Safe Use and Storage of Tools

Forest School Wales Supporting Forest School provision and learning across Wales

Wood Craft Skills Training Resource: Safe use and storage of tools

These instructions have been adapted from the usual wood craft practice for use in Forest School settings in line with current good Forest School practice as advocated on all Forest School training courses.

Note: The key to safe use of tools is building an awareness and respect for how they work. Practitioners need be aware of their personal space and how their activity affects those around them.

Rasps Bow saw Panel saw Woodlander/Pull saw

Always use tools 2 arms length and a tool away from other people

How Hold handle and use sawing With a partner, saying to me to , to To start, hold the handle and To start, hold the handle and motion forwards and backwards. you to get a rhythm of of forwards pull blade toward you creating pull blade toward you creating and backward motion, then allowing groove. groove. the other to pull. Push and pull the whole length Push and pull the whole Can be used individually with of the blade. length of the blade. someone supporting the log so it Cuts on the push. Cuts mainly on the pull and a stays firm. little on the push. Cuts on the push and pull. Walk Hold handle beside leg with tool Hold like a handbag with blade Place into cover, hold covered Fold blade away from you pointing to the ground. facing downwards part with handle facing until 90 degrees, rest, then downwards and blade facing make sure fingers away from backwards the groove in handle and close blade into handle. Pass Offer handle toward other Keep blade facing down, turn the Keep blade facing down, hold Keep blade facing down, hold

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person handle to offer to the other person top of the tool and turn handle top of the tool and turn handle towards other person towards other person Placed On a clear surface such as Beside you: On a clear space/tool mat On a clear space/tool mat After closed, place in pocket wooden block. where it will not hit other hard objects where it will not hit other hard or return to the tool box with blade facing in and handle facing objects with handle facing out or leaning against a nearby tree forwards and the blade facing inwards or return to the designated place What for Making grooves in wood or Cutting anything bigger than a 2 Cutting seasoned wood. Cutting anything up to approx smoothing rough edges pence piece – small serrated edge Generally wood like ply board 4 inches max. for seasoned wood, spaced serrated or square timber. edge for green wood Glove? No gloves on tool holding hand, No gloves on tool, glove on non-saw No gloves on tool, glove on No gloves on tool, glove on glove on other hand hand non-saw hand non-saw hand Maintenance Keep dry and protected from Keep blade covered when in Keep blade covered when in Keep blade in handle when in banging into other hard objects storage. storage. storage Keep spare blades in container to Oil blade and hinges replace when necessary. Cleaning Brush with soft metal brush Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all Use cloth and gun oil to ensure Use cloth and gun oil to dirt and moisture is off the blade. all dirt and moisture is off the ensure all dirt and moisture is blade. off the blade. Storage Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and air tight container tight container With a protective air tight container With a air tight container sheath/ cover protective sheath/ cover

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Wood Craft Skills Training Resource: Safe use and storage of tools

Japanese pull saw (large Secateurs Butter knife and fixed Fixed blade Knives toothed version). blade potato peeler Always use tools 2 arms length and a tool away from other people

How To start, hold the handle and pull Open safety catch and use like Blade facing away from you on Blade facing away from you on blade toward you creating groove. scissors, using gloved hand to the outside of your wood. the outside of your body. keep wood/vine/small branch Keeping wood between you Push and pull the whole length of the sturdy and the knife. blade. Cuts on the pull only. Walk Hold next to leg with blade facing Close and lock safety catch, Hold blades in gloved hand Sheath until hearing a click, backwards hold blades in gloved hand next to leg with handles facing place in pocket next to leg with handles facing downwards downwards Pass Keep blade facing down, hold top of Hold blades in gloved hand and Hold blades in gloved hand Holding sheathed part, offer the tool and turn handle towards offer handles to other person and offer handles to other handle to person passing to other person person Placed On a clear space/tool mat where it Close and lock safety catch and On a clear space/tool mat In pocket or designated place will not hit other hard objects with place in pocket or return to the where it will not hit other hard handle facing forwards and the blade or designated place objects with handles facing facing inwards or return to tool box forwards and the blade facing behind What for Cutting anything smaller than a 50 Cutting anything smaller than a Whittling small soft sticks, Whittling, peeling bark or cut pence piece. For fine and clean cuts. 2 pence piece peeling bark or cut string string To use on seasoned wood. www.forestschoolwales.org.uk

