Woodworking Best Practices In Woodworking 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a push stick in woodworking?
- To keep hands at a safe distance from the blade while feeding stock (Correct answer)
- To clean sawdust from the table
- To measure board thickness
- To apply glue evenly
Correct answer: To keep hands at a safe distance from the blade while feeding stock
A push stick lets you feed narrow stock past a blade while keeping fingers well clear.
Question 2: Which practice best reduces tear-out when crosscutting plywood?
- Score the cut line or use a high-tooth-count blade (Correct answer)
- Use a dull blade to slow the cut
- Cut with the good face down only and no scoring
- Feed the stock as fast as possible
Correct answer: Score the cut line or use a high-tooth-count blade
Scoring the line or using a fine-tooth blade severs the surface fibers cleanly to limit chip-out.
Question 3: When chiseling, in which direction should you always keep your body relative to the tool?
- Behind the cutting edge so a slip moves away from you (Correct answer)
- In front of the blade for leverage
- Directly above pressing straight down with your hand ahead
- It makes no difference
Correct answer: Behind the cutting edge so a slip moves away from you
Keeping hands and body behind the edge ensures a slip drives the chisel away from you, not into you.
Question 4: What is the main reason to keep cutting tools sharp?
- Sharp tools require less force and are safer and more accurate (Correct answer)
- Dull tools cut cleaner lines
- Sharp tools need no maintenance
- Dull tools are easier to control
Correct answer: Sharp tools require less force and are safer and more accurate
A sharp tool cuts with less force, reducing slips and producing cleaner results than a dull one that must be forced.
Question 5: Why is dust collection considered a best practice in a woodshop?
- Fine wood dust is a respiratory hazard and fire risk (Correct answer)
- It makes machines run faster
- It improves the wood's grain pattern
- It is only for appearance
Correct answer: Fine wood dust is a respiratory hazard and fire risk
Fine airborne dust harms the lungs and can be combustible, so collection protects health and safety.
Question 6: What should you check before turning on a planer or jointer?
- That the wood is free of nails, screws, and embedded metal (Correct answer)
- That the lights are dimmed
- That the wood is wet
- That gloves are worn
Correct answer: That the wood is free of nails, screws, and embedded metal
Hidden metal can shatter cutter knives and become dangerous projectiles, so inspect stock first.
Question 7: What is the safest response if a workpiece binds or stalls a power tool mid-cut?
- Turn off the tool and let it stop before clearing the jam (Correct answer)
- Force it through harder
- Reach in to free it while running
- Increase the feed speed
Correct answer: Turn off the tool and let it stop before clearing the jam
Powering down before clearing a jam prevents kickback and contact with the moving blade.
Woodworking Best Practices In Woodworking 3
What is the purpose of a push stick in woodworking?