Safety is always an ongoing concern in the construction industry. There have been many fatalities over the years and countless injuries that could have been prevented with awareness. Though situations like these have decreased over the years, accidents still happen. Accidents can be prevented by following general safety norms, especially if you are working with sharp blades like Starrett cutting blades.

In this blog, we will detail the safety rules and handling tips that must be followed to ensure that construction is done smoothly without injuries. Starrett cutting blades are known for their sharpness and provide excellent cuts, which is why you must know how to handle them.

How to handle and store Starrett Cutting Blades

Most accidents when using hardware tools occur because of some malfunction in the tool itself. This is why it is very important to take care of your tools, to maintain them, and to store them properly. Construction workers use and transport their tools regularly which is where most of the damage occurs. If you want to keep injuries to a minimum, you have to prevent the tools from getting damaged. Here are some ways you can prevent your Starrett cutting blades from getting damaged during transportation:

• The best way to prevent damage to the blade’s teeth is to buffer two blades with a cardboard sheet. It is important to remove the cardboard sheet in due time to protect against humidity and, thus corrosion.
• You can also apply teeth wax. It helps protect the teeth against rubbing each other, thus preventing damage.
• Another way to prevent teeth damage in Starrett cutting blades is by adding plastic protection strips between them to reduce friction.
• If the storage unit’s surface is made of wood or rubber, you should drag your blades out against them. Otherwise, you should pick your blade up and transport it.

Safety rules for Starrett Cutting Blades

A lot of the time, negligence is the number one reason behind accidents when using cutting blades. Therefore, it is important to know your tools well so that you can take effective measures against getting injured. Below you will find safety measures against respective blades to provide you with maximum protection.

Bandsaw blades

Bandsaw blades are popular when it comes to Starrett cutting blades. They come in various sizes, with separate models for different materials. Here are the safety rules you should follow when using bandsaw blades:

• Always check the blade before installing it on your machine. If it is chipped or broken, do not use it.
• Ensure that the upper guide and guard are at least 1/4th inch close to the material you’re going to use them on.
• If the blade breaks in between the job, immediately switch off the machine and discontinue use.
• Make sure that the speed you work with is moderate so it doesn’t wear out the blade.
• In case the saw stops functioning, turn the machine off and reverse the saw manually.

Reciprocating Saws

A lot of the safety rules of reciprocating saws are similar to bandsaw blades. For example, ensuring that the right blade is attached to the machine is one. Then there’s the fact that damaged blades should not be used to cut materials and if the blade halts in the middle of the job, stopping and fixing the problem is the best thing to do. But here are some more safety rules for reciprocating saws:

• Make sure that the length of the blade fits the purpose. If it is too long, chances are it may not cut properly. On the other hand, if it is too short, it may not give you enough control and reach while working.
• You can prolong your blade’s life and improve their efficiency by lubricating them regularly. You can use wood wax to reduce friction and provide smooth cuts.
• Control the amount of pressure you put on your blade. If you put a lot of pressure, you will end up with slower cuts and it also may deflect the blade and reduce its lifespan.
• Use precision blocks or guiding blocks for stability, which in turn, will help you cut better and more precisely.

Conclusion

In the above segment, we understood the individual ways through which Starrett cutting blades can be operated so that injuries are prevented. However, while you can do everything right, sometimes a slip of the hand is the end of it all. This is why you should also follow general safety rules as well while working with Starret cutting blades:

• Always wear safety gloves when using bandsaws and reciprocating blades.
• Make sure that you inspect the blades and machine properly before you put them to use.
• The material that you want to cut should be clamped firmly to the surface to prevent accidental slips.

Safety is also guaranteed when you use tools that are designed to keep your safety in mind. Tools which you will find at the stores of reliable hardware tools suppliers in UAE such as FK Tools.