Timber iQ December 2019 - January 2020 // Issue: 47 | Page 39

FEATURES
Working safely
with timber
By Dineo Phoshoko
Working with timber can be exciting, but also very dangerous. As a material, timber involves a lot
sawing, hammering and drilling – activities that could potentially cause injuries.
E
quipment manufacturers have put a significant
amount of effort into the improvement of safety
for their products. They have designed and
produced products with smart and simple technologies
to enhance safety when working with timber. The
following are just some of the products available on the
market:
The chainsaw brake handle, brake spring and band have
been developed to be the ideal weight and tension to
activate automatically in the event of kickback by the rapid
movement of the saw.
ADJUSTABLE CLAMPS
BRAKING SYSTEM
FOR CHAINSAWS
STIHL chainsaws have the
inertia brake, which is
specifically designed to limit
the risk of injury in certain
kickback situations (no chain
brake can eliminate 100%
risk of kickback injury).
The inertia chain brake
enhances the safer use of
the chainsaw by
automatically engaging the
chain brake in the event of kickback.
The inertia chain brake
enhances the safer use of the
chainsaw.
STIHL
Chainsaw kickback is a serious potential threat to any
chainsaw operator, regardless of skill or experience and
occurs when incorrect cutting methods or procedures are
used. These include using the upper quadrant of the nose
of the guide-bar, or if the chain gets obstructed or
jammed in the cut. This causes the tip of the guide-bar to
rotate in an arc towards the operator with great speed and
energy. Since kickback occurs in a split second and with
great force, the inertia brake is invaluable in preventing
serious injury to the operator.
"Chainsaw kickback is a serious
potential threat to any chainsaw
operator, regardless of skill or
experience."
www.timberiq.co.za
Clamps keep the timber in
place when working with
timber. 
PONY JORGENSEN
Strength and reliability are an
important safety aspect when
working with timber. This is
where clamps come in as they
have the capacity to handle all
timber types. Pony Jorgensen
has a range of clamps are
made from high-quality ductile
cast iron, drop-forged,
high-carbon steel, and
anodised aluminium.
BAR CLAMPS
These are available in aluminium and steel having an excellent
strength-to-weight ratio, making them strong, lightweight, and
perfect for both commercial and DIY applications. The bars
are crafted from anodised, rust-resistant aluminium, and their
rectangular design creates a stable clamping surface for edge
gluing. The tail-stop’s trigger spring takes advantage of
notches on the bar to lock into place. The steel version of the
bar clamps provides seriously strong cast-iron stationary and
sliding heads, merged with a high-carbon, rust-resistant steel
bar that packs a whopping 100 000 pounds per square inch
of tensile strength.
C-CLAMPS
The most popular and complete line of light heavy-duty
C-clamps, these are smoothly cut, the acme-threaded steel
screw is zinc plated and protected with a black finish for
lasting durability. The clamp casting is made with ductile iron
for strength before receiving a powder-coated Pony-orange
finish. Available in a wide variety of sizes and clamping forces,
all with full-closing screws.
SPRING AND HAND CLAMPS
These metal spring clamps are said to be the most durable
clamps available, and the hand clamps allow for pressure
adjustments to meet any woodworking need.
// DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
37