We have three separate recent instances of too much force causing problems. Two are equipment failures, and one was a close call with the jointer.
In all cases, some situational awareness would have prevented the problem.
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Resaw Bandsaw
The resaw bandsaw blade guard wheel was forced, breaking the gear housing. If something is not moving easily, and epecially if you are not familiar with the equipment, STOP THERE, and get help. This is the second breakage of the housing this year. -
Delta Spindle Sander
The nuts that hold on to the spindle are wrenched on so tight, that the arbor bearing is jammed, and the spindle won’t rotate. So far, we have not been able to remove the nuts, and the machine remains inoperable. -
Jointer
In this case, the chip separator was over full, causing chips to flood the surface of the machine, and the floor. It also created more drag on the plank, making it harder to move across the machine. A combination of the friction, the position of the operator, and the chips on the floor led to that person slipping, losing their balance, and the push block going into the blades. The push block did exactly what it was designed to do - it saved the person’s hand. Needless to say, the individual was a little flustered, but fine.
When you use too much force, something has to give. A component breaks, a component gets jammed, or you possibly get injured. The most common root cause of Asmbly shop equipment failure is too much force. Knobs too tight, levers too tight, collets, lock nuts, pushing too hard on material, etc… If you are physically struggling with your work piece, step away and think. If you are not sure, please look for a steward or another experienced member. We want you to stay safe. We want the equipment to be up and running for everyone. Equipment failures are inevitable, but we can still do a lot to keep failures to a minimum.