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Glove? No gloves on tool, glove on non-saw No gloves on tool, glove on No gloves on tool No glove on tool, glove on non- hand non-saw hand knife hand Maintenance Keep blade covered when in storage. Sharpen using diamond Use stick to clear out any wood in Sharpen using sharpening sharpening kit or similar. the blade of the peeler stone and water/oil after each session. Ensure blade is sheathed when not in use. Cleaning Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all Use cloth and gun oil to ensure Use cloth and gun oil to Use cloth and gun oil to ensure dirt and moisture is off the blade. all dirt and moisture is off the ensure all dirt and moisture is all dirt and moisture is off the blade. off the blade. blade. Use long stick with cloth and WD-40 to wipe out any debris inside the sheath Storage Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and Store in small water proof and tight container With a protective air tight container air tight container air tight container With a sheath/ cover protective sheath/ cover

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Forest School Wales Supporting Forest School provision and learning across Wales

Wood Craft Skills Training Resource: Safe use and storage of tools

Rounder/ tennon cutter Spoke shave Draw knife Gauge Always use tools 2 arms length and a tool away from other people

How Have wood gripped in a work Hold handles in either hand Hold handles and cut whilst Blade moving away from the bench/shave horse/vice. Place the with blade facing towards you pulling towards the body. Wood body, bevel facing downwards widest part of the tool over the and pull along surface of to be held securely in shave top of the wood, making sure the secured wood. horse or vice. wood is not greater than the entry size of the tenon cutter and that the top of the tenon is cut squarely. Twist handles in a clockwise direction using both hands with even pressure. Walk Hold one handle next to leg Hold handle facing downwards. Hold handle hanging down with Hold next to leg with blade blade covered. facing downwards. Pass Offer other handle to other person Keep blade facing down, turn Keep blade facing down, turn Keep blade facing down, hold the handle to offer to the other handles and offer them toward top of the tool and turn handle person person towards other person Placed On a clear space/tool mat where it On the shave horse in front of On a clear space/ tool matt On a cover/sheath/tool mat with will not hit other hard objects with you where it will not hit other hard the hook facing inwards and the widest part facing downwards objects. handle facing forwards What for Cutting tenons or dowelling. Shaving, smoothing small areas Shaving rough wood down to Gauging, scalloping and carving. of wood. shape and size

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Glove? No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool Maintenance Use stick to clear out any wood in Use stick to clear out any wood Keep blade covered when in Keep blade covered when in the blade of the peeler in the blade of the peeler storage. storage. Cleaning Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all dirt and moisture is off the blade. dirt and moisture is off the blade. dirt and moisture is off the blade. dirt and moisture is off the blade. Storage Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and tight container air tight container air tight container With a air tight container With a protective sheath/ cover protective sheath/ cover

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Forest School Wales Supporting Forest School provision and learning across Wales

Wood Craft Skills Training Resource: Safe use and storage of tools

Hand drill Brace and bit Auger Power drill Always use tools 2 arms length and a tool away from other people

How Secure wood. Choose appropriate Place bit into wood, apply With a partner, or in a group, Clamp wood down. Choose sized bit. Place bit into wood, apply pressure onto handle and place lead screw onto wood and appropriate sized bit. Place bit pressure onto top handle and rotate rotate arm of brace clockwise. move in a clockwise direction. into wood, ensure appropriate moving handle of drill clockwise. Avoid bending lead screw, Avoid bending lead screw. Can speed is chosen, apply Using lip and spur bits Using auger bits with a lead be used on your own with pressure onto top drill as it screw. someone supporting the work bores into wood piece so it stays firm Walk Hold handle next to leg with bit If using a seasoned wood If using a seasoned wood cover, Lock drill. Hold next to leg facing backwards cover, twist into cover and twist into cover and hold handle with bit facing down hold handle next to leg. If next to leg. If not, then hold not, then hold handle with bit handle with bit facing downwards facing downwards Pass Hold the wheel and offer the handle Hold just above the bit and Hold just below the handle and Hold top of drill with bit facing to other person offer the handle to other offer the handle to other person down wards and offer the person handle to other person Placed On a clear space/tool mat where it On a clear space/tool mat On a clear space/tool mat where Standing up on flat surface will not hit other hard where it will not hit other hard it will not hit other hard objects/surface with handle facing objects/surface with handle objects/surface with handle forwards or return to designated facing forwards or return to facing forwards or return to place designated place designated place What for Drilling through discs, drift wood Drilling holes through logs of Drilling holes through logs of .75- Drilling pilot holes, mortises, and other thin pieces of wood 0.3-2 inches wide 3 inches wide holes through discs, driftwood;

