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Thread: What are your shop rules?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    1,430

    Question What are your shop rules?

    I would like to see what you have for “shop rules” posted in your shop. What kind of rules? How about rules for borrowing tools, hanging out, food in the shop, drinks (of all kinds) in the shop, children in the shop, pets in the shop, machine operation, hand tools, bothering the proprietor, language, just touching and messing around with things, doing work for friends and/or relatives, rules for hobby shops, and rules for pro shops? What others can you think of?

    I have seen listings of shop rules and foolishly didn’t save them. I remember many of them were quite appropriate. Some were intended to bring a smile to the reader. Even some of them seemed a little extreme, but hey, it’s your shop!

    I’ll start things off, but I only have one and it’s primarily for me:

    T H I N K F I R S T !
    ________
    Ron

    "Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."
    Vince Lombardi

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Peshtigo, WI (~50 miles N of Green Bay)
    Posts
    1,403

    Rules?

    Ron,

    I don't have any "posted" rules in my shop. That is primarily because the only friend I have can't read and I can't write. We make a good pair!

    My only shop rule is a paraphrase of a Yogi Berra "gem". "I never waste money on expensive luggage because I only use it when I travel!" That guy is a genius so I followed his philosophy. "I never waste money on expensive woodworking tools because I only use them when I am working with wood!"

    I hope that this helps.

    Dale T.
    I am so busy REMAKING my projects that I don't have time to make them the FIRST time!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Midland, Michigan
    Posts
    453
    A laminated copy of these hang on my shop door.

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...Shop_Rules.jpg
    Work safe, have fun, enjoy the sport.
    Remember that a guy never has to come down out of the clouds if he keeps filling the valleys with peaks. Steve

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    131
    I have no rules, just guidelines. My shop is a place of business so it's probably a bit more lax than you guys.

    -None of my tools leave my shop unless I take them
    -If you want to use any of my stationary tools, I charge you by the hour at my shop rate, minimum 1 hour charge
    -buddies can hang out after hours
    -no children EVER!!
    -no phones
    -food is fine, drinks are fine just not on the machines
    -pets are fine anytime, they're much better company than humans
    -swear all you want, doesn't bother me (see no children EVER)
    -touch anything you want but if you break it you own it and if you cut yourself don't expect me to feel sorry for you
    -no talking or bothering me when I'm running any machine
    -alcohol is allowed after hours and only after all machines are UNPLUGGED
    -and the number 1 guideline for my shop: If you're a salesman and don't have an appointment, don't expect to get in


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Mission Viejo, CA
    Posts
    271

    Shop rules

    I love it!!!

    Safety first
    No alcohol before or during operating hours.
    These are my tools and my garage.
    We either do it my way or we don't do it.
    You and your suggestions are welcome.
    Your direction is neither required nor desired unless your a master woodworker.
    I don't want to see any child hurt, so please leave them at home.
    Last edited by John Keane; 05-21-2005 at 11:49 PM. Reason: Modify

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Baltimore, Md
    Posts
    1,785
    Work safe.
    Put it back where you found it.
    Touch nothing without asking first
    No one touches a power tool except me or with my permission.

    This is not a rule but I saw it somewhere and liked it.

    "If you love something you are no judge of it's value or beauty."
    --author unknown

    The last one keeps me in check with things I build.


    Keith

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA
    Posts
    2,550
    WORKSHOP FIFTEEN COMMANDMENT'S

    1. I am the Lord & Master here, let no strangers enter.

    2. Thou shalt not take my name in vain if I refuse to do a job.

    3.Remember I don't work on Sundays.

    4. Honor my Tantrums.

    5. Thou shalt not borrow my tools.

    6. Thou shalt not touch my mess.

    7. Thou shalt not commit alterations of my work.

    8. Thou shalt not bear false criticisms of my work.

    9.Thou shalt not covet my shop.

    10. Thou shalt not covet my workshop tools.

    11. Thou shalt not smoke in my shop.

    12. Thou shalt not drink alcohol of any kind in my shop.

    13. THOU SHALT WEAR SAFETY GLASSES & EAR PROTECTION

    14. THOU SHALT NOT DISTRACT ANYONE OPERATING A MACHINE.

    15. All hand held electric tools shall be set on the floor when plugged
    in & not in use because that is where they will end up anyway
    once someones foot gets tangled in the cord.
    Last edited by Bart Leetch; 05-22-2005 at 11:54 AM.
    I usually find it much easier to be wrong once in while than to try to be perfect.

