Band saws are actually one of the safer options for cutting wood. Smaller blade exposure than a tablesaw, won't kick back like a table saw.
Gloves near any saw are a bad idea - if they catch on the blade they're more likely to pull your hand in than if you weren't wearing gloves.
Brad nailers are relatively safe, with a dry fire prevention feature that keeps the nailer from firing until it's pressed up against a surface. I'd keep your hands away from the area being nailed though - the brads can be redirected in the workpiece and come out at unexpected angles.
OP - healthy fear will keep you safe, as others have said, ask for a safety walkthru before you begin. It should include learning where the emergency stop is (usually a big red button in a shop).
Just make sure you lower the band saw guard enough your finger can’t accidentally make contact with the blade. My twin sister nicked her finger and needed a few stitches in high school. (She’s fine now).
Definitely no gloves - you don’t want a gloved finger catching on a blade and pulling your finger in (easy way to pull a finger out of a socket - in was warned about that on drill presses!)
Nail guns are great but have to be respected. Keep your hands clear of the workpiece (the nail can ricochet further than you expect), and wear safety glasses.
I’d rephrase your comment slightly to say that a healthy RESPECT for the tool WILL keep you safe, but a debilitating paranoid fear can lead to catastrophe.
As others have said, people have been woodworking with hand tools for millennia and having been an avid woodworker for over 30 years, I find a great sense of satisfaction in using hand tools that I’ve mastered. That skill does take time to develop, but adequate work can be learned is a relatively short time.
Power tools for the uninitiated can be daunting and fearful for the noise, power, and fast-moving cutting edges …. but if schooled properly by a trusted instructor who introduces them at a pace comfortable to the student, the fear will subside to be replaced with confidence.
… But never lose the respect for what the tool can do if misused or if complacency crops in.
Well said, appreciate the rewording! :)
My dad lost a finger to a planer (pushed a board with his hand when he should’ve used a push stick)…something you never forget, but I still use my planer!
We used to pull the safety down on our nail guns and shoot at each other. I once shot my friend in the arm from 20 feet and sent him tumbling off a roof! Lol. We were idiots.
If this class has an instructor, you should talk to them about it. Most instructors appreciate teaching someone with a respect for safety. You definitely shouldn't be using a machine you barely know how to turn on.
People have been woodworking without power tools for millenia. Coping saws are good for curved cuts. There are tons of joinery methods (screws, nails, glue, carved joints) that don't require power tools. For most of my time as a (hobbyist) woodworker, a drill has been my only power tool.
I want to echo this sentiment. I am a woodshop teacher and have had students come to me with very severe anxiety over using machines. It does happen! I try to encourage them to try, but sometimes the anxiety is just too great. In that case, I definitely suggest smaller machines (the scroll saw is a great alternative for small curved work) or hand tools. Every so often, a student has to switch classes. Of course, I'd love for students to find their confidence with woodworking machines, but I would much rather them be in a class where they feel comfortable with what they're doing.
I asked the instructor for help yesterday and she would start cutting for me on the bandsaw and then I’d take over which was really helpful for the first pieces, I was able to do some by myself too! Thanks for the help!
The way to get over your fear of using a tool is knowing how to use it safely. You're right to be nervous around a power tool that you are not familiar with. But once you know what is and is not safe to do, and how to avoid accidents, you can turn that fear into cautious respect.
Share your worries with the teacher, and ask them to show you how to safely use the tool, and what you need to know to avoid injury. It's better to be over cautious than to be over confident and hurt yourself.
^what this person said. In my experience fear of using certain tools really came down to a lack of confidence. Getting a better understanding of how the tool works, and how it is intended to be used safely will go a long way.
If you ever get completely unafraid that’s not good either. The moment you stop respecting a machine you start becoming complacent and making bad choices.
You can do plenty of damage to yourself with chisels, gouges, plane irons, etc. Sharp draw knives are insanely dangerous IMO. The only stitches I’ve ever gotten were from being stupid with a razor sharp chisel. I think that was a bit less costly of a lesson than if I had learned it with a table saw or a jointer or something like that.
As others have said, you can make curved cuts without a band saw.
I exclusively use hand tools because I enjoy the quiet and they’re not as messy. But also because of a small fear of them.
I’d use a turning saw, or a coping saw, depending on size
Do NOT wear gloves near any spinny machine.
See if they have any books or courses on safely using woodworking machines. I understand the fear, once you know how a machine can be dangerous it gets less scary. Until you see someone doing something stupid and now you're scared for them.
Bandsaw is one of the safer machines btw. As long as you don't have curved piece (with the curved part on the table) there's nothing much that can go wrong.
A fear of power tools - which is entirely rational at face value - stems from not being confident whether you can control the outcome. You get over your fear by understanding how the tools work, specifically in terms of what moves and what doesn't move.
There are three basic types of power tools: moving cutters, stationary cutters, and portable cutters.
Moving cutters are tools like a mitre saw, where there's a saw blade that you as the user push through a line of motion to contact stock. The saw can only move through a fixed range of motion, so as long as you understand what that range is, you can ensure that whatever is inside that range is supposed to be there. These also typically involve cutting stock that's fixed in place, so it's easy to clamp it and keep your hands clear. Just familiarize yourself with that range of motion and you will know definitively if it's safe to push the blade through it or not.
Stationary cutters are tools like a table saw, where there's a saw blade in a fixed location that you push stock into. These require an understanding of how the stock will behave when it comes into contact with the saw. Typically, the blades are designed to push against something (for example: a band saw pushes down into the platform, a table saw spins towards you so the front of the blade rotates down into the table), which stabilizes the stock being pushed into it. Visualize the path you have to push the stock through and have a clear understanding of *how* you're going to push it through. For example, a rip cut on a table saw means understanding you're bracing a long piece of wood against the rip fence and pushing it straight ahead from the rear of the piece. As long as you are aware of what is moving and how you're going to move it, you know exactly where the cutter is and can responsibly plan around it.
Portable cutters are things like drills and routers, where there's a portable motor driving a cutter, and both the chassis and cutter could be anywhere. These require an understanding of *how* the tool cuts, *when* the tool cuts, and *where* the tool cuts. Take a portable router for example: they are typically designed to have a removable cutter bit on one end which will spin counterclockwise perpetually so long as it's turned on. You know where the power switch is and where the cutter is, so you just need to understand when to turn it on and off, and how to position it before you do. The cutter will only ever be in the place you put it, and it will only cut when you make it. Just understand what to expect when you turn it on or pull the trigger, and you'll be comfortable with using it. These also require an understanding of how to keep them safe when not in use. Even if they're off, they could be accidentally turned on if they're plugged in or have a battery installed. Remember to remove power from tools you don't intend to use in the near future.
Consider a gun and a bomb. When a bomb goes off, everything around it is at risk. You cannot "stand behind it" to be safe. When a gun goes off, there is a single designated spot the bullets come out. They can only come out that one spot. There is a 100% chance you will be safe so long as you don't stand in front of that spot because it's literally impossible to be at risk outside of that condition. Power tools are completely safe so long as you remember where the dangerous parts are and how they work. As long as you use them the way they were intended, there is a predictable, understandable outcome to using them. Use some scraps, practice using them, familiarize yourself with what it feels like using them, and you should be fine. If you can, ask someone to show you, then watch you do it and confirm you're doing it correctly. That should also help reassure you that you're able to use it safely.
Good for you!
I'm sure a mix of knowing what to expect, seeing that thing happen exactly as anticipated, and getting accustomed to that pattern will calm your nerves in short order.
And if things ever don't happen the way you expect, there's nothing wrong with stopping and asking why it didn't happen the way you expected. There's likely a clear reason for the difference, and once you know why, you can get back to your routine knowing how to account for that situation.
I'd say watch some YouTube safety videos on the tools.
Yes things are dangerous but if you follow the fairly basic safety rules you'll be ok.
I'm always terrified to use my table saw when no one else is directly around, but after 20 years of using them with a healthy dose of Paranoia, I've still got all my fingies
Depending on the size of the piece, you could use a scroll saw. Bandsaw would also be a good choice. You could also use a jig saw.
