With an academic background that includes a bachelor’s degree in international competition administration and legal agency as well as a juris doctor, Jacob Scholl is an emerging legal professional interested in working as a criminal defense attorney. Jacob Scholl enjoys woodworking in his free time, especially making custom wooden scales of justice for his colleagues.
Woodworking requires knowledge of safety measures for using power tools and sharp hand tools. First of all, it is essential to wear appropriate safety equipment and clothing when woodworking. These include hearing protection for when dealing with noisy tools such as surface planers, safety glasses at all times, and latex gloves when applying finishes. It is also imperative to wear a dust mask to prevent fine wood particles generated by routers, sanders, and other power tools from entering and affecting the lungs. The same goes for when spraying paint or varnish. In the latter case, a respirator should be used to protect the woodworker from airborne chemicals.
Safety is also important when changing the bits or blades on any power tool. The only safe way to do this is to disconnect the power cord or remove the battery from the tool beforehand. One way to make this practice a habit is to use a single heavy-duty extension cord for all of your 110-volt power tools. This will require the woodworker to plug and unplug the power when moving from tool to tool.
Reaching over the saw blade is also a risky habit that is easy to develop without realizing. It is usually an attempt to remove cut-offs and waste from a power tool such as miter saws and table saws. A way to prevent putting your hand or arm near a moving blade where it could be injured is to wait until it stops and use a push stick instead of your hands to remove the cut-off.



