¶ Introduction
This page is intended to give an overview of the Wood Shop here at Open Works. It is a helpful resource for beginners looking to expand their knowledge, and can also serve as a reminder for more experienced users.
¶ Community workshop culture
The shops here are a shared space, with a community of users at all different experience levels. Open Works strives to foster a welcoming environment where folks feel comfortable asking questions and learning. Community Technicians are also available to help and answer questions about any tools or processes you are unfamiliar with. It is always better to ask questions than use a tool in an unsafe way. Even experts sometimes need to be reminded of good habits!
¶ Shop Etiquette
- The Wood Shop is a shared space, so please be mindful of others working.
- Pay attention to the area around and behind you before you begin work.
- Do not distract anyone using a machine.
No food or drinks allowed in Wood Shop!
¶ Cleanup
Everyone is expected to clean up after themselves during and after using any shops, labs, or classrooms. Use the brooms and other cleaning supplies provided to clean your work station as you go. Turn off machines and return tools to their storage location after each use. Community Technicians will ask you to begin cleaning up 30 minutes prior to closing. Please be mindful that we share this space with everyone and its all of our responsibilities to keep things neat and orderly.
¶ Shop Access
A membership or day pass, and safety classes are required to use the machines and tools in this shop.
-
- Gives you access to the Wood Shop and the following machines:
- Miter Saw
- Bandsaw
- Hand tools
- Power Hand Tools
- Drill press
- Scroll saw
- Table saw
-
Wood 2: Joiner, Planer & Router
- Gives you access to the jointer, planer, and router table.
-
- Gives you access to the lathe.
¶ Wood Shop Hours
Before your visit, please ensure the Wood Shop is open for use. There are no reservations required to use the tools and machines in the shop, however the shop is closed for general use when there are classes and special events booked in the space.
The shop's weekly class schedule and other closures will be posted on the shop door and communicated via email. Please plan accordingly.
Community Technicians will ask you to begin cleaning up 30 minutes prior to closing so please allot extra time in your schedule if you plan to work in the shop until closing.
¶ Tools
The machines in the Wood Shop are available on a first-come first-serve basis. However, in order to budget time fairly, please talk to a Community Technician if you are planning a large project or have an important deadline.
The lathe is the only machine in the Wood Shop which requires reservation.
¶ Stationary and Benchtop machines
Bandsaw and Resaw Bandsaw
Drill Press
Dust Collection and Compressed Air
Frame Cutter
Jointer
Miter Saw
Planer
Router Table
Scroll Saw
Stationary Sanders
- Edge sander (horizontal belt)
- Vertical belt and disc sander
- Spindle sander
- Drum sander
¶ Power Hand Tools
Biscuit Joiner
Circular Saw
Handheld Routers
- Plunge Router
- Trim Router
Jig Saw
Sanders
Track Saw
And More!
¶ Hand Tools
Chisels
Hammers
Jigs & Templates
Metal detector
Moisture Meter
Planes
Squares, Triangles, and other measuring devices
And More!!
¶ Tool families
¶ Curved cuts
| Tool name | best for | worst for |
|---|---|---|
| Band Saw | curved cuts | interior cuts and really large pieces |
| Scroll Saw | small pieces, sharp turns, and interior cuts | thick material |
| Jig Saw | large panels and interior cuts | small panels and thick material |
| Laser Cutter | making identical pieces | thick material |
¶ Straight cuts
| Tool name | best for | worst for |
|---|---|---|
| Table Saw | long length cuts in already milled lumber | cutting unstable objects |
| Miter Saw | small-medium-large cross cuts | long length cuts |
| Band Saw | medium length cuts and cross cuts, resawing | wide panels |
| Circular saw | long length cuts in panels that are hard to clamp | high precision tasks |
| Track saw | long length cuts in panels | ??? |
¶ Surfacing
| Tool name | best for | worst for |
|---|---|---|
| Jointer | irregular wood that needs a good face | thick cuts |
| Planer | wood that has a good face and needs a parallel face | thick cuts |
| Drum Sander | removing tool marks left by the jointer and planer | medium-thick cuts |
| Orbital sander | smoothing out irregularities on otherwise finished pieces | making perfectly flat things |
| Disc sander | cross grain sanding | large pieces |
| Vertical belt sander | small-medium pieces | ??? |
| Horizontal belt sander | big/long pieces | small pieces |
| Spindle sander | interior surfaces | straight/flat surfaces |
¶ Machine Reservations
You can make machine reservations in the following ways:
Click to expand
- In person at the front desk
- Reserve a machine any time through our Mind Body Portal.
- Call the front desk during business hours at (410) 862-0424.
