Power Tools

If you’ve been avoiding using your power tools due to vision loss, this workshop is custom made with you in mind. Armed with these tips to help you safely use your power tools again, you’ll be working on that project you’ve been putting off in no time.

First some general tips. To begin with, give yourself time to do these jobs safely. Try to be patient with yourself and realize that some projects may take you a bit longer now than they had in the past.

Now, always, always, always, keep your work area well lit. This goes for anything you try to do with low vision, not just working with power tools. You can use an adjustable lamp with a gooseneck that can clamp onto the workbench. Or use an adjustable floor lamp on wheels that can be moved to different work areas. And be sure to adjust the light to avoid casting shadows on your work. The better the lighting, the easier to see what you’re doing.

And keep in mind, a lot of these tips are things that should be done no matter your level of vision, like wearing safety glasses whenever you’re using power tools. It’s also a good idea to wear ear protection and a dust mask or face covering to protect your ears and lungs. And if you check out our resource section, you’ll find a checklist of other things you can do to keep yourself safe when working with your tools.

Remember to keep a safe working distance from your tools. Getting too close to see what the machine is doing while it is operating can be dangerous. In addition to your vision, you can use your sense of hearing and touch. You’ll hear if wood has been cut through and feel the drill as it moves to make a hole.

You’ll want to make sure you can easily find the off switch on the tool. That way you can quickly turn it off in case of an emergency. Use contrasting colored tape or a mark you can feel to help make it easier to find those switches. It’s also a good idea to mark the most commonly used settings on the tools. Check out our labeling series for ideas for different ways to do that.

Keep track of the cord by plugging your tool into an extension cord and draping the cord over your shoulder so it falls behind you. This helps you keep track of the cord at all times. And be sure to use an extension cord that is as thick or thicker than the cord of the power tool. This avoids problems with the extension cord overheating. And using a clamp helps hold items in place as you work on them.

Now, some projects on your list may require the use of a drill. To keep your drill straight when drilling a hole, you’ll want to use a drill guide. You can find them online or at home improvement stores. You can also create your own drill guide by using a sewing bobbin or empty spool of thread. Take a look in the resource section for instructions on how to do this.

If your project involves using a circular saw, here are some useful tips. If you mark the line you want to cut with an awl, scribe, or marking knife, you can feel it. This may be easier to follow than relying on a pencil line or dark marker, which is easier to see but may show up on your finished piece.

To keep the line straight, run the awl or flat side of the knife alongside a combination square or ruler. And place masking or painter's tape that contrasts with the wood next to the line on the waste side of the wood to help you find the blade line easier.

Using a jig or guide will make it easier to cut several pieces of wood the same length and width. They could also be used for cutting just one piece of wood. You can find jigs and guides online, at home improvement stores, or create your own.

Now, there may be times when you have to use a table saw. For instance, if cutting free hand becomes a challenge. For this, of course, you’ll want to keep your fingers safely away from the saw blade at all times. So, use a push block when making a rip cut. The push block pushes the wood you want to feed into the blade while keeping your hand a safe distance away. It also helps keep the board flat which prevents kickback. Now, you may have heard the rule to use a push device if the distance between the fence and blade is less than six inches. But, someone with vision loss should always use a push block no matter the distance. Check out our resource section for an example of a push block.

Another way to prevent kickback when using a table saw is to use feather boards to keep the wood snug against the rip fence when feeding it into the blade. Feather boards are a set of flexible slats used to firmly hold the wood next to the fence. When making a rip cut in wood that is a foot or less in length, you can also lightly hold onto the corner of the table with your nondominant hand to keep it away from the blade.

If you’re unfamiliar or unsure of any of these techniques, practice setting everything up and using them when the saw is turned off. This way you’ll become familiar with where the pieces of the saw and equipment are located and feel more confident about what you’re doing before turning it on.

As always, contact a learning expert if you have questions about this or your own power tool tips to share. As with anything new, give yourself time, patience and practice and you’ll get there.