Machinery

Holman currently utilizes the following drills below, please click the link to view the operating manual.  

• C.R. Onsrud CNC Router (M Series) 
• Doucet Edge Sander (PMC152) 
• Festool Vacuum (CT36) 
• Homag Edge bander 
• Laguna Jointer 8” (MJOIN 8012-0130) 
• Oliver Professional Planer 20” (M-4455) 
• Thermwood CNC Machining Center (Model 43) 

CNC Machinery – General Procedures  

Before Operation 

• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Read up on the CNC router manual to familiarize yourself with the machine, its operating instructions, and safety warnings. 
• Only use the router machine for its intended purpose. 
• Seek training before attempting to operate CNC router machines to avoid machine breakdown and prevent injuries. 
• Wear the proper protective equipment (PPE) before turning on the machine. This includes safety goggles, earmuffs, and a dust mask. Do not use gloves. 
• Remove all accessories before machine operation, which include rings, ties, watches, necklaces, and other jewelry. 
• Do not wear loose clothing. If wearing a shirt with sleeves, roll up your sleeves above your elbow and secure them with a pin to prevent them from coming loose. 
• Wear non-slip footwear or install anti-skid floor strips around your facility to prevent slipping accidents during machine operation Keep drill air vents clear to maintain adequate ventilation.  

During Operation 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Verify if the power button is turned off before plugging the machine into the power supply. 
• Do not, under any circumstances, operate CNC routers when under the influence of drugs, alcohol, sleeping pills, or other medication that causes you to become drowsy. 
• Do not operate a CNC router in a damp or moist environment. This eliminates any potential for electrocution and slipping accidents. Keep oils and greases away from the work floor. 
• Clear the surrounding areas around CNC routers and keep them free from clutter. 
• Avoid any horseplay on the work floor. Always keep your focus on the work being done. 
• Never leave the room while your machine is routing. Make sure the machine is turned off before leaving. Do not leave it unattended. 
• Do not put any part of your body closer than 6 inches to the cutting tool when it is moving. 
• Always make sure you have inserted the correct bit for the job you are doing. 
• Keep all electrical wiring away from heating equipment, sharp edges, or moving parts. Position all wirings and electrical cords in a way that doesn’t create a trip hazard. If they need to run across the work area, use a floor cord cover or cable ramp. 
• Check your horsepower is suitable for the material you are cutting. 
• Make sure that all workpieces are securely clamped down. 
• Do not force material into the router. 
• Don’t try to increase the depth of the cut by inserting less of the shank into the collet. 
• If the bit acts up or breaks, shut down the machine immediately before troubleshooting the problem. 
• Do not use non-routing tools, even though their shanks may fit in the collet. 

Edge Sander – General Procedures  

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Use sanders with the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) turned on. The LEV should be designed for the sander and well maintained to work effectively. 
• Keep hands away from the abrasive surface. 
• Hold small or thin pieces of stock in a jig or holding device to prevent injuries to the fingers or hands. 
• Inspect abrasive belts before using them. Replace belts worn, frayed, or excessively worn in spots.  
• Sand on the downward side of a disc sander so that the wood is driven onto the table by the machine’s rotation.  
• Enclose all drums, disk or belt sanding machines with an exhaust dust hood that covers all portions of the machine, but the portion designed for the work feed.  

Festool Vacuum – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• The dust extractor uses a 3-prong grounded plug. Never connect the dust extractor to an ungrounded electrical outlet. 
• Never defeat or bypass the ground prong. Do not use the dust extractor if the ground prong is broken or missing. 
• Take care when using the dust extractor on stairs or elevated work areas. 
• Do not vacuum toxic, carcinogenic, combustible, or other hazardous materials such as asbestos, arsenic, barium, beryllium, lead, pesticides, or other health endangering materials. 
• Do not pick up anything that is burning, smoldering, or smoking, such as cigarettes, matches or hot ashes. 
• Do not use to pick up flammable or combustible liquids, such as gasoline, or use in areas where they may be present. 
• Take care when disposing of fine sanding dust. Fine particle dust may become explosive. Do not throw sanding dust on an open flame. 

Edge bander – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Visual inspection of machine, check power and stock. Make sure using appropriated edging. 
• Do not remove covers while the machine is under operation. 
• Never touch the heat sink or discharging resistor. Due to very high temperature, there is danger for burns. 
• The machine must be set-up by one person only. 
• Before starting machine, do a visual check to ensure that no personnel are in the machine’s danger zone. 
• Make sure all protective doors, guards and covers are in place and securely locked. 
• Never exceed specified speed limits stamped on the tools or specified by the manufacturer. 

Jointer – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Make sure all guards are in place and operating correctly. 
• All materials should be inspected for defects such as warps, knots, and foreign objects. 
• Make all adjustments with the power supply to the Jointer turned off. 
• Before operating the jointer, make sure the cutter safety guard is in full and proper operation and ensure the fence is locked in the correct location. 
• Before starting the jointer ensure that table is cleared of objects, the stock is not in contact with the cutter heads and tighten the infeed and outfeed tables. 
• Never joint or plane a piece of stock that is shorter than 250 mm (10”), narrower than 19 mm (3/4”), or less than 13 mm (1/2”) thick. 
• The maximum depth of cut is 3 mm (1/8”). 
• Always joint wood stock with the grain. 
• After making the correct depth of cut adjustment to the infeed table make sure the table is locked. 
• Stock should be fed into the jointer from the infeed side only. The rotation of the cutter heads would make any other operation dangerous. 
• Use an appropriate push stick or safety blocks whenever fingers are expected to pass within 50 mm (2”) of the cutters. 
• Hold the stock firmly against the fence and the table with even constant pressure to both the in feed and transfer to the out-feed table as the stock is being jointed. 
• Take a comfortable stance with your feet at shoulder width part when passing stock through the jointer and transfer your weight from the rear foot to the leading foot as your stock goes through its operation. 
• When finished wait until the machine has come to a complete stop before commencing clean-up procedures. 

