Safety equipment (PPE) while milling

[Mr Fixit]

Hi Group,

I was using my BP clone mill fly cutting a chunk of 1018 steel to day, and while I was operating the machine I got a HOT chip ( they were blue colored ) in the lip and I was not a happy camper. I was wearing my safety glasses, a short sleeve shirt, ball cap, regular jeans and of course all the under-linings to be comfortable as I can be with a 100* day today, probably 85* in the shop.
So my question is, what do any of you do for protection if any, or am I just being a wimp to keep this from occurring again if I can help it. I have seen the shower curtain idea and have thought about this, but still you have to operate the machine especially if your a HSM and don't have auto feeds. Even then you need to be part of the machine to operate.
OK I'm done whining!! NOT!!
Go ahead give me crap or what ever you think I deserve, but it did hurt for a bit even gave a blister it was a HOT chip!!

TX
Mr fixit for the family
Chris

[danlb]

My safety equipment is safety glasses, sturdy shoes, natural fiber clothing.

Occasionally I'll catch a stream of hot chips on the arm or face, but I count it as part of the machining experience.

Dan

[ENTERPRISE LATHE]

Our company requires clear grinding face shields when turning and milling.

[Puckdropper]

Forget the safety glasses--they're over-touted and under-effective. Go for a full face shield. It will help you save face, literally!

[tom_d]

I've had good luck using a piece of plexiglass as a see through shield. There always seems to be some part of the setup that interferes with the curved, quill mounted ones, so I just use a flat piece of whatever size is appropriate and mount it to a magnetic base. It's nothing fancy, just something to stand between me and the hot chips. The magnetic base is very convenient and portable, so positions with ease. Of course this is in addition to the use of glasses.

[MikeL46]

I have a piece of plexiglass bolted to the back jaw holes on the vise. Real simple 10"x18" with 2 holes to bolt into the back of the vise when not using the jaws back there. For smaller jobs I have a round plexi piece that fits on the quill. Hate hot chips! especially when I'm wearing shorts and sandals.

Mike

[chipmaker4130]

None of the plastic solutions work for me. Within minutes they are either covered with oil/coolant or embedded with hot metal. Once they're no longer easy to see through, they are worse than nothing at all.
When I do heavy roughing cuts on the lathe and the chips fly 20' into the shop, I just hold a piece of cardboard to deflect them away from me and into the pan as much as possible.

[reggie_obe]

Forget the safety glasses--they're over-touted and under-effective. Go for a full face shield. It will help you save face, literally!

When you get a hot chip[ down your shirt, is the next step a suit of armor?
Safety glasses, short sleeve shirt or long sleeve rolled up, jeans or canvas work pants, OTA work boots.
You're being a wimp.

[BCRider]

I do wear glasses. I'm not THAT crazy. But other than that on the mill I just stand to one side where the chips don't tend to be flying hot and heavy. I figured that's why the table came with a handle on each end.

I have gotten the odd hot chip land where it's burned me a bit. But as long as my eyes are protected the very occasional small skin burn will heal just fine.

For grinding more and more I'm wearing both glasses AND a face shield because I've had the odd grinding sliver sneak past the safety glasses and get in my eye. Nothing that became embedded though. And the face shield over the glasses is to ensure that does not occur. Other than that I don't go crazy. I've been known to work in the shop in shorts and sandals on the really hot days.

[boslab]

If it's really hot mesh visors are good for somthing like fly cutting, not quite as hot as a full visor, keeps it out of your mouth.
You shouldn't need much more than safety glasses just milling, you do get a feel for the direction of chips after a while.
I had a glob of metal up my nose once, that scored a firm 10 on the pain scale.
One guy had a nice blob down his pants, burnt the end of his trousers snake, so we sent him over the ambulance room to see one of the nice nurses, he obliged, when he got back there was the usual "did she kiss it better for you", all we got was you twats, there's a 6'2" Scotsman over there, they had taken on a male nurse for the night shifts, it was very funny as he had a bandaged snake.
Mark

[TN Pat]

Best thing to do is, when possible, machine in a direction that doesn't throw the chips at you. Face milling and flycutting are the worst about this. On entry and exit the chips are haphazard, but once in the cut, they only go in one general area. A movable clear shield is nice as well, but it would be best to make one to fit something like a Noga base, something you can turn the magnet on and off with. Other kinds that have permanent magnets, well, the chips ARE going to get stuck, on the bottom, and make the magnet not sit flat any more. Not if, when...

[KiddZimaHater]

The Oldest trick in the book is to hold a small piece of cardboard with one hand to block the stream of chips, and crank the table with the other hand.

[Norman Bain]

I am generally ok with just safety glasses when milling/drilling/face cutting. Sometimes do the deflect chips thing with whatever is handy.

However when using a slitting saw it is full face visor. Once had a slitting saw shatter and a portion caused a considerable quantum of the crimson stuff to ooze from my forehead.

[thaiguzzi]

Wimp.
Just man up.
Try milling or welding in flip flops...

[Royldean]

Try milling or welding in flip flops...

I do both, frequently. Getting a hot chip in-between your toes sucks. Someday I'll learn my lesson - hopefully I'll still have 10 toes.