Thread: How many turners wear Face Shields?

I use a high-impact rated faceshield that has a chin guard. I've always worn a faceshield, even when pen turning.

I've only ever had one formal lesson on using the lathe, from the woodwork teacher at work. But before he took me through the basics of turning, he made me sit an online lathe safety course, which amongst other things emphasised the necessity for eye and face protection. I guess that has stuck with me. I value my eyesight more than I value looking cool (not that anyone ever sees me turn).

Actually, that is the real reason I use a full faceshield; I turn alone, often with no-one else around in the house or property. If anything were to come off the lathe and hit me, I'm not likely to have anyone around to help me. So anything that minimises injury and increases the chances of me helping myself is a good thing to be using.

Cheers, Mike

Mobyturns, this would make a good topic for a Poll. That way you won't have to trawl the threads to get the data.

FWIW, I wear an Armadillo for wood and metal turning.

Personally I believe that every turner should be wearing a full face shield.

Before I started in wood turning I was not sure I wanted to take up wood turning. The face shield that I purchase could be considered as cheap in price. I used it for quite a while and found that it was not giving me protection of shavings coming under the shield. To compensate for this I found that I was tilting my head forward which would mean the top of my head would be exposed.

I have swapped to using a fuller face shield that covers the neck and comes under the chin, the Armadillo is the one that I have.

I have kept the original face shield as a secondary to be used when someone is instructing a new turner. Like just the other day I had a friend in the garage doing some turning, he wore the Armadillo and I was wearing the original. I was not doing any turning just watching over him.

Now I might be digressing a little bit but I think it is relevant.
On Sunday I attended my wood turning meeting and one of our members had a cut and some bruising under his eye. The roughing spindle gouge had broken at the tang and flew back which struck him on the face. He confirmed that from now on he will be wearing his face shield at the lathe.

I need to wear prescription glasses now as my vision is secombing to "old age". All through my time in the trade using power tools and machinery of all kinds, I find that I "need" to look at the cutting tool to make accurate cuts. Growing up in an era where PPE was not compulsory I just never got into the habit of using PPE. Now, as I said, I need to where glasses to see up close I find a full face shield is not comfortable for me to see clearly enough to work. (Thankfully) As yet I haven't had many unwanted smacks in the face from what I am working on. Sanding can be a little annoying with the fine dust wanting to get on the glasses. I also have Tinnitus and so wearing ear muffs is really annoying between tasks when you turn a tool/machine off, the quietness is what I don't like and have to have the radio on as back ground noise.

These days the majority of my turning is just pens. I dont use a face shield only safety glasses. I do have an Armadillo shield hanging near the lathe ready for bigger jobs.

Many years ago a face shield saved me from a potentially serious injury. A bowl that I was turning, exploded and I copped the full force of about 1/4 of it into the faceshield, the force of it gave me a sore nose, lucky I had the shield on, it was a "Protector Safety" shield, rather flimsy compared to an Armadillo, but still saved me.
That day I vowed to always wear one for lathe work. I have relaxed for pen turning, but not for anything larger.

i dont turn without one i have one close call when i first started turning. Ever since then dont start my lathe with out one on

i use the Bionic

Originally Posted by chambezio

I need to wear prescription glasses now as my vision is secombing to "old age". All through my time in the trade using power tools and machinery of all kinds, I find that I "need" to look at the cutting tool to make accurate cuts. Growing up in an era where PPE was not compulsory I just never got into the habit of using PPE. Now, as I said, I need to where glasses to see up close I find a full face shield is not comfortable for me to see clearly enough to work. (Thankfully) As yet I haven't had many unwanted smacks in the face from what I am working on. Sanding can be a little annoying with the fine dust wanting to get on the glasses. I also have Tinnitus and so wearing ear muffs is really annoying between tasks when you turn a tool/machine off, the quietness is what I don't like and have to have the radio on as back ground noise.

Could you give a bit on info on the type of shield you were using. Was it an acrylic (flexible) or poly carbonate (rigid) shield. I'm interested as optical clarity is one item I should have mentioned.

I use both 3m safety glasses and a UVEX face shield for wood turning. The UVEX is nice because they also make a #5 filter that can be used for oxy acetylene torch work.

I use an Airshield pro.

Thankyou for starting this thread.

I've been slack about wearing ppe in the past.

A couple of close calls and reading about Lynne Yamaguchi's accident have changed my thinking.

http://www.lynneyamaguchi.com/wordpr...8/an-accident/

It's not just beginners who have accidents.

Standing out of the line of fire is no defence for not wearing a faceshield.

Even a small chip in the eye can cause majar damage.

Faceshields are cheap so why risk it?

Steve.

I wear a cheap face shield except when I have forgotten to buy a replacement lens when the used one gets too scratched or covered with superglue to see through. My spectacles are bullet proof.
I've been hurt only once, and since then, my cheapie shield has saved me from hurt more than a few times.

Moby, i have found a lot of limitations with face shields for my individual situation. I run a 600mm fan beside the lathe and found the wind from it used to blow debris behind the shield into my glasses and there was always static buildup on the shield. I did notice distortion with some of the models. I found that foam lined Uvex goggles with my dust masks suited me better and I have almost eliminated the fogging of my glasses on our very humid days. But in saying that, for any work on my spark grinders, linishing belts or especially with the wire buffing wheels I use a safety cap with a face shield from my chainsaw. I personally have found this is more comfortable for my boofhead than the faceshields you mentioned. It has a lambswool liner and the harness rubs less on my bald scone.
Never say never, but with the variable speed on my lathe and careful attention to where I stand and listening to what the wood and tools are telling me, I hope this keeps me out of real harms way. Just my $0.20 worth.
rgds,
Crocy.

I use a Helmet with built in ear protection and face screen,sold by Husqvarna. Its designed for chainsaw work. Im always wearing a mask and hearing protection anyway and the tip up face shield works for me. Somebody asked me if the screen bothers me, its like watching a sporting event through a chain link fence,just concentrate on the players.

When I am turning pens or other small spindles, I wear only prescription safety glasses. When I turn anything bigger, I wear Armadillo (in addition to safety prescription glasses), very comfortable, thanks nz_carver for putting me onto this faceshield.

Wait till Evanism sees this thread, he has good arguments to prove that the mask should be worn at all times near the working lathe. I was quickly convinced...