Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
safety while turning
John K Jordan
This was posted on another forum (thanks Roger Chandler). Many may have seen this article but it is worth reading for those who have not. I hadn't.
Roger wrote: "This is an excellent article from a survivor, and how she now deals with the danger of things flying off the lathe."
http://lynneyamaguchi.com/Yamaguchi_SafetyMatters.pdf
JKJ
Re: safety while turning
Julian Roslanowski
Good article. The riot helmet/shield sounds like a much better option than any face shield I have been able to find.
still have to transfer energy....
Geoff Whaling
A riot helmet may very well offer a higher level of protection to the head & face, however you still have to transfer / dissipate the impact energy to somewhere. It doesn't simply disappear.
More chance of secondary injuries to neck or from the turner being knocked to the ground and injured in the resuting fall or striking say the corner of a bandsaw / tablesaw table on the way down.
Best not to get hit in the first place by turning at safe speeds and using higher levels protections such as sound turning practices, robust mounting techniques, inspecting blanks etc.
Re: still have to transfer energy....
Roy Girolami
I have always used the guard on my PM 3520 and don't find it getting in the way. I see so many videos on Youtube with the guard removed.
Roy
Re: still have to transfer energy....
john lucas
I threw the 3520 guard away the first week I had the machine. What a pain.
safety cage
John K Jordan
One guy said he painted the cage matte black which made it less visually distracting. This was something suggested in an AAW magazine.
JKJ
Re: safety cage
john lucas
I thought about using mine for a barbecue grill.
Those burgers would have to be.....
JamieDonaldson
...giant size to not slip between the bars! 
Re: safety while turning
Barry Irby
Glad to know Lynn is on the mend.
I have had a piece fly off the lathe and catch me dead center of the forehead. I was reaching for the switch with my left hand and the face shield with the right. Got ahead of myself. I was much luckier than Lynn. 27 stitches and I was back home. An inch lower and I could have lost an eye.
I believe Lynn has sort of over calculated this. Figured "impact" against a rigid stationary target. I think the impact would have been less than the calculations indicated. And I believe any face shield is better than none. That said, that's no excuse not wear a good one.
I have wondered about using a catchers mask or something similar under a plastic shield or a chainsaw mask. Or, how about doubling the plastic on a cheap shield?
