I try to upload user manual for the Makita LS1013 miller’s slide compound saw: ls1013.pdf (357.9 KB), which lists important safety tips on first pages to raise awareness among VHSers. I expect that users will get aware of other power tools too, of which there are plenty. The user manual for the Makita LS1013 is available for free download from the web.
My personal view on work room is: it has a lot of great power equipment that worth tones of money; though, all those big and small great equipment is in confined space on slippery dance floor, which makes it SAFETY PROBLEM. Despite having it being great, and no immediate solution to space problem, we have SAFETY PROBLEM.
Just to clear it, the sliding compound saw, for proper and safe operation, must be mounted with bolts on stable, sturdy desk, which should not have anything else on it. If another power tool (e.i. band saw) was to be mounted properly in the same room, it should be mounted at proper distance from the sliding compound saw and no things, or tools should be laying around and in between.
with all the equipment we have at the VHS, we probably have enough to build a space rocket; though, with the way we have it stored we have INCREASED LEVEL OF POSSIBLE INJURY.
The logical thought is - the equipment must go to proper much bigger, appropriate and spacier space; otherwise, there is no point of having it.
The real issue with tools like this is the lack of dust collection. Even experienced people will cause damage to the people and equipment in the space by generating dust.
(you make no mention of the table saw. these are far more dangerous).
We can make a really amazing and simple dust collector…Very cheap too!
A great design is called a “cyclone” dust collection system. You can run it on a shop vac, or rig up something a bit more powerful if it was needed for more than one machine(I just got a 1967 canadian made exterior exhaust motor assembly off free craigslist a few weeks ago - recycling!). If the machines aren’t used ALL the time(ie: multiple stations being used simultaneously), then you could have one dust collection hose, and to just hook it up to a machine as needed(then you only need one hose). If switching between wood and metal, fires can be an issue…either make it a habit to always empty out the cyclone bin before doing work with metal. You can put a magnet inside to collect some metals, but won’t work for non-ferrous metals. Another thing: we can rig up a sensor to detect sparks or fires. Big modern dust collection systems will have these things implemented, but we could build such a setup for pennies in comparison.
In any case, there are tonnes of video’s on youtube of people making their own cyclone dust collectors. Easiest/smallest/cheapest rig I’ve seen is a small shop-vac and a 5-gallon bucket. I’d love to help if it was needed!
EDIT: One other thing: The lathes and milling machines in the shop are REALLY REALLY dangerous if the person operating them are not trained in safe, proper use. Even people who have been trained have had huge accidents. I have seen the wounds, missing fingers, etc, that come from accidents happening on machines like this. It’s always important to put safety first!