Rules for safe use of hand tools.

Machinist's bench vise

1. Always clamp work well in jaws. 2. Do not use a cheater bar or hammer to tighten vice. 3. Never hammer on vice guides because the casting will not stand the force.

Care of hand tools

1. Always use the correct tool for the job. 2. Wipe chips and grease from tools before storing. 3. Always store tool in their proper place. 4. Protect tools from rust. 5. Inspect tools to make sure they are in good working condition. 6. Never use cheater bars on wrenches to gain leverage.

Pliers

1. Do not use pliers to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. 2. Never use pliers to grip finished surfaces because the teeth will score the work. 3. If you must use pliers to tighten or loosen a bolt only use locking pliers.

Hand hacksaws

1. Hold the part in the vice close to the vice jaws. 2. Ease up on the pressure when you are about to cut through the work so your hands will not strike the work or vice. 3. Apply pressure only on forward strokes using the entire length of the blade. 4. Saw about 40 strokes per minute and do not bend the blade.

Chisels

1. Never use a chisel with a mushroom head. 2. When using a chisel always chip away from yourself and others.

Files

1. Never use a file that doesn't have a handle 2. Never use a file as a pry bar, it is brittle and will snap. 3. when filing, apply pressure in forward strokes only.

Hammers

1. Never use a hammer whose handle is split or the head is loose. 2. Never use a hammer on precision parts. 3. Never strike a hard surface like another hammer with a hammer.

Screwdrivers

1. Never use a screwdriver as a chisel. 2. Never hold work while using a screwdriver, rather lay it down on a bench. 3. Always use the correct screwdriver for the correct screw.

General

1. Report all damaged equipment to the instructor. 2. Report all injuries to the instructor. 3. Always store sharp tools in places where you won't get stabbed by them.

Cleaning chips from work

1. Use a brush to clean chips from machine or work 2. Never use an air hose because it will send the chips flying into the machine or an eye.

Wrenches

1. Use wrench of correct size. 2. Adjustable wrench/shifting spanners should only be used as a last resort because they can slip and damage the nut and possibly injure the user. 3. It is safer to pull a wrench towards you then to push it away from you.