General Information
To use the Band Saw (or any of the tools in the Machine Shop or Makerspace) you must first review and agree to the Shop Rules. Fill in and sign the tear-off sheet at the bottom and give it to the Shop Monitor or to your Trainer. You only need to do this once.
Completing the introductory training will give you Supervised use of a particular machine. You can use the machine as long as you are supervised by the Shop Monitor. Completing further instruction and gaining more experience can allow you Unsupervised use of a machine (you still cannot work alone). Ask the shop manager if you are interested in becoming a Shop Monitor.
Levels of access apply to a particular machine, not all machines of the same general type. For example, if you were trained to use the vertical band saw in the Machine Shop then you cannot automatically use the horizontal band saw. But you can easily add the necessary training and/or experience to use the horizontal band saw once you have trained on the vertical band saw.
Your access to the machine(s) or shops may be restricted if you violate the shop rules or if you don’t exhibit proper safety. For example, if you have been allowed Unsupervised use of a drill press, but you leave the key unattended in the chuck, then your access may be reduced to Supervised.
Supervised
Your trainer will show you the machine, tell you the names of various parts, and explain the basics of safely using the machine. Eye protection is required at all times when using this machine, or when watching someone else use the machine.
Your trainer will show you how to adjust the height of the upper blade guide to match the height of the piece you are cutting. In general, the upper blade guide should be as low as possible so that the blade cannot bend to either side while cutting, but high enough that it does not block the piece being cut from passing through.
You trainer will demonstrate how to turn the machine on (and how long to wait until it is ready) and then how to make basic cuts with the machine.
Your trainer will show you how to use the miter gauge to help keep the piece being cut square as it moves over the table, or to keep it at a particular other angle.
You will demonstrate (and experience) cutting through wood, plastic, and metal.
You will demonstrate cutting a piece of wood (or other material) with a corner at a particular angle.
You will demonstrate cleaning the machine when you are done.
Unsupervised
Once you have qualified for Supervised use of the band saw you can also qualify for Unsupervised access by completing the following:
- Use of the band saw (with supervision) on 5 different days with no issues. (Be sure to have the Shop Monitor record your experience in the training log.)
- Demonstrating free-hand cutting along a curve.
- Demonstrating how to change the blade on the band saw, including adjusting the tracking, and being able to explain how to choose the proper blade for cutting a particular kind of material.
Only the Shop Manager can grant you Unsupervised use of the band saw.