- Email us at frontdesk@openworksbmore.com. Please include your name, the machine you'd like to reserve, and the date(s) and times of the reservation(s).
¶ Consumables
Please use frugally and only take what you need!
- Biscuits for biscuit joiners.
- Basic wood screws.
- Staples.
- Nails.
- Brad nails.
- Glue (Titebond 1).
- Sandpaper - including sheets for orbital sanders.
- Scrollsaw blades.
- Scrap left by other members.
¶ Materials available for purchase
- plywood in various thicknesses
¶ Suppliers
¶ Milled Hardwood
R. Thomas Frock Lumber
2730 Loch Raven Road, Baltimore, MD 21218
410-243-9322
FreeState Timbers
9572 Deereco Road, Timonium, MD 21093
410-561-9444
¶ Sheet Goods
Chesapeake Plywood
3400 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213
410-469-6049
¶ Reclaimed Materials
Almanac
1303 W Hamburg St, Baltimore, MD 21230
443-840-0444
Second Chance
1700 Ridgely Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-385-1700
The Loading Dock
2 North Kresson Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
410-558-3625
Housewerks Salvage
1415 Bayard Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-685-8047
¶ Materials
¶ Hardwoods
Tropical and exotic Species.
Domestic Species.
Logs, Slabs, & Green Wood- Use a moisture meter to make sure moisture content is below 10% before using on the table saw in order to prevent SawStop misfires.
¶ Softwoods
Framing Lumber - Use a moisture meter to make sure moisture content is below 10% before using on the table saw in order to prevent SawStop misfires.
Reclaimed Lumber - remove paint, varnish, or other finishes. Scan carefully for nails with the metal detector
Pressure Treated wood is banned.
¶ Composites
Plywood.
OSB & Particle Board - Use a moisture meter to make sure moisture content is below 10% before using on the table saw in order to prevent SawStop misfires.
MDF & Hardboard
Any material treated with formeldayhe.
¶ Tool table
| Tool | Hardwoods | Softwoods | Composites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table Saw | |
|
|
| Router | |
|
|
| Planer | |
|
|
| Jointer | |
|
|
| Drill Press | |
|
|
| Lathe | |
|
|
| Sanders | |
|
|
| Band Saw | |
|
|
Open Works allows but does not encourage the use of reclaimed wood. Any reclaimed wood must be inspected by the member with a metal detector (provided) and reviewed by a Community Technician before processing.
The following materials are NOT permitted in the Wood Shop:
• Reclaimed wood containing metal.
• Materials containing or coated with lead or lead-based paint.
• Any pre-finished woods (for example: finished flooring, old bar tops, etc.).
• Pressure treated wood.
• Foam.
• Metal.
• Glass.
• PVC and vinyl.
¶ Safety
¶ Proper Attire and Protective Gear
- As in all of the shops, sturdy, close-toed shoes must be worn at all times for traction and stability, and to protect your feet.
- Long hair, jewelry, and loose clothing must be tied back to prevent getting caught in moving parts.
- Safety glasses: Due to the risk of flying debris, safety glasses should be worn in the Wood Shop at all times. Regular eyeglasses can be warn in lieu of safety glasses or underneath them.
- Earmuffs: While machines are running, the volume in the shop can reach in excess of 100 decibels, which can cause permanent hearing damage after just 15 minutes of exposure.
- Ear protection is not required, but highly recommended, and provided to borrow at the entrance to the shop.
- Respiratory safety: The Wood Shop is equipped with a dust collection and air filtration system to remove debris and particles from the work area. However, fine particles created by cutting and milling certain woods and composite materials are still airborne and can cause allergies and serious long-term health problems. Wear a dust mask or a NIOSH certified respirator to reduce your exposure.
¶ Fire Safety
¶ Extinguisher and First Aid Kit Location
Click to see a map of the wood shop!
The fire extinguisher is located on the wall near the entrance to the shop.
The first aid kit is located on the wall near the entrance to the shop. It includes bandages and basic first aid supplies for minor cuts and scrapes.
¶ Other Hazards
Dust is the biggest fire hazard in the Wood Shop. Please make sure the dust collection is ON and the blast gate for the tool you are using is OPEN. If you smell burning sawdust, stop work immediately and locate the source. For the table saw, the culprit is usually dust build up in the cabinet around the motor; for other machines, location of dust build up may vary. Ask a tech for assistance in cleaning machines out.
See Emergency Procedures page for more detailed emergency protocols.
¶ Project Storage
The availability of project storage depends on which area you are working in, intend to leave it in, and how many other people are storing a project there.
The best place to store a project is, if you have a microstudio, in your microstudio or to rent additional storage. It is also possible to get daily or temporary storage- ask for availability at the front desk.
