Wood Working Area

Overview

We’ve made considerable progress building out community woodshop. Now equipped with all tools needed to complete most hobbyist level projects!

Found this page from the internet and are interested in denhac? You can read up on our website but we highly recommend coming to one of our open house nights. Take a tour, learn about our organization, and how our community works. If we’re a good fit you can sign up and join the awesome denhac community!

The woodshop – like all of denhac – is completely community run. That means you, as a member, help us run things and keep it going. At a bare minimum, you are expected to help by leaving things a bit better than you found them. Always put away all tools, fully clean up after your project, and then do a bit of extra on top of that every time you use the space. Limit material storage to active projects and a reasonable time period. The space and tools are shared by the entire community. denhac doesn’t allow commercial businesses to be run out of the space using our shared tools. Please don’t sign up and hog tool usage to run your custom cabinet fabrication company.

Shop Safety

Woodshop tools are dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. At denhac, some tools require specific training and sign off before use. Look for stickers or check the wiki (assuming someone got around to updating it…) for which tools have formalized training.

ALL tools require you to be experienced enough to be confident that you can use them without injuring yourself, others, and our equipment. If you are inexperienced you need to ask another member for help or take a class/seek instruction outside of denhac first. Remember that everyone at denhac is just a member like you with varying levels of experience and time to teach. You are ultimately responsible and liable for your own safety and safety of other around you. The only recurring trainings are on safety sign off classes where member volunteers teach the basics of operation. For more complete woodworking lessons check out classes offered at organizations such as Denver Tool Library, Rockler, and Red Rocks community college.

Shop Rules

These rules allow our space to be safe, insurable, and accessible to our members. You must follow these rules when using our equipment and/or space.

Failure to adhere to these rules may result in loss of equipment authorization and/or suspension or termination of membership.

Only denhac members can use tools. No guests or friends. You may bring guests into the shop, but they must be accompanied by you and they may not operate the tools.
All guests visiting the workshop must complete a waiver. Visit denhac.org/waiver
Required Wear: eye protection, close toed shoes, hair tied back, no loose clothing
- Recommended: Hearing protection, dust mask.
- No music / headphones
Clean up! Always vacuum sawdust, put back tools, leave the space better than it was.
Do not take tools home. denhac tools are for use within our space, and are not available to be borrowed.
Always maintain a safe workspace. Do not use any tools in an unsafe manner. Maintain suitable cleanliness of workspace throughout the duration of your project. You may have to sweep up dust, discard scraps, or put away tools throughout your work session in order to keep the space safe and accessible.
Let others in the space know you are about to use a tool and to stand clear
Do not use any unsafe tools. If tool is broken or dangerous to use, you must unplug/disable it, label it as out of service, and report it so we know to fix it.
Do not use any tools which you are unable to use safely. Do not use tools in an unsafe manner. Do not use any tools that you are unsure how to safely operate.
Do not use restricted equipment without authorization. Some tools have stickers on them indicating that they require training, such as the table saw, router table, planer, jointer, and lathe. Do not use these tools unless you have been signed off by an authorized trainer at denhac. If you have prior experience, you must still review operation and demonstrate competency to one of our trainers before using our equipment.
Pets must be leashed and in your full control at all times. Dogs + power tools is not a good mix. Think before bringing your pet to denhac or walking them through the workshop. See the denhac Pet Policy for more.
You are responsible for damage that you cause to our equipment. You must repair, replace, or otherwise restore to working condition any equipment that you damage through negligence or misuse. Post in slack or talk to a woodshop maintainer before attempting repairs on denhac equipment.
Report any injury, accident, or equipment damage in slack #help-woodworking. We’re aiming to have a transparent community that self-reports incidents so we can all work together to maintain our tools and learn from any mistakes.

It is HIGHLY recommended to only work with a second person in the woodworking area in case of medical emergency or to give you a hand with difficult cuts.

Post questions, ask about training, or find a woodworking buddy in #help-woodworking.