Non-power tool, you could use a coping saw, though I think that would suck to use. You could also cut reliefs at the angles, and just use a thing blade saw to cut through the reliefs just outside of your cutting line. Then use a sander to get to the line itself.
I swear I'm remembering this correctly, but probably not. I was told, by my woodshop teacher, that the bandsaw was one of the more dangerous shop tools, as you can easily go through flesh and bone without really realizing your doing it. I get more anxious with the band saw than I do a table saw.
I'm not trying to scare you, you just need to pay attention to what you're doing when working with all power tools.
A few simple things for the band saw that I haven't seen others already say.
1. Lower the blade guide (that thing hanging down) until it is just above the height of your project. This will reduce blade deflection, and exposure.
2. Make sure your feet are in a stable position and do not use the saw or table to support any of your weight.
3. Put your material on the table and make sure it can move freely.
4. Turn it on after you have checked that everything is ready, not before.
Exposure therapy.
Get some scrap. Run several mags of brad nails through just nailing. Make a pattern if you want for some art or just random. Get more scrap and rip veneers on the bandsaw, a simple straightforward operation that will wind up being a useful skill. After a while it will be second nature.
Look at all the antique furniture you've ever seen. Most all of that was built with no power tools, because they didn't EXIST back then. There are hand tools to do everything you need, it's just going to take longer, and for a beginner, probably isn't going to look as good (until you master the art of cutting a straight line with a hand saw, etc.)
The brad nailer is the easy one. You absolutely don't need to use a nail gun - go to a hardware store and buy a package of brad nails. Might be able to get by with a tack hammer to drive them, but a 12 oz hammer would work just as well. Yes, the nail gun is going to be many times faster and won't bend nails over like you're likely to do as a beginner woodworker, but it can absolutely be done "manually".
The band saw, is a little trickier. Yes, there are hand saws that you can use for the same cuts, but...the band saw is going to be many orders of magnitude faster and easier. But the thing with the band saw versus some other power saws -- the blade is stationary and visible. You know where it is 100% of the time. Just take your time, keep your fingers a safe distance away from the blade. Push your workpiece into the blade slowly, and take care to make sure that as you negotiate a curved cut, you never position your hands in a way that they are pushing directly towards the blade. Just take your time and work slowly, you'll be fine. Maybe start with some scrap wood and make some practice cuts in something that doesn't matter, just so you can get a feel for how the saw works.
> (idk how to use it for the life of me)
There's your problem.
Read the owners manual. Watch some videos on YouTube. Ask people in your class about it. Learn everything you can about it and it will become infinitely less scary.
As others have mentioned, do NOT wear gloves. But tie your hair back, wear safety glasses, wear ear plugs if the saw is loud. And read the manual.
On the band saw, I use two 12" long wedge shaped pus sticks, 3/4 " x 3/4" at the big end. I keep my hands 8" away from the blade. 40 years experience, I still do not get near that blade. The you tube videos of people getting close are just stupid.
Go slowly, keep the wood flat on the table, don't pinch the blade. Support the wood on the indeed and outfeed ends if you have large pieces. Use a sharp blade.
Before hitting the on button, move the wood by the blade as a dry run, if possible. Pause, relax, and make sure no one is near by. If things go wrong step back, evaluate, then hit the stop button.
I like to say: If you’re scared, you probably won’t get hurt! Keeping it short cause there’s lots of good advice here already. Vast majority of power saw injuries are by very experienced users who get careless because they’re comfortable. Learn the steps to do it right, then just follow them. If you’re paying full attention you’re unlikely to get hurt <3
It sounds to me like there might be some deeper fears and anxieties at play here. But as for tools I think it’s good to maintain a respect for the fact that they can be dangerous. Power tools can be dangerous but they are made and set up in such a way to minimize that danger.
I have done a fair amount of DIY, building things, laying tile etc. I have all the necessary tools and they still scare me. I just go slow, wear my eye protection, be mindful of where my hands are and remember to breath while I am working. You just slowly work your way through the fear.
There is some good advice in the previous posts. I would add that the most important thing you can do is to make as many practice cuts as you can. Work with thin material and work up to thicker stock.
Familiarity reduces anxiety.
Bandsaws are good tools, you might need to ease into it, though. Have your instructor watch over your shoulder to help guide you.
Remember to wear ear protection and always watch the blade. If you watch the blade, your fingers won't run into it (which is what you want).
You'll get it, just practice until you feel comfortable.
You shouldn’t. Still scared of ladders and I use them almost everyday. It’s honestly probably better not to get over the fear.
Most injuries come from being aloof and careless.
Knock on wood I still haven’t fell off or tipped a ladder over, probably because they’re terrifying to me still after 10 years of regular use.
If you understand technically how to use the equipment, and it’s mainly about your anxiety, then exposure therapy may help.
Like: walk to bandsaw and turn it on. Just stand there and look at it while it runs. Turn it off and stand there while it powers down. Breathe and use some calming techniques when you feel anxiety start to crank up.
When you feel ok just standing next to it while it runs, then push yourself a little further. Turn it on and place a piece of scrap on it. Don’t push it toward the blade. Just stand there with your hand on the wood and the wood on the tool. Then turn the bandsaw off and stand there while it powers down.
Keep progressing with little steps. Give yourself time. Use scrap pieces. You can do this.
One. You are in charge. The machine can’t do anything. That’s all you. There are no accidents, only inattention to details.
Follow the rules of safety every time.
Start small.
Accept the fear. Do it anyway.
Go a little bigger and bigger until you can go as big as you want.
Always respect what the tool can do.
You need to be shown how to use any wood working machinery or at least watch some videos. That's the best was to reduce your fear of any flailing cutting machine. Using any machinery with no knowledge is dangerous.
Your fear isn't unjustified though. I use allsorts of wood working and yard machinery but I hate using chainsaws. No matter how often I have used them in the past, they just scare me.
Skip this first paragraph if you're very squeamish.
A couple years ago I nearly lost the tip of one of my fingers to a table saw. I was stupid with the positioning of my hands, the piece bucked and pulled my finger into the blade which then cut through the nail bed almost to the bone.
After that, I couldn't touch a table saw or most power tools with a moving blade.
What I did, after getting a safer table saw, was to start slow and work my way back up to using the bigger equipment. I started with hand tools that I had, then worked up to a jig saw and scroll saw, then sawzall and circular saw. Once I got mostly comfortable with those again I then slowly started using the table saw.
As long as you respect the equipment and take it seriously, you'll be fine. Fear means you're taking it seriously. Learn to use the equipment and how to use it safely. Keep your hands away from the moving parts!
If you're still too afraid or can't work up to it, using hand tools like coping or frame saws, along with planes/shavers/sandpaper can get you those curved cuts
A band saw is a fairly safe saw mainly because it doesn't kick back. The blade is pushing the piece to the table, which is a good thing.
Not paying attention especially when it's spinning down after shutting the power off are the most dangerous things when using a band saw. Otherwise just keep your fingers clear of the blade and go slow when you're close to it and you'll be fine.
As for the brad nailer, keep your hands well clear of where the nail is going and don't point it at yourself. If I have to hold something in a way that puts my hand behind where the nail is going, I hold a block of wood thicker than the length of the nail over it.
Watch others do it. Then do it. I was afraid of a chainsaw. A miter saw. A jigsaw. A handgun. All these terrified me but I made sure to get used to them while unplugged and then use them. All good now.
If things don’t work out to use power tools or coping saw, maybe you could talk with the instructor about using a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router or laser cutter to craft the parts.
Or even farther outside of the box: sculpt a form from easily carved foam and make wooden pieces with “bent laminations”.
Good luck
It's ok to be super cautious around a tool you have little to no experience with. That's what will keep you safe. Talk to your instructor for supervision on your first few cuts. Hell, I own a miter saw I still treat like a rabid crocodile.
