The woodshop covers the basics well: a table saw for ripping and crosscutting sheet goods and boards, a miter saw for quick accurate cuts, a band saw for curves, a planer, a router table, sanders, a drill press, and a wall of clamps. Combined with the CNC router and laser cutter next door, members build furniture, shop fixtures, speaker cabinets, enclosures, signs, and the occasional canoe paddle.

Training

The table saw requires training before solo use; it’s the tool that causes the most injuries in any shop. Training covers blade guards and riving knife, push sticks, fence and miter gauge setup, and kickback avoidance. The miter saw, band saw, planer, and router table are covered in a general woodshop orientation. Hand tools, sanders, and the drill press are available to anyone after a quick walkthrough.

Shop rules

Dust collection on for every machine that has a port.
Eye protection always; hearing protection is on the wall and you’ll want it.
Check boards for nails and screws before they touch a blade.
Clean the machines and floor when you’re done. Sawdust is the woodshop’s main product and it needs to go in the bin, not the metal shop.