Bench Grinder Safety Do's and Don'ts

As we all know, a good woodworker, from contractors to homeowners alike, needs good, sharpened tool. Whether you are using a bench grinder at home or at a professional workshop to sharpen your tools, you need to know how to use this powerful machine safely. Here some important bench grinder safety do’s and don’ts from the Bench Grinder Safety Rules at the Kansas City Woodworkers’ Guild Shop.

Do’s:

• Ring Test grinder before mounting it and replace if it sounds dull
• Balance new wheels by dressing and truing
• Keep a 2-foot clear perimeter around the machine
• Wear safety goggles and hearing protection
• Bring the object into contact with the wheel slowly and smoothly in a back and forth motion

• Don’t use a cracked or vibrating wheel
• Don’t dress the side of the wheel
• Don’t begin using the grinder unless it is securely mounted to the bench
• Don’t grind small stock
• Don’t touch the piece or machine until it has cooled after turning it off

As a proud sponsor of KCWG, Schutte Lumber is happy to offer discounts to those who show their KCWG membership card. Give us a call or visit the showroom at 3001 Southwest Boulevard for the biggest selection and the highest quality of lumber in the Kansas City Metro area.