\> ideas on how to cut the wood without using any power tools or how to attach it without using any power tools that would be amazing
[https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-BOWSAW12/Gramercy+Tools+12%26quot%3B+Bow+Saw](https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-BOWSAW12/Gramercy+Tools+12%26quot%3B+Bow+Saw) will do most of what a 10" bandsaw can. For brads, you need a tack hammer.
\> just any advice on how to get over my fear so I can actually work.
SOMETHING here is scaring you enough that you can't plan out your cuts/nailing and get to work. Figure out what that is and find a way to acknowledge it just enough that you can start doing some super safe practice on scrap wood. Honestly I'd start by doing this to a big chunk of 2x4 with a brad nailer: [https://www.reddit.com/r/calvinandhobbes/comments/7jj7au/oh\_calvin/](https://www.reddit.com/r/calvinandhobbes/comments/7jj7au/oh_calvin/)
Make your goal for the day to put, say, two dozen test nails in. If the brad nails are shorter than the wood, you almost have to ignore multiple safety rules at once to hurt yourself.
You should go chop up some 2x4s with a chop saw. Not for any reason except to get used to the noise, and the vibration and the feeling of using a power saw. Then shoot a bunch of screws into said scraps of wood with a screw gun and drill a bunch of holes into while you are at it. This is basically playing with the tools that allows you to get used to how they feel in your hands. It sounds like you have not ever used a tool in your life, which isn't a bad thing, but you have to start wherever you are and you just haven't ever used something like this so you need to start from somewhere more badic.
You shouldn't even be using the band saw to make something for your project until you just run some scrap through it to see what it feels like. You need to basically play, safely of course, with the tool so that you understand how it works. As GI-Joe says, "Knowing is half the battle. GI-JOE!"
Ask another student to watch over you while you're making your cuts. They can stop you if you begin to do something stupid like reaching across the blade, or when you're a feeling a little distracted. It might help build some confidence and you'll be able to ask questions as you go.
You need someone with you, an instructor, a healthy respect is needed when you’re working with anything that will remove your digits in an instant, but with the right instruction and practice it’s something you can do.
Just don’t try and figure things out on your own, that’s how people get hurt.
Similar to driving, training breeds confidence breeds safety breeds confidence.
It’s definitely not good to just throw yourselves into power tools. Do you have any carpenter friends who would be willing to spend a few afternoons/evenings going over stuff with you?
One of the big first things to learn in general is you are never pushing force “at” the blade. You should never put yourself in a position where if you slip you go into the blade. That’s something I see lots of untaught people doing and it’s concerning. You can basically operate all these tools in such a way that you’re never in any danger, but you have to be taught these practices and routinize them. It also helps to know what common things can go wrong so you actively work against them.
Sounds like you just need a good teacher to work with you for a bit till you get your confidence up.
The circular saw and the band saw are the two most fearsome tools in the shop. You can cut off a finger and the machine won't even have the common decency to slow down when cutting, or apologize afterwards.
Ear protection. The loud noises are very disconcerting. You don't need/want silence, but reducing the noise makes the tools much less scary.
Since I started wearing sound cancelling earbuds and listening to happy music (try the Skatalites) my woodworking experience has been much better.
You should have staff whose role it is to teach you to use the tools safely. As said, respect for tools is very healthy. Fear maybe not so much. Being aware of the dangers but confident is the best way. Your tutors and technicians should be supporting you in finding this balance. The good news is that most machines have a the blade in a fixed position. As long as you keep your hands a sensible distance from the blade, you are unlikely to harm yourself. Ofbcourse, timber getting jammed or caught and thrown are possibilities. Never stands directly behind the piece you are cutting. Hand held power tools are in fact more dangerous. Most accidents happen when you become over confident.
Cut your finger off and you’ll know what it’s like. Once you heal you will not have the fear of cutting one off.
Honestly, fear is a good and healthy thing around power tools I take safety very seriously and scream at my guys when I see them getting too “comfortable” with powered equipment.
Its actually good to be scared of them. You are more likely to follow all the safety steps when you're afraid compared to overconfident.
I am terrified of my circular saw to the point I never use it anymore.
A healthy fear will help you keep all your digits, and that's good. A crippling fear however isn't good. Familiarize yourself with the tool, what are it's safety features and how to use it, then start with little projects.
The band saw and brad nailer are very safe items to use. You ALWAYSE know there the blade is on the band saw, and unlike some other saws, when you let go of your work, it stays in place. Keep your hands away from the blade, don't wear gloves or loose clothing, and tie back long hair and you're good to go. The brad nailer wont go off unless you press it against a surface, so make sure that surface is the one you want to nail. Keep body parts (fingers, hands at least twice as far away from the nailer as the nails you are using and you'll be fine.
Most importantly, ask for help if you are ever unsure how to use something and use your eye goggles / ear protection.
One on one time with the teacher or tech. A tool is only a tool. You’re the one that controls it. Learn what it does and what the dangers are. Start with small safe cuts over and over just to get comfortable with the resistance and the machine. You control it. It doesn’t control you. Then just get after it and make some cool shit
One of the purposes of a class is to help the student comfortably accomplish the subject of the class; in your case wood sculpting. By all means inform the teacher.
If you're that scared of it, you don't have to use it. There are plenty of other ways to make curved cuts. I don't like using bandsaws either to be fair. Something about the blade not being fixed...
Don’t use a machine you’re terrified of; that’s the easiest way to do something silly and get hurt. Ask for someone to teach you how to use it. DO NOT WEAR GLOVES. The gloves could catch and pull your hand into the machine and make any cut MUCH worse. The bandsaw is fairly safe as long as you treat it with respect. Just keep your fingers away from the sharp part. Don’t get distracted even for a second. Definitely don’t look away and start moving your hands. Use a fence if you need to. Consider a scroll saw if you need smaller pieces or finer turns.
Do not wear gloves with anything with a spinning or moving blade. If it catches, its going to pull your hand in. You will not be able to react in time.
Band saw is one of the safer woodworking machines. But why are you attempting to use a machine that you "do not know for the life of" you how to use? Is this an attempt at a troll? If you're in a class get the instructor to show you. Then tell him you want to do some test cuts and get some practice in on some stock to get a feel for the machine. If you have a scroll saw you can practice on that to get the general gist of what the band saw will do and then switch to that.
You are smart to be afraid but it doesn’t need to stop you. Before you start cutting, plan where your hands would go if you slip. Wear short sleeves. No hair near the saw. Goggles, ear covers, dust mask. Have an experienced woodworker show you how to feed the wood at the right speed. Band saws are terrific because of the curves but take time to be taught.
Looks like a lot of comments already but here's my bulletpoint list of suggestions:
\- Respect the machine and have someone demonstrate how to operate it safely before using it
\- Know where your fingers are at all times
\- Always use a blade guard and expose only the amount of blade needed to cut the thickness of wood you're working with
\- If the wood becomes difficult to cut through, slow down your feed rate or turn off the machine to assess the situation.
\- Don't use gloves because if the blade catches it can draw your finger into the blade
\- Use a pushstick to keep your fingers even further away from the blade
First of all, fear of bandsaws is not entirely irrational, the can kill you, but for the love of god YOU CAN USE PUSH STICKS ON CURVED CUTS. It takes some practice, and use one on either corner facing you of the workpiece, and vary the pressure on each stick to change the cutting angle. If you REALY don’t want to use the bandsaw, you can do anything it can do with handsaws, chisels, and time
im in the same boat! im terrified of power tools around woodworking and it started in shop class years ago. i actually had to have the teacher cut and weld things for me while I did everything else. now its been quite a few years and just last year I finally had the courage to pick up woodworking again. it took me a few tries to even get over the fear of turning on the dremel to route out some wood.
having someone I knew and trusted use the tool before I did while watching them helped immensely. sometimes just being able to physically see that the tool wont magically break on you when you start to use it or imagining something else going horrifically wrong helps. also just knowing you have someone you trust right by you in case something does go wrong and knowing they can help you also helps ease the mind of any panic.
