Jointer Safety

A jointer is a great tool for creating smooth edges on your boards, but they can also be dangerous. George Vondriska provides simple instruction on how to operate a jointer safely. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Woodworkers Guild
• woodworking
• woodworkers
• wood
• george vondriska
• jointer safety
• jointers

[tooldad17123]

I am a shop teacher and for the most part I like this series. HOWEVER I am against what he says to do with the left hand. You NEVER run your left hand over the cutter. Your right hand should be on a push stick of resting on the fence. Your left hand should be resting on the table about 6" back from the cutter NOT MOVING, then when the board is 1/2 way through, reposition it on the other side of the cutter, but do not go above the cutterhead with left hand.

[wwgoaeditor]

Note that, regarding left hand placement, I have two different procedures. One for boards wider than the fence is tall, the other for narrower boards. I prefer not to release contact with the board being jointed by repositioning my left hand, as this sometimes causes the board to lift from the cutting pressure of the knives. Maintaining hand position, having the guard in place and operating correctly, and using the fence as a size standard all add up to safety.

[steveho75]

Which is the safety push stick to use on a jointer?

Steve

[wwgoaeditor]

As a general rule woodworking retailers sell push pads and push sticks (aka: push blocks). When Im edge jointing a board Im likely to use a push pad in my left hand to hold the material laterally against the jointer fence and a push stick in my right hand to hold the material down to the table, and to propel it forward. When face jointing a board I use two push pads, one in each hand, to hold the material down and move it forward.

[bobcrawman34]

3:12 Lol

[GamingDrummer89]

Great safety video and nice instruction on edge jointing.

You should do a video on face jointing too. Lots of people skip face jointing and just use the planer for that (but planers seem to press warped boards flat only to have them come out of the other end and spring back up to being warped...something you can avoid with a jointer because your hands can push the board through without pressing the board down).

Nice jointer, too!

[guild1978]

Hi Steve, Just looking for some advice on plaining and thicknessing really large and long boards e.g 300mm wide and bark on the edges. . All the proper moisture content etc. The planer thicknesser im using can handle up to 300mm wide. Thanks James

[helixfly]

Don't dispair. Anytime you show how to do anything, someone just has to criticize because they know how to do it better. Ignore

[jrovang]

The two methods seem to contradict one another.

[tooldad8712]

I'm sorry, I still disagree on left hand placement. I have 3 other safety videos including one from a national trade association and another from a well known woodworking school in Indiana. Also my Time Life series book, the manual for the jointer and my shop teacher back all teach the left hand on the table method. Watch the video agian, you VIOLATED the 3" margin of safety with you left hand fingers. Plus it is more likely to tilt the board away from the fence. Just my 2 cents.