The areas upstairs do not offer in-shop storage.
Downstairs, the Wood Shop, Digital Fabrication, and Metal Shop do offer some limited in-shop storage. To store a project in these areas you MUST get a Project Tag signed off by a Community Technician.
Projects without proper tags and approval will be thrown out.
¶ Reference Guides and General Assistance
Open Works strives to foster a welcoming environment where folks feel comfortable asking questions and learning.
Apart from this Wiki, manuals and other reference materials are on or near each machine in the shops. You can also look up each machine page in this wiki for general guides and reference information.
¶ Community Technicians
Community Technicians are available to help and answer questions about any tools or processes you are unfamiliar with. It is always better to ask questions than use a tool in an unsafe way. Even experts sometimes need to be reminded of good habits!
¶ Video Walkthroughs
¶ Glossary
Bevel: A type of vertical angled cut. Can be made on the miter saw, table saw, and others with appropriate sleds, jigs, or adjustments.
Binding: An occurrence when a saw blade is pinched within the stock, caused by a number of factors. Binding is dangerous and may cause kickback.
Bit: The interchangeable cutting tool used in a drill or router to remove material. There are many different sizes and shapes of bits for specific applications.
Blast: gate A valve used to focus the dust collection system's vacuum pressure, by closing off the ductwork except to the machine in use.
Chuck: The fitting on a drill or router spindle that holds the bit in place.
Collet: The sleeve or collar that holds a bit inside the chuck on the router table.
Composite: A type of man-made material that contains wood and various adhesives and preservative chemicals. Plywood, MDF, and particle board are all examples of composite materials.
Conductive: Having the property of conducting electricity, for example: wet wood, moisture, metal, or skin.
Crosscut: A type of cut across the grain of a piece of wood. Often used to break down sheet material.
Dado: A shallow channel cut part-way into the thickness of a piece for joinery. Also refers to the stacked blade set used on the table saw to make this type of cut.
E-stop: The emergency stop button or kill-switch. Always know the location of the E-stop before turning on a machine.
Fence: A guard or wall on various machines used to support the workpiece and guide it through a cut. Often adjustable for different cutting operations.
Jig: A specialized accessory for certain tools designed to support a piece for a particular cutting operation. There are jigs available for the table saw, drill press.
Kerf: The thickness of the blade - this amount of material will be removed from the workpiece and should be accounted for when planning a cut.
Kickback: An occurrence when stock is unexpectedly propelled back towards the operator at high speed. It can cause serious, even fatal injury, or it can pull the operator’s hand into the tool. It is important to understand and minimize the causes of kickback.
Milling: The process of jointing, planing, and sawing rough lumber into flat, square, usable material.
Miter cut: A type of horizontal angled cut. Can be made on the miter saw, table saw, and others with appropriate sleds, jigs, or adjustments.
Miter gauge: A type of fence used for making angled cuts on various machines.
Offcut: The piece of material left over after a cut. They should be removed safely from the work area and discarded in either the scrap bins or the trash.
Push stick/block/pad: An accessory used with several machines to help guide material through a cut, while protecting the operator's hands and keeping them a safe distance from the blade.
Rabbet: A shallow channel cut into the edge of a piece of stock for joinery.
Re-saw: The process of splitting solid wood along its thickness into narrower pieces of material. The large band saw is called a Re-saw and is used for this process.
Reclaimed wood: Any material that is repurposed from a previous project - is often weather-worn, painted, or has nails or screws. Reclaimed wood must be unpainted, denailed, and thoroughly inspected and approved before being used in the Wood Shop.
Resting state: The safest storing position of a tool and guards that protects the blade. Tools should be found in and returned to their resting state after each use.
Rip cut: A type of cut along the grain (in the same direction) of a piece of solid wood.
Sheet material: Man-made composite wood that comes in large sheets of various qualities and thicknesses.
Shopvac: A small portable vacuum with hose attachments used to extract dust and clean up around the shop.
Sled: A type of jig for certain tools designed to support a piece for a particular cutting operation. There are sleds available for the table saw and planer.
Solid wood: Any wood in its natural form that has not been reconstituted with adhesive. Rough lumber, milled lumber, and even reclaimed wood are all usually solid. Composite material is not.
Stock/workpiece/material: Terms used interchangeably to describe a piece of wood or composite that you are working with.
Tearout: When the fibers of wood pull away from the cut edge.
Warping: An irregularity in either natural or composite material that compromises its flatness or squareness. Types of warping include cupping, bowing, and twisting, etc.
Wasteboard (spoilboard): A piece of backing material used on the Drill press to support your workpiece against tearout and prevent damage to the bed.