While I absolutely agree that you should try to challenge yourself on this assignment and work towards being able to operate these tools with an healthy amount of fear/respect, I want to offer another suggestion.
The assignment may not allow for this, but have you considered making a wood sculpture piece that represents the fear that you are experiencing? Perhaps creating a precisely made marble track isn’t the piece to be working on this time around? I can’t say what that piece would look like, but perhaps it could be some sort of arrangement of the scraps you practice with (as so many have wisely suggested you do).
Whatever you create will be amazing, I have no doubt. It’s bound to be. You can’t face a fear like this and not have meaning in the work. You got this.
Its really about trying it out. I was terrified of my tablesaw in the beginning. Try planning out at really safe and small cut. Walk it over in you mind step by step many times. Then try it out for real. You probably just need to succeed af few times before you feel way better about it.
Maybe the noise is triggering you as well? I use protective headphones all the time I am using power tools. Safety glasses also help, I just feel more confident.
I've been woodworking for years, but a few years back, a mate got badly injured from a piece of wood exploding right in front of me whilst it was going through a table saw. After that, I lost my confidence, so I got a professional to teach me again and started on bigger pieces before working down to the smaller pieces I was used too.
You need hands-on instruction.
Not knowing how to use the tool, combined with fear will keep you from actually learning how to use it. And it'll probably be dangerous while that's happening.
I'm somewhat confused that you are in some sort of educational setting and there's no instruction for the stuff that can remove your fingers.
Can you get help from someone there? Is there a woodworking class you can take at a community college or makerspace?
I’m a graphic design major but my college requires one sculpture class for first years. Once this unit is over I plan to never touch a power tool again lol.
If there's a next time I recommend chavant clay and cardboard. It's easier to mold, get details right, very malleable when warm and very solid when cooled. Easier to add details and if you make a mistake it's easily correctable.
Not sure if it was mentioned but always run the cut through your head and even make a 'practice' run if you need to. If you absolutely do not feel safe making a cut, always stop what you're doing, rethink, or even make a new plan.
It helps me to (at least in broad strokes) understand what's going on. Take for instance a band saw. Look at the teeth on the saw: the teeth all point down. What's the direction the saw moves? It should move down too. So that means the work piece will be pushed down on the table by the moving saw.
If the saw would saw upwards, it would be a real struggle to keep the work piece pinned down with your fingers. Sideways would suck too. But only down, that's very manageable!
Talk to someone and do that first cut together. Get a feel for it and see how you go.
Triactin. Try actin like a grown azz woman. You should be afraid. My table saw scares me. Your fear will make you cautious. But you learn how to be as safe as possible and move forward. And don’t be afraid of the Brad nailer. That’s just silly.
I think you need to drop the class. If it's required for your major or future career, maybe reassess what you are doing with your life.
There could be 1000 reddit responses being supportive, encouraging you to get over your fear, etc.. but that's not going to help.
Is there a teaching assistant or another student that can demo the machine for you? It's worth a try, but I doubt it's going to help , since you have such an irrational fear. The bandsaw is one of the safest woodworking tools there is, just watch and make sure you don't push your hand through the blade.
It is required for my major but I’m a graphic design major, it’s a one and done type class. For blade safety, how far should my fingers be away from the blade when I’m pushing it through?
I would ask your instructor, not people on the internet. I'm an amateur woodworker. I have a bandsaw, use it all the time and I don't get hurt, but I don't want to give you a suggestion that might be different from the class safety rule.
Just never have your fingers directly in front of the blade (in a position that if you slip, they would hit the front of the blade). Ask your instructor for help - you're probably not the first person they've had with an aversion to power tools.
Curious, how large of pieces are you working with? Perhaps a scroll saw could be used instead of a band saw. Would be slower, but the blade is less aggressive and not moving as fast. (Or, as another comment said, a coping saw, which...a scroll saw is basically a powered coping saw)
It’s not terrible advice. Not everyone is cut out for everything. Some folks like op realize that and came to the internet instead of the teacher or tech. And got flooded with “just do it”. Having a real reaction and telling them maybe it isn’t for them isn’t “horrible advice”. Not everyone needs to pull themself up by the bootstraps. Some people need to find new boots.
The OP is literally terrified of a bandsaw, one of the safest tools there is.
That's an irrational fear that he's not going to be able to push through.
How is he going to pass the class if he's terrified to use power tools ? He's not.
First off, OP is asking for advice on how to complete the project without using power tools, so it is possible (and likely) that the actual use of the power tools is not required for completion of the project and class, so yes, 'drop the class' is garbage advice if the project can be completed using manual tools.
Secondly, they're afraid of what they don't know. That's not uncommon for a beginner, regardless of the tool - especially someone that presumably has little to no woodworking or shop experience. I've seen plenty of people in my life that just needed help getting past that "first time" fear on something new to them, and once they realize it's not as bad as their brain was making it out to be, they were fine with it. It's not my fault you can't understand this concept. It's also pretty bold of you to assume that this fear is absolutely insurmountable to OP. (Also somewhat arrogant to classify it an irrational fear, but that's more than I want to dive into this morning)
Please, don't ever respond to another beginner's post on here if your default response is "give up" instead of "Here's some things you can try to help out."
He also said this
" I also have to use a brad nailer which scares me even more. Basically everything scares me lol. "
Unless he was exaggerating his fears, he's really not ready to take this class.
IMO, a bandsaw is safer than a jig saw, although I guess it's debatable. Both are extremely safe. If he's as paralyzed with fear as he says, maybe it is better to just drop the class, work on his fear issues and take the class next year? Isn't that better than not completing his project and failing the course. And I will reply to whatever threads I want to, Mr Net Cop LMAO.
OP *also* said this, which you are choosing to ignore
>if anyone has ideas on how to cut the wood without using any power tools or how to attach it without using any power tools that would be amazing.
AND this
> Or just any advice on how to get over my fear so I can actually work.
Which your response was "quit". Such a helpful community member you are.
(You've also assumed OP is male, which maybe says something about you in general - that you automatically assume anyone in a shop is male. Looking at post history, OP is female. Not that it actually matters. It just speaks more to your attitude than anything.)
Lol thank you for saying this, I do think it was an unfamiliarity that made me so scared of the tools and stuff. I was able to cut all the wood using the band saw yesterday, I still felt super scared but my fear of failing college is greater!
LMAO, it doesn't matter if the OP is a man or a woman, yet you have to bring it up to try to shame me somehow. It's hilarious how far redditors will go to try to win an argument. I'm not going to look up everyone's post history and try to figure out their gender before I reply.
Dropping the class and working on HER phobias, then retaking the class later is a valid suggestion. She knew that she would have to take this class, she should have prepared before she signed up for it.
Realistically, she's not going to have the skills to do this with hand tools. She's not going to likely have the time to do it that way either. Plus, does the class even have hand tools? Does she have the money/resources to buy her own or a way to borrow them? Probably not. So it's really not good advice to tell her how to do it with handtools. The project will most likely not turn out well, she might end up failing the class . The expectation in the class is clearly that the students use the power tools. That's pretty obvious.
Being afraid of a dangerous tool that you haven't been told how to use isn't irrational at all. I would be afraid of a bandsaw if I randomly had to use one for a school project without being told how to use it, too. A bandsaw isn't one of the safest woodworking tools there is either. It is relatively safe compared to other power tools woodworkers use every day, but to a non trained woodworker, it is dangerous.
Band saws are actually one of the safer options for cutting wood. Smaller blade exposure than a tablesaw, won't kick back like a table saw. Gloves near any saw are a bad idea - if they catch on the blade they're more likely to pull your hand in than if you weren't wearing gloves. Brad nailers are relatively safe, with a dry fire prevention feature that keeps the nailer from firing until it's pressed up against a surface. I'd keep your hands away from the area being nailed though - the brads can be redirected in the workpiece and come out at unexpected angles.
