Wood work machines and their use

Woodwork machines refer to the common equipment used in the workshop. Most of these machines are heavy and cannot be handled ordinarily. Some of them are fixed on the ground and are used with electric power. A few of these machines will be discussed.

Two sections exist here in this topic:

1. Portable power tools
2. Machines

Portable Power Tools

These are tools that are held in the hand and operated with electric current. The examples to be discussed here are:

1. Sanders
2. Hand drills
3. Fret-saw

Sanders

Sanding means smoothing of work with coated abrasives. The abrasives may be made of glass, garnet (a type of precious stone), silicon carbide, aluminium oxide (a brown African abrasive), etc.

Available portable sanders for wood-work smoothing including belt sanders and drum sanders

Hand Drills

Holes in materials can be made by many methods, e.g. punching, flame cutting, boring and drilling. This section is concerned only with making cylindrical holes with the aid of drills. Drills and drilling machines are the commonest tools used for making holes. The operation is called drilling and the tool used is called a drill.

There are different types of drills used in a metal workshop:

1. Twist drill;
2. Flat drill;
3. Straight-fluted drill;
4. Counter-sink drill.

Sensitive Drilling Machine (Bench)

This type of drilling machine is also designed for light jobs. It is possible to drill holes from 1mm diameter to about 18mm.

The main difference between this machine and the electrical hand-drilling machine is that the bench type is to the work bench.

Fret-Saw

This saw is used for complex shapes and curves in plywood and veneers. The blade of this saw is finer than the coping saw blade. It has a high frame which allows it to be used over a wide area. Its blade is about 125mm long.

Machines

The other types of the equipment used in woodwork are those equipment which are not portable as the discussed earlier. These machines are heavy. They are fixed on a spot most of the times. Examples are circular saw, band saw, wood lathe, surface planner, thicknesser, sanders, drills, etc.

Safety Hints in Using the Woodwork Machines

1. Remove loose fitting clothing, rolling sleeves aprons and eye shield.
2. Remove scraps from saws, tables and floor.
3. Regular oiling and greasing of bearing must be encouraged.
4. Use the correct saw for each job.
5. Saws should be properly set and should be sharp.
6. Before switching one, make sure the blade runs free.
7. Stand to one side when switching on.
8. Switching on to make adjustments on machine or checking measurements or changing belt speed.
9. Do not overload the machine or force it to work beyond its capacity.
10. Make sure you know how to use the machine that you want to use.