Triangle Area Real Estate News & Information

From making small crafts to intricate furniture, woodworking is a rewarding hobby for people of all skill levels. It's also a good way to teach children how to solve problems and build their confidence.

For those people who want to take up woodworking, the garage can be a great place to set up a shop, as long as you don't mind keeping the car in the driveway. But if they're not careful, a woodshop can also cause safety problems.

Here are some safety tips for setting up a home woodworking shop:

Heating Your Workshop

Most garages in this area are not heated, making them difficult to work in during the cold winters. Many homeowners are tempted to solve this problem with a space heater. While they are effective, they can be very dangerous.

Woodworking creates a great deal of sawdust, which can pose a significant fire hazard when it comes in contact with a heater. Homeowners should consult a heating contractor for advice on how to safely heat their garages, but first, think about ways you can keep heat in so you'll need less effort to warm things up. Consider weatherstripping around doors and windows, fill holes with expanding-foam insulation, and insulate the walls if they aren't already. Insulation can cut your heating bill by as much as 50%, so it really pays for itself over time. 

Provide Ample Power

One of the best parts about woodworking is all the power tools. To some people, a walk down the power tool aisle of a home improvement store feels like Christmas.

But power tools take a lot of, well, power. From battery chargers to saws to planers to drills, woodworking requires a lot of electricity, and not all homes are set up to handle that extra load.

When setting up a home woodworking shop, especially one that will have a lot of large equipment, homeowners should consult an electrician to be sure their house can safely power the equipment.

Keep It Clean

As mentioned above, woodworking creates sawdust, which is highly flammable. Homeowners should invest in a dust collection system, or at least be very diligent with the broom, to keep sawdust from accumulating. When you're done with a power tool, always remember to unplug it and stow it away before moving on to the next thing. All too often, shop owners will fill their power outlets to the brim with extension cords and power bars, which can be a significant tripping and electrical hazard. 

Work Safely

Most importantly, beginner woodworkers should be sure they know how to properly use their tools. Power tool accidents account for a lot of emergency room visits, so to avoid this, amateur woodworkers should be sure they know how to use the equipment they have.

That means talking with in-store experts when they buy the tools, reading all safety manuals, and always using the proper safety equipment, especially eye protection.

Woodworking can be a fun and rewarding hobby, and it's an easy one for people to take up. Setting up a safe garage workshop will help ensure homeowners enjoy their hobby for years to come.