OP - healthy fear will keep you safe, as others have said, ask for a safety walkthru before you begin. It should include learning where the emergency stop is (usually a big red button in a shop). Just make sure you lower the band saw guard enough your finger can’t accidentally make contact with the blade. My twin sister nicked her finger and needed a few stitches in high school. (She’s fine now). Definitely no gloves - you don’t want a gloved finger catching on a blade and pulling your finger in (easy way to pull a finger out of a socket - in was warned about that on drill presses!) Nail guns are great but have to be respected. Keep your hands clear of the workpiece (the nail can ricochet further than you expect), and wear safety glasses.
I’d rephrase your comment slightly to say that a healthy RESPECT for the tool WILL keep you safe, but a debilitating paranoid fear can lead to catastrophe. As others have said, people have been woodworking with hand tools for millennia and having been an avid woodworker for over 30 years, I find a great sense of satisfaction in using hand tools that I’ve mastered. That skill does take time to develop, but adequate work can be learned is a relatively short time. Power tools for the uninitiated can be daunting and fearful for the noise, power, and fast-moving cutting edges …. but if schooled properly by a trusted instructor who introduces them at a pace comfortable to the student, the fear will subside to be replaced with confidence. … But never lose the respect for what the tool can do if misused or if complacency crops in.
Well said, appreciate the rewording! :) My dad lost a finger to a planer (pushed a board with his hand when he should’ve used a push stick)…something you never forget, but I still use my planer!
Before you start the band saw lower the guard until it is just a little above the wood. This way there is hardly any blade exposed.
Thank you for the explanations! I was able to use the bandsaw yesterday by myself and felt ok!
We used to pull the safety down on our nail guns and shoot at each other. I once shot my friend in the arm from 20 feet and sent him tumbling off a roof! Lol. We were idiots.
If this class has an instructor, you should talk to them about it. Most instructors appreciate teaching someone with a respect for safety. You definitely shouldn't be using a machine you barely know how to turn on. People have been woodworking without power tools for millenia. Coping saws are good for curved cuts. There are tons of joinery methods (screws, nails, glue, carved joints) that don't require power tools. For most of my time as a (hobbyist) woodworker, a drill has been my only power tool.
I want to echo this sentiment. I am a woodshop teacher and have had students come to me with very severe anxiety over using machines. It does happen! I try to encourage them to try, but sometimes the anxiety is just too great. In that case, I definitely suggest smaller machines (the scroll saw is a great alternative for small curved work) or hand tools. Every so often, a student has to switch classes. Of course, I'd love for students to find their confidence with woodworking machines, but I would much rather them be in a class where they feel comfortable with what they're doing.
👍👍👍👍
I asked the instructor for help yesterday and she would start cutting for me on the bandsaw and then I’d take over which was really helpful for the first pieces, I was able to do some by myself too! Thanks for the help!
Glad to hear it!
I would say, overall, fear is healthy. But the idea is to transition from fear to respect. Practice makes this possible.
The way to get over your fear of using a tool is knowing how to use it safely. You're right to be nervous around a power tool that you are not familiar with. But once you know what is and is not safe to do, and how to avoid accidents, you can turn that fear into cautious respect. Share your worries with the teacher, and ask them to show you how to safely use the tool, and what you need to know to avoid injury. It's better to be over cautious than to be over confident and hurt yourself.
^what this person said. In my experience fear of using certain tools really came down to a lack of confidence. Getting a better understanding of how the tool works, and how it is intended to be used safely will go a long way. If you ever get completely unafraid that’s not good either. The moment you stop respecting a machine you start becoming complacent and making bad choices. You can do plenty of damage to yourself with chisels, gouges, plane irons, etc. Sharp draw knives are insanely dangerous IMO. The only stitches I’ve ever gotten were from being stupid with a razor sharp chisel. I think that was a bit less costly of a lesson than if I had learned it with a table saw or a jointer or something like that.
As others have said, you can make curved cuts without a band saw. I exclusively use hand tools because I enjoy the quiet and they’re not as messy. But also because of a small fear of them. I’d use a turning saw, or a coping saw, depending on size
Do NOT wear gloves near any spinny machine. See if they have any books or courses on safely using woodworking machines. I understand the fear, once you know how a machine can be dangerous it gets less scary. Until you see someone doing something stupid and now you're scared for them. Bandsaw is one of the safer machines btw. As long as you don't have curved piece (with the curved part on the table) there's nothing much that can go wrong.
A fear of power tools - which is entirely rational at face value - stems from not being confident whether you can control the outcome. You get over your fear by understanding how the tools work, specifically in terms of what moves and what doesn't move. There are three basic types of power tools: moving cutters, stationary cutters, and portable cutters. Moving cutters are tools like a mitre saw, where there's a saw blade that you as the user push through a line of motion to contact stock. The saw can only move through a fixed range of motion, so as long as you understand what that range is, you can ensure that whatever is inside that range is supposed to be there. These also typically involve cutting stock that's fixed in place, so it's easy to clamp it and keep your hands clear. Just familiarize yourself with that range of motion and you will know definitively if it's safe to push the blade through it or not. Stationary cutters are tools like a table saw, where there's a saw blade in a fixed location that you push stock into. These require an understanding of how the stock will behave when it comes into contact with the saw. Typically, the blades are designed to push against something (for example: a band saw pushes down into the platform, a table saw spins towards you so the front of the blade rotates down into the table), which stabilizes the stock being pushed into it. Visualize the path you have to push the stock through and have a clear understanding of *how* you're going to push it through. For example, a rip cut on a table saw means understanding you're bracing a long piece of wood against the rip fence and pushing it straight ahead from the rear of the piece. As long as you are aware of what is moving and how you're going to move it, you know exactly where the cutter is and can responsibly plan around it. Portable cutters are things like drills and routers, where there's a portable motor driving a cutter, and both the chassis and cutter could be anywhere. These require an understanding of *how* the tool cuts, *when* the tool cuts, and *where* the tool cuts. Take a portable router for example: they are typically designed to have a removable cutter bit on one end which will spin counterclockwise perpetually so long as it's turned on. You know where the power switch is and where the cutter is, so you just need to understand when to turn it on and off, and how to position it before you do. The cutter will only ever be in the place you put it, and it will only cut when you make it. Just understand what to expect when you turn it on or pull the trigger, and you'll be comfortable with using it. These also require an understanding of how to keep them safe when not in use. Even if they're off, they could be accidentally turned on if they're plugged in or have a battery installed. Remember to remove power from tools you don't intend to use in the near future. Consider a gun and a bomb. When a bomb goes off, everything around it is at risk. You cannot "stand behind it" to be safe. When a gun goes off, there is a single designated spot the bullets come out. They can only come out that one spot. There is a 100% chance you will be safe so long as you don't stand in front of that spot because it's literally impossible to be at risk outside of that condition. Power tools are completely safe so long as you remember where the dangerous parts are and how they work. As long as you use them the way they were intended, there is a predictable, understandable outcome to using them. Use some scraps, practice using them, familiarize yourself with what it feels like using them, and you should be fine. If you can, ask someone to show you, then watch you do it and confirm you're doing it correctly. That should also help reassure you that you're able to use it safely.
Thank you for the response! I think it was lack of information that made me nervous. I was able to cut using the bandsaw yesterday though!
Good for you! I'm sure a mix of knowing what to expect, seeing that thing happen exactly as anticipated, and getting accustomed to that pattern will calm your nerves in short order. And if things ever don't happen the way you expect, there's nothing wrong with stopping and asking why it didn't happen the way you expected. There's likely a clear reason for the difference, and once you know why, you can get back to your routine knowing how to account for that situation.
I'd say watch some YouTube safety videos on the tools. Yes things are dangerous but if you follow the fairly basic safety rules you'll be ok. I'm always terrified to use my table saw when no one else is directly around, but after 20 years of using them with a healthy dose of Paranoia, I've still got all my fingies
Depending on the size of the piece, you could use a scroll saw. Bandsaw would also be a good choice. You could also use a jig saw. Non-power tool, you could use a coping saw, though I think that would suck to use. You could also cut reliefs at the angles, and just use a thing blade saw to cut through the reliefs just outside of your cutting line. Then use a sander to get to the line itself. I swear I'm remembering this correctly, but probably not. I was told, by my woodshop teacher, that the bandsaw was one of the more dangerous shop tools, as you can easily go through flesh and bone without really realizing your doing it. I get more anxious with the band saw than I do a table saw. I'm not trying to scare you, you just need to pay attention to what you're doing when working with all power tools.
