Safety

• Eye protection is very important as bits of swarf (metal turnings) fly off the cutting tool. Always avoid the area at the side of the chuck• Ensure that the emergency stop button is within easy reach — many floor-standing lathes also have a foot-operated stop bar.• Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery that could become caught in the rotating parts such as the chuck, feed shaft, or lead screw.• Gloves are a hazard too, as they can be grabbed by rotating parts and your hand can be snagged along with them. The time to use gloves is when you need to handle swarf. This by-product of metal turning can look curious to those who have not already suffered nasty cuts from it, especially young children, so treat it very carefully. Dispose of it regularly so that it does not build up in and around the machine.• Fully enclosed footwear is vital as well with hot pieces of swarf flying about.• Never touch the chuck or workpiece when it is still moving. Wait until it comes to a complete stop. There is a lot of inertia with a spinning chuck and it won’t be worried about tearing the palm off your hand. Only measure the work when it is stopped too.• Cutting oils are a great aid to machining but they can be absorbed into the skin. A good precaution is to apply some barrier cream to your hands before starting work.