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screwing in screws; boring shallow holes Glove? No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool Maintenance Oil cogs with WD-40 weekly Keep bit covered when not in Some augers will already have a Do not use in wet weather. use. Suggestion: use a plastic cover for the end of the Charge batteries regularly. seasoned wood cover. bit. Alternatively use a seasoned Remove bits after use. Always protect the lead screw wood cover. Always protect the and cutters well. lead screw and cutters well. Cleaning Remove bit and blow out any dust Use cloth and gun oil to Use cloth and gun oil to ensure Remove bit and blow out any caught in bit holder. Use cloth and ensure all dirt and moisture is all dirt and moisture is off the dust caught in bit chuck. Use gun oil to ensure all dirt and off the tool. tool. cloth and gun oil to ensure all moisture is off the tool. dirt and moisture is off the tool. Storage Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and tight container air tight container With a tight container With a protective air tight container protective sheath/ cover sheath/ cover

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Wood Craft Skills Training Resource: Safe use and storage of tools

Bill hook Axe Froe Wedges Always use tools 2 arms length and a tool away from other people

How Blade moving away from the Blade moving away from the Hold blunt blade parallel to front Place into a log that has body, hook facing downwards body, facing downwards. Keep of the body and use mallet to already been split slightly. Use wood between you and the axe drive into wood. As it splits, use maul to drive into log. Add at all times. If used for splitting handle as a leaver to split wood another wedge to the split that hold parallel to front of the further. Hold in a cleaving break appears further down the log – body, use mallet to drive blade if large log. continue until log is completely into wood split Walk Hold next to leg with hook facing Place cover on or hold handle Hold handle just below blade Hold top of wedge with blade backwards just below blade next to leg next to leg with blade facing facing downwards with blade facing backwards backwards Pass Keep blade facing down, hold top Keep blade facing down, hold Keep blade facing down, hold Hold side of wedge and offer of the tool and turn handle top of the tool and turn handle top of the tool and turn handle flat end to other person towards other person towards other person towards other person Placed On a cover/sheath/tool mat with On a cover/sheath/tool mat On surface with the blade facing On a cover/sheath/tool mat the hook facing inwards and the with the blade facing inwards inwards and the handle facing with the blade facing handle facing forwards and the handle facing forwards forwards, or return to designated backwards place What for Snedding or splitting wood or Cleave (split) wood or cutting , Splitting/ cleaving wood Splitting logs brash small twigs of branches shaving or hewing rough wood. Glove? No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool Maintenance Sharpen using sharpening stone Sharpen using sharpening stone Ensure handle is tightly fitted to Sharpen using sharpening and water after each session. and water after each session. blade stone and water. ( The tools www.forestschoolwales.org.uk

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Ensure blade is covered when in Ensure blade is covered when aim is to split and not to cut storage. in storage. wood).

Cleaning Use cloth and gun oil to ensure all Use cloth and gun oil to ensure Use cloth and gun oil to ensure Use cloth and gun oil to ensure dirt and moisture is off the blade. all dirt and moisture is off the all dirt and moisture is off the all dirt and moisture is off the blade. blade. blade.

Storage Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and tight container With a protective air tight container With a air tight container air tight container sheath/ cover protective sheath/ cover

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Forest School Wales Supporting Forest School provision and learning across Wales

Wood Craft Skills Training Resource: Safe use and storage of tools

Hammer Mallet Maul Clamps Always use tools 2 arms length and a tool away from other people

How Hold at bottom of handle, tap Hold handle and hit froes, axes or Hold with two hands and lift G Clamp: turn anti-clockwise nail until secured, then hit with gauges into wood. above head bringing heavy top to open, fit over wood and flat surface of hammer on nail. down onto wedge work bench, turn clockwise to Use back of claw hammer to pull tighten. bent nails out. Quick clamp: Squeeze trigger to release, fit onto wood and work bench, squeeze handle to tighten Walk Hold top of tool next to leg with Hold handle of tool next to leg Hold handle of tool near the Hold top of tool with tool handle facing downwards with head facing downwards head with the head facing lengthways next to leg downwards Pass Hold top of tool and offer the Hold top of tool and offer the Hold top of tool and offer the Hold movable parts and offer handle to the other person handle to the other person handle to the other person stable parts to other person Placed On surface with handle facing On ground or surface with handle On ground surface with handle On flat surface or return to back wards. Or return to facing back wards. Or return to facing back wards or leaning designated place designated place. designated place. against a tree/stump. Or return to designated place. What for Hammering nails into wood To provide a force to tools that To drive wedges into logs for Clamping wood to stabilise or split wood. To hammer wooden splitting secure it. pegs into ground. Glove? No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool No gloves on tool

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Maintenance Keep returning to designated Remove any loose bits of wood Place wedges of wood into any Spray moveable parts with WD- place gaps that appear between the 40 once a month handle and the head to secure it Cleaning Wipe with gun oil and cloth once No need to clean No need to clean Wipe with gun oil and cloth a month to keep from rusting once a month to keep from rusting Storage Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and air Store in large water proof and Store in large water proof and air tight container tight container air tight container air tight container