    My web page has a pop up. It is a free site, just close the pop up on the right side of the screen

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Prescott, Arizona
    Posts
    610
    My unwritten rules:

    If you open it, close it
    If you break it, own up to it
    If it aint broke, dont fix it
    If you turn it on, turn it off
    Gods name is used only for praise ( I love this one )
    No alcohol !
    Please dont ask to borrow a tool as a smack upside the head often offends :-)
    Sure you can use my shop, leave it as you found it or cleaner.

    My written and posted 10 commandments go like this.

    1. Jesus is the master of this house and shop, let no strangers enter
    2. Thou shalt not take my name in if I refuse to do a job
    3. Remember, I dont work sundays
    4. Honor my tantrums
    5. Thou shalt not borrow my tools
    6. Thou shalt not touch my mess
    7.Thou shalt not commit alterations to my work
    8. Thou shalt not bear false critisicisms of my work
    9. Thou shalt not covet my workshop
    10. Thou shalt not covet my workshop tools

    I cant take credit for the commandments as I saw them on an old turner friend of mine wall and loved them.......

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Prescott, Arizona
    Posts
    610
    Thats funny Bart, you saw them too huh :-)

    LOL !!!!!!!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    4,717

    Smile

    - I don't scream when things go wrong unless I lop off a finger
    - no screaming to get my attention during a cut (so I don't lop off a finger)
    - restrain your dogs/pets during a cut (so I don't lop off a finger)
    - stay away from the tools unless I'm home or you have permission
    - curse quietly
    Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

  11. #11
    Shop safety however my #1 rule is I do not lend or let other use my tools, exception is my son and folks that I meet at these forums. Basically if I feel the visitor has a farily good and safe knowledge of woodworking, then the door is open.

    Put things back and clean up your mess at the end of the day, my son is pretty good at this unless he has been at the lathe for hours, then it can be a chore.

    No smoking in the shop, I've had a couple of scares from clients who flicked their ashes at will. No food and the only time I allow anyone in there with a beer would be if I am done for the day....this used to be a bit of an issue as we are a social bunch, I enjoy a beer but it takes me a yesr to get through a case

    Turn the alarm on at the end of the day, psoted in big letters.

    Check the first aid kit once a year at least, change the eye flush bottle once a year and have all the fire ext. checked.

    I have my alarm setup up with a panic that will sound the alarm and call the monitoring station, there is a button I can push on my belt, I test this every 6 months. I also have an air fog horn that I test every 6 months or so, family knows if there hear it, there is problems.

    I don't bring customers to the shop, maybe once or twice a year. Although I have a great security system, I don't want a bunch of strangers coming through...it has taken me all my life to get what I have and the thoughts of someone stealing it makes me cringe.

    Probably others but that is about it.

    Andy

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Leesville, TX (San Antonio/Austin)
    Posts
    1,203
    Quote Originally Posted by Andy London
    No smoking in the shop, I've had a couple of scares from clients who flicked their ashes at will...
    Hmmm. You've seen pictures of my shop when it was a total disaster...which it has been for years until last week...and probably will be again... but I've always smoked in there with no problems. Ashes aren't the problem...it's the part that's still burning.

    KC

  13. #13
    I dont have to post any rules.Things are pretty well understood.If you want something cut I will cut it.Way too much $$$ invested in tools to have someone messing around with them.I do have two friends who can use anything in my shop,they use tools like they were their own.I can also use anything in their shops.That is the only exception.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,789
    I have the following rules, but they are not posted.

    1) Wear safety glasses when operating equipment (in my case, I have prescription safety glasses).

    2) Wear earmuffs when operating loud equipment (anything louder than my battery powered drill).

    3)Wear heavy toed (steel or, at least, hard leather) shoes when working with heavy objects.

    4) Unplug every tool after using it.

    5) Wear short sleeves when operating equipment.

    6) Put away every tool or object after it has been used.

    7) Put away 5 things every morning when I enter the shop (that's because I am not as good as I should be with rule 6).

    8) Measure twice, cut once.

    9) Stop and think before any operation with the more dangerous equipment (e.g. table saw and jointer). A big part of this is to think through when and how to use safety devices such as push sticks. This rule applies even if this is a repetitive operation -that's when I have found myself getting careless in the past.

    10) Always be thinking about better ways to do things and better ways to set up the shop.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    1,337

    Simple....

    Leave It Alone !
    Phil in Big D
    The only difference between a taxidermist and the taxman, is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. Mark Twain

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