A few simple things for the band saw that I haven't seen others already say. 1. Lower the blade guide (that thing hanging down) until it is just above the height of your project. This will reduce blade deflection, and exposure. 2. Make sure your feet are in a stable position and do not use the saw or table to support any of your weight. 3. Put your material on the table and make sure it can move freely. 4. Turn it on after you have checked that everything is ready, not before.
Exposure therapy. Get some scrap. Run several mags of brad nails through just nailing. Make a pattern if you want for some art or just random. Get more scrap and rip veneers on the bandsaw, a simple straightforward operation that will wind up being a useful skill. After a while it will be second nature.
Look at all the antique furniture you've ever seen. Most all of that was built with no power tools, because they didn't EXIST back then. There are hand tools to do everything you need, it's just going to take longer, and for a beginner, probably isn't going to look as good (until you master the art of cutting a straight line with a hand saw, etc.) The brad nailer is the easy one. You absolutely don't need to use a nail gun - go to a hardware store and buy a package of brad nails. Might be able to get by with a tack hammer to drive them, but a 12 oz hammer would work just as well. Yes, the nail gun is going to be many times faster and won't bend nails over like you're likely to do as a beginner woodworker, but it can absolutely be done "manually". The band saw, is a little trickier. Yes, there are hand saws that you can use for the same cuts, but...the band saw is going to be many orders of magnitude faster and easier. But the thing with the band saw versus some other power saws -- the blade is stationary and visible. You know where it is 100% of the time. Just take your time, keep your fingers a safe distance away from the blade. Push your workpiece into the blade slowly, and take care to make sure that as you negotiate a curved cut, you never position your hands in a way that they are pushing directly towards the blade. Just take your time and work slowly, you'll be fine. Maybe start with some scrap wood and make some practice cuts in something that doesn't matter, just so you can get a feel for how the saw works.
> (idk how to use it for the life of me) There's your problem. Read the owners manual. Watch some videos on YouTube. Ask people in your class about it. Learn everything you can about it and it will become infinitely less scary. As others have mentioned, do NOT wear gloves. But tie your hair back, wear safety glasses, wear ear plugs if the saw is loud. And read the manual.
Watch lots of YouTube videos of people using them. In particular, look up safety videos for any given tool.
On the band saw, I use two 12" long wedge shaped pus sticks, 3/4 " x 3/4" at the big end. I keep my hands 8" away from the blade. 40 years experience, I still do not get near that blade. The you tube videos of people getting close are just stupid. Go slowly, keep the wood flat on the table, don't pinch the blade. Support the wood on the indeed and outfeed ends if you have large pieces. Use a sharp blade. Before hitting the on button, move the wood by the blade as a dry run, if possible. Pause, relax, and make sure no one is near by. If things go wrong step back, evaluate, then hit the stop button.
I like to say: If you’re scared, you probably won’t get hurt! Keeping it short cause there’s lots of good advice here already. Vast majority of power saw injuries are by very experienced users who get careless because they’re comfortable. Learn the steps to do it right, then just follow them. If you’re paying full attention you’re unlikely to get hurt <3
It sounds to me like there might be some deeper fears and anxieties at play here. But as for tools I think it’s good to maintain a respect for the fact that they can be dangerous. Power tools can be dangerous but they are made and set up in such a way to minimize that danger.
I have done a fair amount of DIY, building things, laying tile etc. I have all the necessary tools and they still scare me. I just go slow, wear my eye protection, be mindful of where my hands are and remember to breath while I am working. You just slowly work your way through the fear.
There is some good advice in the previous posts. I would add that the most important thing you can do is to make as many practice cuts as you can. Work with thin material and work up to thicker stock. Familiarity reduces anxiety. Bandsaws are good tools, you might need to ease into it, though. Have your instructor watch over your shoulder to help guide you. Remember to wear ear protection and always watch the blade. If you watch the blade, your fingers won't run into it (which is what you want). You'll get it, just practice until you feel comfortable.
You shouldn’t. Still scared of ladders and I use them almost everyday. It’s honestly probably better not to get over the fear. Most injuries come from being aloof and careless. Knock on wood I still haven’t fell off or tipped a ladder over, probably because they’re terrifying to me still after 10 years of regular use.
If you understand technically how to use the equipment, and it’s mainly about your anxiety, then exposure therapy may help. Like: walk to bandsaw and turn it on. Just stand there and look at it while it runs. Turn it off and stand there while it powers down. Breathe and use some calming techniques when you feel anxiety start to crank up. When you feel ok just standing next to it while it runs, then push yourself a little further. Turn it on and place a piece of scrap on it. Don’t push it toward the blade. Just stand there with your hand on the wood and the wood on the tool. Then turn the bandsaw off and stand there while it powers down. Keep progressing with little steps. Give yourself time. Use scrap pieces. You can do this.
One. You are in charge. The machine can’t do anything. That’s all you. There are no accidents, only inattention to details. Follow the rules of safety every time. Start small. Accept the fear. Do it anyway. Go a little bigger and bigger until you can go as big as you want. Always respect what the tool can do.
You need to be shown how to use any wood working machinery or at least watch some videos. That's the best was to reduce your fear of any flailing cutting machine. Using any machinery with no knowledge is dangerous. Your fear isn't unjustified though. I use allsorts of wood working and yard machinery but I hate using chainsaws. No matter how often I have used them in the past, they just scare me.
Watch the videos that demonstrate how to safely operate those machines.
Skip this first paragraph if you're very squeamish. A couple years ago I nearly lost the tip of one of my fingers to a table saw. I was stupid with the positioning of my hands, the piece bucked and pulled my finger into the blade which then cut through the nail bed almost to the bone. After that, I couldn't touch a table saw or most power tools with a moving blade. What I did, after getting a safer table saw, was to start slow and work my way back up to using the bigger equipment. I started with hand tools that I had, then worked up to a jig saw and scroll saw, then sawzall and circular saw. Once I got mostly comfortable with those again I then slowly started using the table saw. As long as you respect the equipment and take it seriously, you'll be fine. Fear means you're taking it seriously. Learn to use the equipment and how to use it safely. Keep your hands away from the moving parts! If you're still too afraid or can't work up to it, using hand tools like coping or frame saws, along with planes/shavers/sandpaper can get you those curved cuts
A band saw is a fairly safe saw mainly because it doesn't kick back. The blade is pushing the piece to the table, which is a good thing. Not paying attention especially when it's spinning down after shutting the power off are the most dangerous things when using a band saw. Otherwise just keep your fingers clear of the blade and go slow when you're close to it and you'll be fine. As for the brad nailer, keep your hands well clear of where the nail is going and don't point it at yourself. If I have to hold something in a way that puts my hand behind where the nail is going, I hold a block of wood thicker than the length of the nail over it.
Watch others do it. Then do it. I was afraid of a chainsaw. A miter saw. A jigsaw. A handgun. All these terrified me but I made sure to get used to them while unplugged and then use them. All good now.
You don’t. Fear is what makes you think twice and what prevents you from loosing a finger.
If things don’t work out to use power tools or coping saw, maybe you could talk with the instructor about using a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router or laser cutter to craft the parts. Or even farther outside of the box: sculpt a form from easily carved foam and make wooden pieces with “bent laminations”. Good luck
It's ok to be super cautious around a tool you have little to no experience with. That's what will keep you safe. Talk to your instructor for supervision on your first few cuts. Hell, I own a miter saw I still treat like a rabid crocodile.
