When you first think of your hobby, the dangers it poses likely do not come to mind. While knitting or soap-making seems harmless, all it takes is a moment’s lapse in judgment, and you’ve either cut yourself, burned something or tripped over extra materials.
If you want to get serious about crafting, you should make sure your surroundings are safe. Here’s how to design a hobby space that prioritizes your health and safety.
How to Design a Hobby Space That Secures
Resin- and Adhesive-Based Crafts
Whether you love making D&D dice, preserving mementos or scrapbooking, you should always look at the warning labels of the materials you’re using. Proper ventilation of your workspace is critical for your safety when using epoxy resins or certain adhesives.
Wearing a respirator, keeping a window open and placing a fan in it will help keep the fumes out of your lungs. Ensure the space you’re working in meets the window requirement, and keep gloves nearby. ULINE has some good options for single-use gloves and respirators if you don’t already have some.
When cutting materials, use a box cutter on a slip-resistant workbench mat. Always work in good lighting conditions.
Knitting and Crocheting
When knitting and crocheting, the biggest safety obstacles are tripping hazards and poor lighting. Some individuals can knit or crochet without looking, but many must look at their work as they’re doing it, and partial sunlight or moonlight won’t be enough.
You should invest in the lighting that works best for you — a single lamp, layered lighting or ceiling lights — so you don’t strain your vision and can minimize tripping while holding pointy tools. For even more illumination, brands like Glocusent offer rechargeable neck lights, so you can keep your hands on your work.
The space you’re working in should be free of things you could trip on. Keep your yarn stash in boxes or on a shelf off the floor, place all needles in a holder that lives on a table, and place blocking mats out of the way.
Welding
While good lighting and eliminating tripping hazards are also great tips for welding, you need a few more pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure your hobby work is safe. Welding hoods with lenses and safety gear like welding sleeves, gloves and body protection are all necessary for your welding sessions. Outlaw Leather has some good options to look at for reliable and safe welding products, if you need to outfit your shop some more.
For your workshop, you’ll need a room with ample space and minimal flammable materials to avoid fire hazards. Give PPE a home in your hobby space so things stay tidy and you always know where they are.
Common setups either use gas or create a lot of smoke, so the space must be well-ventilated. It helps to wear a respirator. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, and maintain organization to avoid searching while you weld.
Woodworking
Although woodworking is one of the more obviously dangerous hobbies, a few safety considerations can help. In addition to a clear floor and good lighting, keep your tools organized and stored properly so those with sharp edges stay where they’re less likely to slice you. Power tools should be disconnected after use to avoid accidental activation, then stored in their respective spots.
Sliding compound miter saws, table saws and other large pieces of equipment are mostly stable, so be sure to place them where they are both easily usable and out of the way. Brands like RIGID and DeWalt are popular options for robust small and large power tools, so you should be able to find something that works for you. Just ensure there’s enough lighting, an open window for ventilation and clear walking space.
To keep yourself safe as you work, cut-resistant gloves and sleeves, earmuffs, and respirators are suitable PPE. For projects that won’t kick up much dust, safety goggles can replace the respirator. However, you should still use the latter if you plan to stain any of your projects, and do so near an open window. Like your knives and carving tools, store these in designated areas to always know where they are.
Soap- and Candle-Making
Be wary of heat when making candles and soap. Wear gloves to protect your hands from liquid wax and hot oils so you don’t get burned. You should also keep a list of the appropriate carrier-to-essential-oil ratios to avoid adverse reactions. Brands like CandleScience offer fragrance oils in addition to essential oils, providing stronger-smelling soaps and candles without phthalates or toxins. Considering these options can help you stay safer in your candle-making while also getting a great smell.
With soap-making in particular, you’ll have to be extra careful while you use lye. This chemical can burn your skin, but its reaction with oil causes saponification, which turns the product into soap.
Wherever you craft your soap and candles, you should keep PPE, including chemical-resistant gloves and safety goggles. The area should be well-ventilated, and you should only store lye in heat-resistant, heavy plastic or stainless steel containers.
Stay Safe in Your Hobby Space
While you might think of your hobby as simply a fun way to de-stress or make something, there are precautions to take. By prioritizing your safety in the craft room or workshop, you can create with peace of mind.
