It Is Essential To Keep Your Shop Clean

Woodworking is a very enjoyable hobby but there are some very important factors to consider while you work. Your health and safety are at risk if you don't keep a clean workshop. Here are some important tips.

As you looking around, you will see that no matter how hard you clean, sawdust and other debris will collect in every possible place. For example, look at your table saw: filthy, isn't it? The best way to clean it is to spend about $15 for a can of WD-40, a rag and a can of Butcher's wax. Apply the WD-40 to the table saw and wipe clean with the rag. Now apply the Butcher's wax for a great shine that will help repel debris. Your table saw will look like new longer.

Now that you are done with your table saw, look at your other saw blades. If they are coated with resin, buy some Resin Remover produced by Woodcraft. This product is recommended because it does not produce harmful fumes. Soak your saw blades in a plastic tub filled with the Resin Remover. You can stack up several blades and separate them with pieces of wood or washers to avoid scratching. If you let them soak overnight, your blades will be resin free.

Of course, you must take care of more than saw blades to keep your workshop clean. The next areas to attack are your belt sanders. All you have to do is buy a belt and disc cleaner at your hardware store. The cleaner only costs about $5 and it works while your sander is running. So you can actually create something while you are cleaning.

Now that you have taken care of these common woodworking tools, it's time to take care of the rest. Grab a broom and a dust pan, then a mop and a bucket and take care of those floors. If the dirt is really bad, you may want to use a shop vacuum or a power washer. These really do a good job. If you can't afford one, perhaps you can borrow one from a neighbor or rent one.

One easily overlooked way to keep your workshop clean is to control the clutter. Use baby food jars to sort nails and screws. One handy way to do this is to nail the lids to the jars onto a wall or perhaps on a low ceiling and simply screw the bottles onto the lids.

Be sure to have a place to keep your wood neatly stacked and sorted. Also take minutes to clean up your mess each time you finish work. Those five minutes can save you many hours of clean up work later.

Keeping your workshop clean will not only keep you safe, it will also result in a workshop you can be proud to show your family and friends.