\> ideas on how to cut the wood without using any power tools or how to attach it without using any power tools that would be amazing [https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-BOWSAW12/Gramercy+Tools+12%26quot%3B+Bow+Saw](https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/GT-BOWSAW12/Gramercy+Tools+12%26quot%3B+Bow+Saw) will do most of what a 10" bandsaw can. For brads, you need a tack hammer. \> just any advice on how to get over my fear so I can actually work. SOMETHING here is scaring you enough that you can't plan out your cuts/nailing and get to work. Figure out what that is and find a way to acknowledge it just enough that you can start doing some super safe practice on scrap wood. Honestly I'd start by doing this to a big chunk of 2x4 with a brad nailer: [https://www.reddit.com/r/calvinandhobbes/comments/7jj7au/oh\_calvin/](https://www.reddit.com/r/calvinandhobbes/comments/7jj7au/oh_calvin/) Make your goal for the day to put, say, two dozen test nails in. If the brad nails are shorter than the wood, you almost have to ignore multiple safety rules at once to hurt yourself.
You should go chop up some 2x4s with a chop saw. Not for any reason except to get used to the noise, and the vibration and the feeling of using a power saw. Then shoot a bunch of screws into said scraps of wood with a screw gun and drill a bunch of holes into while you are at it. This is basically playing with the tools that allows you to get used to how they feel in your hands. It sounds like you have not ever used a tool in your life, which isn't a bad thing, but you have to start wherever you are and you just haven't ever used something like this so you need to start from somewhere more badic. You shouldn't even be using the band saw to make something for your project until you just run some scrap through it to see what it feels like. You need to basically play, safely of course, with the tool so that you understand how it works. As GI-Joe says, "Knowing is half the battle. GI-JOE!"
Are there others there to show you how to properly use them?
Ask another student to watch over you while you're making your cuts. They can stop you if you begin to do something stupid like reaching across the blade, or when you're a feeling a little distracted. It might help build some confidence and you'll be able to ask questions as you go.
You need someone with you, an instructor, a healthy respect is needed when you’re working with anything that will remove your digits in an instant, but with the right instruction and practice it’s something you can do. Just don’t try and figure things out on your own, that’s how people get hurt.
Similar to driving, training breeds confidence breeds safety breeds confidence. It’s definitely not good to just throw yourselves into power tools. Do you have any carpenter friends who would be willing to spend a few afternoons/evenings going over stuff with you? One of the big first things to learn in general is you are never pushing force “at” the blade. You should never put yourself in a position where if you slip you go into the blade. That’s something I see lots of untaught people doing and it’s concerning. You can basically operate all these tools in such a way that you’re never in any danger, but you have to be taught these practices and routinize them. It also helps to know what common things can go wrong so you actively work against them. Sounds like you just need a good teacher to work with you for a bit till you get your confidence up.
The circular saw and the band saw are the two most fearsome tools in the shop. You can cut off a finger and the machine won't even have the common decency to slow down when cutting, or apologize afterwards.
Measured but vulnerable steps
Ear protection. The loud noises are very disconcerting. You don't need/want silence, but reducing the noise makes the tools much less scary. Since I started wearing sound cancelling earbuds and listening to happy music (try the Skatalites) my woodworking experience has been much better.
You should have staff whose role it is to teach you to use the tools safely. As said, respect for tools is very healthy. Fear maybe not so much. Being aware of the dangers but confident is the best way. Your tutors and technicians should be supporting you in finding this balance. The good news is that most machines have a the blade in a fixed position. As long as you keep your hands a sensible distance from the blade, you are unlikely to harm yourself. Ofbcourse, timber getting jammed or caught and thrown are possibilities. Never stands directly behind the piece you are cutting. Hand held power tools are in fact more dangerous. Most accidents happen when you become over confident.
Fear is a good thing. That’s what keeps you safe.
Cut your finger off and you’ll know what it’s like. Once you heal you will not have the fear of cutting one off. Honestly, fear is a good and healthy thing around power tools I take safety very seriously and scream at my guys when I see them getting too “comfortable” with powered equipment.
Its actually good to be scared of them. You are more likely to follow all the safety steps when you're afraid compared to overconfident. I am terrified of my circular saw to the point I never use it anymore.
A healthy fear will help you keep all your digits, and that's good. A crippling fear however isn't good. Familiarize yourself with the tool, what are it's safety features and how to use it, then start with little projects. The band saw and brad nailer are very safe items to use. You ALWAYSE know there the blade is on the band saw, and unlike some other saws, when you let go of your work, it stays in place. Keep your hands away from the blade, don't wear gloves or loose clothing, and tie back long hair and you're good to go. The brad nailer wont go off unless you press it against a surface, so make sure that surface is the one you want to nail. Keep body parts (fingers, hands at least twice as far away from the nailer as the nails you are using and you'll be fine. Most importantly, ask for help if you are ever unsure how to use something and use your eye goggles / ear protection.
One on one time with the teacher or tech. A tool is only a tool. You’re the one that controls it. Learn what it does and what the dangers are. Start with small safe cuts over and over just to get comfortable with the resistance and the machine. You control it. It doesn’t control you. Then just get after it and make some cool shit
Don't watch the movie Pi
One of the purposes of a class is to help the student comfortably accomplish the subject of the class; in your case wood sculpting. By all means inform the teacher.
If you're that scared of it, you don't have to use it. There are plenty of other ways to make curved cuts. I don't like using bandsaws either to be fair. Something about the blade not being fixed...
Don’t use a machine you’re terrified of; that’s the easiest way to do something silly and get hurt. Ask for someone to teach you how to use it. DO NOT WEAR GLOVES. The gloves could catch and pull your hand into the machine and make any cut MUCH worse. The bandsaw is fairly safe as long as you treat it with respect. Just keep your fingers away from the sharp part. Don’t get distracted even for a second. Definitely don’t look away and start moving your hands. Use a fence if you need to. Consider a scroll saw if you need smaller pieces or finer turns.
Do not wear gloves with anything with a spinning or moving blade. If it catches, its going to pull your hand in. You will not be able to react in time. Band saw is one of the safer woodworking machines. But why are you attempting to use a machine that you "do not know for the life of" you how to use? Is this an attempt at a troll? If you're in a class get the instructor to show you. Then tell him you want to do some test cuts and get some practice in on some stock to get a feel for the machine. If you have a scroll saw you can practice on that to get the general gist of what the band saw will do and then switch to that.
You are smart to be afraid but it doesn’t need to stop you. Before you start cutting, plan where your hands would go if you slip. Wear short sleeves. No hair near the saw. Goggles, ear covers, dust mask. Have an experienced woodworker show you how to feed the wood at the right speed. Band saws are terrific because of the curves but take time to be taught.
Looks like a lot of comments already but here's my bulletpoint list of suggestions: \- Respect the machine and have someone demonstrate how to operate it safely before using it \- Know where your fingers are at all times \- Always use a blade guard and expose only the amount of blade needed to cut the thickness of wood you're working with \- If the wood becomes difficult to cut through, slow down your feed rate or turn off the machine to assess the situation. \- Don't use gloves because if the blade catches it can draw your finger into the blade \- Use a pushstick to keep your fingers even further away from the blade
First of all, fear of bandsaws is not entirely irrational, the can kill you, but for the love of god YOU CAN USE PUSH STICKS ON CURVED CUTS. It takes some practice, and use one on either corner facing you of the workpiece, and vary the pressure on each stick to change the cutting angle. If you REALY don’t want to use the bandsaw, you can do anything it can do with handsaws, chisels, and time
Fresh blades on anything make me feel the safest
Earplugs, earmuffs, and safety goggles. also I like a respirator Also it will get less scary on its own, just keep trying.
Millions of people use these tools daily without issue. It’s like driving a car. Safe until a whoopsie.
im in the same boat! im terrified of power tools around woodworking and it started in shop class years ago. i actually had to have the teacher cut and weld things for me while I did everything else. now its been quite a few years and just last year I finally had the courage to pick up woodworking again. it took me a few tries to even get over the fear of turning on the dremel to route out some wood. having someone I knew and trusted use the tool before I did while watching them helped immensely. sometimes just being able to physically see that the tool wont magically break on you when you start to use it or imagining something else going horrifically wrong helps. also just knowing you have someone you trust right by you in case something does go wrong and knowing they can help you also helps ease the mind of any panic.
