3 Common Types of Safety Gear for Power Tools Used at Home

If you're entering the DIY field and are going to be using a lot of power tools such as chain saws, electric drills, lathes, nail guns or sanders, you will need to ensure that you also invest in the proper kind of safety equipment to prevent serious injury. So to help you understand what you'll need, here are some of the common types of safety gear available to you.

Chaps 

Similar in style to the gear worn by cowboys in the Old West, chaps are pants that are ideal when you are using a chainsaw. The power of a chainsaw is such that it can create a recoil and that means the chains can rebound against your legs and cause serious injury.

Chain saw chaps are made from a hard nylon outer layer that is water resistant and also coated with material that makes it impervious to mold, mildew, tears and scratches. The inside of these chaps is made from a thick padding material that protects you against cuts and rips from the chainsaw blades. Chaps also provide protection from electric saws and table saws.

Eye Protection 

When you're using power tools, one of the most vulnerable areas of your body is your eyes. Whether it's flying chips of wood, nails, dust or some other kind of particle or debris, power tools tend to stir up a lot of material into the air. To prevent that material from causing an eye injury, you have to buy safety goggles or safety glasses.

The difference between goggles and glasses comes down to the the fact that goggles are typically wraparound, which means there's a band that goes around your head and fits the goggles snugly over your eyes. Safety glasses have a more standard configuration, in which the hinges wrap around your ears.

Goggles and glasses come in many styles, including ones that are chemical resistant, impact resistant, dust resistant and with anti fog coating on the lenses. Most glasses and goggles are made from polycarbonate which is more flexible than glass and can be constructed with shatterproof material.

A more thorough and complete kind of eye protection are helmets, which not only keep your eyes safe, but also provide protection for your head as well. Helmets or face shields are recommended when you're using a power tool such as a grinder, which is useful on both metal and wood, but tends to especially send off sparks when you're using it on metal.

Gloves 

Leather work gloves are a must when handling power tools. They provide you with enhanced grip for additional safety, and they also protect your fingers from cuts, burns and scrapes. You can even buy gloves that are made to resist vibration from power tools such as sanders and chainsaws. Safety gloves also come in cotton, which works well when using a drill or lathe, but are not as effective for saws.

For more ideas on power tools and the safety gear required, talk to experts such as All Trades Equipment Pty Ltd.