Planer – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Visually inspect the machine, check power and stock. Make sure wood is clean and safe to run. 
• Make sure guard is in place. 
• Always disconnect the power before adjusting blades or performing maintenance. 
• Use a push-stick to finish the pass of your stock. Keep a safe distance from the turning blades. 

Saws 

Holman currently utilizes the following drills below, please click the link to view the operating manual.  

• Bosch Jigsaw (JS572) 
• Cantek Axis Sliding Table Saw (D405ANC) 
• DeWalt Track Saw (DWS520) 
• Holzher Beam Saw (CUT 85) 
• Rockwell Bandsaw 14” (28-200) 

Power Hand Saws – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Disconnect power supply before changing or adjusting blades.  
• Use lubricants when cutting metals.  
• Keep all cords clear of cutting area.  
• Position the saw beside the material before cutting and avoid entering the cut with a moving blade. 
• Make sure guards, if present, are installed and are working properly. 
• Secure and support stock as close as possible to the cutting line to avoid vibration.  
• Keep the base or shoe of the saw in firm contact with the stock being cut.  
• Select the correct blade for the material being cut and allow it to cut steadily. Do not force it. Clean and sharp blades operate best. 
• Set the blade to go no further than 0.32 to 0.64 cm (1/8 to 1/4 inch) deeper than the material being cut. 
• Do not start cutting until the saw reaches its full power.  
• Do not force a saw along or around a curve. Allow the machine to turn with ease.  
• Do not insert a blade into or withdraw a blade from a cut or lead hole while the blade is moving.  
• Do not put down a saw until the motor has stopped.  
• Do not reach under or around the stock being cut.  
• Maintain control of the saw always. Avoid cutting above shoulder height. 

Table Saw – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Visual inspection of saw, check blade and fence. Make sure using appropriated blade. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Become familiar with devices to stop the machine at any moment. 
• Knowing material, thickness, and use of part, plan right approach for cutting. 
• Check the stock that is to be cut. Look for staples, nails, or tape; clean and straight edges when using fence. 
• Always disconnect the power before changing the blade or performing maintenance. 
• Use saw guard. 
• Use a push-stick for stocks 6” or less in width. 
• Do not make free-hand cuts on any table saw. 
• Do not attempt any awkward operation. Safety is your first priority. Be in complete control of the cut. 
• Release the stock only when it is past the blade. Kickbacks need to be always avoided. 
• Position your body so that you are not in line with the blade. 
• Stand comfortably, your feet far enough apart for good balance. Ensure full control from your position. 
• Never operate the table saw with the throat insert removed. Use zero clearance insert. 
• Never reach behind or over the blade unless it has stopped turning. 
• Do not wear gloves while operating a table saw. 
• Do not make fence adjustment when the saw is running. 

Band Saw – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Make sure all guards are in place and properly adjusted.  
• Make sure all band wheels are enclosed.  
• Make sure the wheels and blade are in good condition.  
• Make sure the blade is positioned properly on the track.  
• Adjust blade guard height to about 3 mm or 1/8 inch to 6mm or 1/4 inch above the top of the material being cut. Wider gaps will place tension on the blade and increase the risk of breaking.  
• Ensure the blade is tracking correctly and runs freely in and against the upper and lower guide rollers.  
• Ensure the blade is under proper tension. A band saw equipped with automatic tension control is desirable.  
• Use band saw blades that are sharp, properly set and otherwise suitable for the job (e.g., the right tooth pitch; tooth form; blade width).  
• Keep hands away from the line of the cut and braced against the table.  
• Hold stock firmly and flat on the table to prevent the stock from turning and drawing your fingers against the blade.  
• Use a push stick when you remove cut pieces from between the fence and saw blade or when your hands are close to the blade. Keep your hands on either side of the blade – not in line with the cutting line and the blade.  
• Make release (relief) cuts before tight curves when doing intricate scroll-type work.  
• If you need to stop cutting, hold the material firmly and shut down the saw. Wait for the blade to stop moving before removing the piece.  
• Keep the floor around a band saw clean and free of obstructions or clutter.  
• Keep the machine properly oiled and serviced.  
• Provide adequate lighting at the machine table. A light fixture with a flexible connection can provide essential lighting. 

Beam Saw – General Procedures 

• Authorized Personnel with specific tool training only. 
• Wear appropriate and approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as applicable. 
• Be aware of loose clothing, jewellery, or hair that can cause hazards with the machinery. 
• Make sure your working area is clean and completely unobstructed. 
• Inspect workstation and surrounding area for any potential hazards. 
• Carry out a risk assessment before operating the beam saw. Identify and control any hazards that may be present, including the need for additional PPE and safety equipment. 
• Check that the saw blade is properly installed and tightened before starting the machine. 
• Ensure that the dust extraction system or vacuum cleaner is properly connected to the saw to prevent the accumulation of sawdust. 
• Ensure that the material to be cut is properly secured to prevent it from moving during the cutting process. 
• Adjust the saw blade to the required height and angle, ensuring that it is set to the correct speed for the material being cut. 
• Use push sticks to feed the material through the saw blade. Never use hands to push or guide the material through the saw. 
• Keep your hands and body away from the saw blade and other moving parts of the machine. 
• Stop the machine immediately if there is any abnormal noise or vibration. 
• Turn off the beam saw and disconnect it from the power source when finished. 
• Clean the work area and dispose of sawdust and offcuts safely.