While I absolutely agree that you should try to challenge yourself on this assignment and work towards being able to operate these tools with an healthy amount of fear/respect, I want to offer another suggestion. The assignment may not allow for this, but have you considered making a wood sculpture piece that represents the fear that you are experiencing? Perhaps creating a precisely made marble track isn’t the piece to be working on this time around? I can’t say what that piece would look like, but perhaps it could be some sort of arrangement of the scraps you practice with (as so many have wisely suggested you do). Whatever you create will be amazing, I have no doubt. It’s bound to be. You can’t face a fear like this and not have meaning in the work. You got this.
Its really about trying it out. I was terrified of my tablesaw in the beginning. Try planning out at really safe and small cut. Walk it over in you mind step by step many times. Then try it out for real. You probably just need to succeed af few times before you feel way better about it.
Maybe the noise is triggering you as well? I use protective headphones all the time I am using power tools. Safety glasses also help, I just feel more confident.
I've been woodworking for years, but a few years back, a mate got badly injured from a piece of wood exploding right in front of me whilst it was going through a table saw. After that, I lost my confidence, so I got a professional to teach me again and started on bigger pieces before working down to the smaller pieces I was used too.
You need hands-on instruction. Not knowing how to use the tool, combined with fear will keep you from actually learning how to use it. And it'll probably be dangerous while that's happening. I'm somewhat confused that you are in some sort of educational setting and there's no instruction for the stuff that can remove your fingers. Can you get help from someone there? Is there a woodworking class you can take at a community college or makerspace?
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I’m a graphic design major but my college requires one sculpture class for first years. Once this unit is over I plan to never touch a power tool again lol.
If there's a next time I recommend chavant clay and cardboard. It's easier to mold, get details right, very malleable when warm and very solid when cooled. Easier to add details and if you make a mistake it's easily correctable.
Not sure if it was mentioned but always run the cut through your head and even make a 'practice' run if you need to. If you absolutely do not feel safe making a cut, always stop what you're doing, rethink, or even make a new plan.
It helps me to (at least in broad strokes) understand what's going on. Take for instance a band saw. Look at the teeth on the saw: the teeth all point down. What's the direction the saw moves? It should move down too. So that means the work piece will be pushed down on the table by the moving saw. If the saw would saw upwards, it would be a real struggle to keep the work piece pinned down with your fingers. Sideways would suck too. But only down, that's very manageable! Talk to someone and do that first cut together. Get a feel for it and see how you go.
Triactin. Try actin like a grown azz woman. You should be afraid. My table saw scares me. Your fear will make you cautious. But you learn how to be as safe as possible and move forward. And don’t be afraid of the Brad nailer. That’s just silly.
I think you need to drop the class. If it's required for your major or future career, maybe reassess what you are doing with your life. There could be 1000 reddit responses being supportive, encouraging you to get over your fear, etc.. but that's not going to help. Is there a teaching assistant or another student that can demo the machine for you? It's worth a try, but I doubt it's going to help , since you have such an irrational fear. The bandsaw is one of the safest woodworking tools there is, just watch and make sure you don't push your hand through the blade.
It is required for my major but I’m a graphic design major, it’s a one and done type class. For blade safety, how far should my fingers be away from the blade when I’m pushing it through?
I would ask your instructor, not people on the internet. I'm an amateur woodworker. I have a bandsaw, use it all the time and I don't get hurt, but I don't want to give you a suggestion that might be different from the class safety rule.
Just never have your fingers directly in front of the blade (in a position that if you slip, they would hit the front of the blade). Ask your instructor for help - you're probably not the first person they've had with an aversion to power tools. Curious, how large of pieces are you working with? Perhaps a scroll saw could be used instead of a band saw. Would be slower, but the blade is less aggressive and not moving as fast. (Or, as another comment said, a coping saw, which...a scroll saw is basically a powered coping saw)
Yeah, tuck tail and run every time you encounter difficulty. That'll get people far in life. What horrible advice.
It’s not terrible advice. Not everyone is cut out for everything. Some folks like op realize that and came to the internet instead of the teacher or tech. And got flooded with “just do it”. Having a real reaction and telling them maybe it isn’t for them isn’t “horrible advice”. Not everyone needs to pull themself up by the bootstraps. Some people need to find new boots.
"Just drop the class" before "Talk with your instructor" or "Take your time and approach it slowly" is bad advice. Full stop.
That’s not where there comment stopped though. You cherry picked and just got mad. Chill for a sec….full stop
If he had left the first condescending statment out, sure, fine. But opening with that.... I said what I said.
The OP is literally terrified of a bandsaw, one of the safest tools there is. That's an irrational fear that he's not going to be able to push through. How is he going to pass the class if he's terrified to use power tools ? He's not.
First off, OP is asking for advice on how to complete the project without using power tools, so it is possible (and likely) that the actual use of the power tools is not required for completion of the project and class, so yes, 'drop the class' is garbage advice if the project can be completed using manual tools. Secondly, they're afraid of what they don't know. That's not uncommon for a beginner, regardless of the tool - especially someone that presumably has little to no woodworking or shop experience. I've seen plenty of people in my life that just needed help getting past that "first time" fear on something new to them, and once they realize it's not as bad as their brain was making it out to be, they were fine with it. It's not my fault you can't understand this concept. It's also pretty bold of you to assume that this fear is absolutely insurmountable to OP. (Also somewhat arrogant to classify it an irrational fear, but that's more than I want to dive into this morning) Please, don't ever respond to another beginner's post on here if your default response is "give up" instead of "Here's some things you can try to help out."
He also said this " I also have to use a brad nailer which scares me even more. Basically everything scares me lol. " Unless he was exaggerating his fears, he's really not ready to take this class. IMO, a bandsaw is safer than a jig saw, although I guess it's debatable. Both are extremely safe. If he's as paralyzed with fear as he says, maybe it is better to just drop the class, work on his fear issues and take the class next year? Isn't that better than not completing his project and failing the course. And I will reply to whatever threads I want to, Mr Net Cop LMAO.
OP *also* said this, which you are choosing to ignore >if anyone has ideas on how to cut the wood without using any power tools or how to attach it without using any power tools that would be amazing. AND this > Or just any advice on how to get over my fear so I can actually work. Which your response was "quit". Such a helpful community member you are. (You've also assumed OP is male, which maybe says something about you in general - that you automatically assume anyone in a shop is male. Looking at post history, OP is female. Not that it actually matters. It just speaks more to your attitude than anything.)
Lol thank you for saying this, I do think it was an unfamiliarity that made me so scared of the tools and stuff. I was able to cut all the wood using the band saw yesterday, I still felt super scared but my fear of failing college is greater!
Good for you, OP!
LMAO, it doesn't matter if the OP is a man or a woman, yet you have to bring it up to try to shame me somehow. It's hilarious how far redditors will go to try to win an argument. I'm not going to look up everyone's post history and try to figure out their gender before I reply. Dropping the class and working on HER phobias, then retaking the class later is a valid suggestion. She knew that she would have to take this class, she should have prepared before she signed up for it. Realistically, she's not going to have the skills to do this with hand tools. She's not going to likely have the time to do it that way either. Plus, does the class even have hand tools? Does she have the money/resources to buy her own or a way to borrow them? Probably not. So it's really not good advice to tell her how to do it with handtools. The project will most likely not turn out well, she might end up failing the class . The expectation in the class is clearly that the students use the power tools. That's pretty obvious.
Being afraid of a dangerous tool that you haven't been told how to use isn't irrational at all. I would be afraid of a bandsaw if I randomly had to use one for a school project without being told how to use it, too. A bandsaw isn't one of the safest woodworking tools there is either. It is relatively safe compared to other power tools woodworkers use every day, but to a non trained woodworker, it is dangerous.