like seat belts.

Maybe we need to get the vendors involved and have them do the same: If you don't have your guard down and locked the lathe chimes at you non-stop.

I like the timing of our posts, really close. I dont know if the poll was up yet when you responded, but please vote.

Very close. And I was the first to vote and reply.

[Larry Marley]

Here is what I now wear....

Turning-protection.jpg

[Dick Wilson]

Here is what I now wear....

Turning-protection.jpg

Larry, I like your garb. Very stylish I notice that because of the obvious discomfort of having it a full suit you use your hands to protect the important regions. Now the question I have is who does the turning

[Larry Marley]

Would you believe, careful placement of the tool rest?

[Bill Luce]

Most dangerous thing I see turners do alot is stand in the line of fire while roughing. To be honest, I think that efficient roughing techniques should be stressed more during turning demos. I tried to cover that a bit in more depth last time I demoed in Utah.

Fast easy safer roughing is a major breakthrough once's it's figure out. Even with full time turners, some really still get more beat up by the wood and gouge than necessary.

[Bill Wyko]

Honestly, if we just take a very short moment before we hit the on switch in respect for those not so lucky, it'll allow us to ask ourselves if everything is in place to use the tool safely.

[Greg Ketell]

I like this!

[Scott Hackler]

While I am all for safety and protecting yourself from flying wood....I think something needs to be said about tool technique and turning practices. I have been reading a lot about flying chunks of wood on this and other sites and it appears that some turners seem to have more incidents than others. Why is this, is the question everyone should be asking.

I have only been turning for a couple years and I have had several pieces come flying off the chuck. In almost every instance I can blame it on the idiot holding the tool and the way it was held against the wood. A couple other times it was because I tried to chuck up a punky piece that I knew better. Either way, MY FAULT. Inexperience was the major contributor.

As my skills have improved, the occurances of flying blanks have decreased. I have only really been "hit" once, in the bicept, and it was my fault.

My point is that if you experience a lot of flying blanks or chunks of wood....maybe you should re-examine your technique. I don't like wearing the el-cheapo face shield I own and wont wear it unless I sense a high probability of debri hitting me. Its uncomfortable and hard to see details through. Having said that, I will be looking at other options while in St Paul. We will see.

[Donny Lawson]

I do wear a facesheild when turning but as far as anything else,I have not. I try to be careful when I put something in the chuck but I know there is always a possibility of something comming loose. So far I've only slung one nice bowl across the room. It was scary but I know it happens. I'm just glad it went in the other direction and not toward me.

[CW McClellan]

Not only motor cycles & cars SPEED KILLS
I have not read of a turner being killed or fatial injury from a spring pole or treddle lathe
Be not in such a hurry to get it done
They in the past have made articles as pretty as todays
Safety Pays

[Dennis Simmons]

A wood lathe is like any other item in our world, you can abuse it, over power it, run it to fast. If a blank is unbalenced, are you know there are splits, or bark that can fly off, then use a face shield, take it easy, however when your number comes up, it is time to go. Forrest Gump said, " Stuff Happens" and that is all I have to say about that!!

[Brian Ashton]

I don't think you need to worry about the rest of your body. The tool rest and base usually deflect (and thus reduce the energy) any sizable shrapnel from hitting you anywhere below the neck. I also think if someone were to take a hit below the neck you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that has had anymore than a bruise to show for it.

In all the time I've been turning everything seems to fly out the back, up or into my face. I guess it's possible that the tool could dislodge a chunk and it travel down your arms and such but it's not happened to me. I've had a piece come loose and snap the tool rest post on an old cast tool rest but that's about it. But I would suspect that you hands and forearms would take the brunt of the impact not the rest of your body.

When you consider... an 18" piece of wood spinning at 1000rpm and it were to break free the fastest that piece could travel is about 55mph; which isn't all that fast really. Certainly will hive you a heck of a thump in the face, or loose an eye as a friend did when the lense from his glasses was pushed into his eye, but not enough to really put your body in danger... Especially when you compare it to being hit in the ribs by a 80mph fastball without a chest protector

Ok, this is something I've been thinking about since I read of the first turning accident years ago.

In another thread Curt talks about flying turnings breaking 3/4" MDF shelves and denting refrigerators 15' away. In my own experience the bowl came off the lathe and flew all the way across the garage and hit my bench and then rolled another 10-15 feet before it came to a stop.

Everyone is quick to say "get a face shield", and I have and everyone should, without a doubt. But that is only a small part of your body that needs protection.

What about chest protection? Any piece of heavy, fast moving wood like those described above would cave in your chest pretty easily. And it doesn't even need to break any bones to kill you: there have been baseball players and basketball players who've had their hearts stopped by a hit to the chest in just the right place and just the wrong time. They lived because there were people around watching them that came to there rescue.

Does anyone protect their chest? Motocross chest protector? Umpire's gear? Keeping your cage on your lathe and actually using it??

I'm not too shy to say that I truly feared for my life when I was turning that manzanita bowl a while ago. And that is when I really started thinking about this.

Thoughts?

[Karl Card]

Protection is good, so are good reflexes... seriously... I have actually had people ask me "why do they put them cages on them wood lathes for?"..... if you have to ask you may not need one...lol