TONGUE & GROOVE 3 WING CUTTER

Spindle Safety

Spindle cutters can potentially be dangerous and should deserve your attention and respect.

Use push sticks or a push block to position your hands a safe distance from the spindle cutter.

Never climb-cut. Always feed the stock against the rotation of the cutter (see illustration).

Avoid moulding small stock. Instead, mould a larger piece and cut it to size afterwards.

Always use a guard. If the fence didn’t come with a guard, make your own.

Never start the spindle with the cutter in contact with the material.

Don’t force the cutter or overload the machine. Excessive heat is an enemy.

The spindle moulder needs to have a power feeder or feather boards fitted to apply sufficient feeding pressure.

Fit the cutter on the lowest point of the spindle shaft.

Be sober and not under the influence of medicine that causes a lack of concentration.

Make sure the spacer rings on the spindle shaft are locked in place correctly.

Tidy up your workshop to ensure the ability to move freely with enough room around the spindle moulder.

consider safety for your health and the people around you
General safety suggestions: It is advisable to always have the following items nearby and in a good condition Eye protection – clean and scratch free Hearing protection – quality earmuffs Dust masks – discard old and dirty masks Gloves – for easy handling of material and hand protection
Wear Gloves	Eye Protection	Hearing Protection	Dust Mask

To use spindle cutters safely (and to get the best results from your spindle), the cutters need to be installed properly on the spindle shaft. Improper installation of your cutter can cause excessive chatter and could increase the likelihood that the bits will break when in use. There is also a risk of having the cutter 'cold welded' to the spindle shaft.

First of all, before beginning any moulding operation, check your cutter to make sure that it is clean and most of all, sharp. If the bit is dull, chipped, is excessively burnt or has any other defect, it should be sharpened or replaced before use.