Woodworking and carpentry require extensive use of tools and machinery that might throw chips and debris at your face. A face shield is designed to protect a worker’s face when working with machines, or tools that might be hazardous to operate with an unprotected face. It will guard you against flying wood fragments, sawdust, liquids, and even some degree of equipment failure or human error.
A face shield is an additional layer of protection on top of safety glasses but they are highly recommended as goggles will only protect your eye but not the rest of your face. Although it is rare for large airborne debris to strike your face while woodworking, the peace of mind of having a protective layer between a rapidly rotating saw and your face cannot be understated.
Let’s take a look at some of the best face protection equipment for woodworkers:
Best Woodworking Face Shield
Uvex Bionic Face Shield
Pros
- It’s easily adjustable, making it suitable for anyone to wear.
- This safety gear is also a replaceable sweatband and in-built visor.
- It is lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Cons
- One needs to clean occasionally to avoid stains.
Uvex S8501 by Honeywell is one of the best face shields for woodworking. There are many good aspects of this product. It protects your face overall and the top of your head too. The design is compact and shields your head and face from getting any substance or dirt. In addition, the shied is made of polycarbonate that is durable and lightweight.
The safety gear is also anti-fog, which means you can avoid fogging. Also, the shield has an adjustable feature making it suitable for any user. In addition, there is also space to wear goggles inside the gear. It is a reliable product that offers multiple functions.
Product Details:
| Item Weight | 1.3 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 9.65 x 8.86 x 11.42 inches |
| Color | Black Matte |
| Style | Anti-Fog/Anti-Scratch, Clear Faceshield |
| Pattern | Shield |
Oregon Chainsaw Safety Helmet
Pros
- It offers multiple functions that are vital for woodworking.
- It has good ventilation that allows users to work comfortably.
Cons
- Some users may find it challenging to assemble the product.
Oregon chainsaw safety gear is also one of the safety gear that is great for woodworking. It comprises a yellow helmet to protect your head and a stainless mesh visor to shield your face. Furthermore, it also has additional features like earmuffs to protect your ears from the noise it produces while sawing or other woodwork.
In addition, you can easily adjust the size as it has a six-point adjustable harness. It also has good ventilation allowing you to breathe comfortably and avoid fogging the visor.
Product Details:
| Product Dimensions | 12 x 9 x 7 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.2 pounds |
TR Industrial Forestry Safety Face Shield
Pros
- It is lightweight and easy to adjust.
- The safety gear has excellent noise reduction.
- You can remove the earmuff without any hassle.
Cons
- The quality of the headband may not be the best.
- It doesn’t have a chin strap.
Another safety gear that is worth mentioning is TR industrial forestry safety gear. This protective gear offers multiple functions, from head to ear protection. It also has a plastic and mesh visor. Furthermore, you can also adjust the dial knob, making it suitable for any user to wear.
In addition, you can also switch the mesh and plastic visor. It’s a great safety gear that shields both your head and face from injuries.
Product Details:
| Color | Orange |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.60 pounds |
| Pattern | Protection |
| Size | Adult |
Sellstrom Face Shield
Pros
- The safety gear is highly versatile that is great for both men and women.
- It comes in fully assembled form.
- It offers a wide range of protection from various hazards.
Cons
- It tends to fog up slightly.
- There should be proper instructions about the removal of protective films.
Sellstorm S30120 is an all-purpose safety gear that is great both for men and women. It is known for its versatility with a unique design. In addition, it also has a polycarbonate shield that gives a clear view and protection from any impact. Also, the gear is adjustable and lightweight.
This safety gear is not limited only to woodworking but for other purposes also. It offers various benefits at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, it also comes with a headband that allows absorbing the sweat.
Product Details:
| Color | Grey |
|---|---|
| Included Components | Faceshield |
| Item Weight | 9.7 ounces |
| Material Feature | High Impact Polycarbonate |
| Style | Clear Face Shield |
3M Ratchet Headgear
Pros
- It is tough and sturdy that offers an array of protection.
- The product offers safety for both the head and face.
Cons
- The face shield tends to fog up slightly.
One of the bestselling face shields from the brand 3M is Ratchet Headgear H8A. It is a high-quality product that comes with a face shield and headgear. You can saw, grind, drill, and sand wearing this protective gear. Furthermore, it is versatile and can be used for various purposes.
In addition, it also has a polycarbonate material for the face shield. It is sturdy and has good durability. The headgear also is adjustable and comfortable to wear for any user.
Product Details:
| Item Weight | 15.4 ounces |
|---|---|
| Material | Polycarbonate |
Jackson Safety MAXVIEW Face Safety
Pros
- The oversized window allows users to work without any hindrance.
- It has high coverage that making it a great safety gear.
- Anti-fog coating
Cons
- The design of the safety gear may seem bulky for some users.
The MAXVIEW face shield from the brand Jackson Safety offers high coverage gear that serves various purposes. It not only protects your head and face but covers the chin too. In addition, it has an oversized window that makes excellent visibility. The safety gear also has an anti-fog that avoids fogging the shield during work.
Furthermore, the shield is easy to manage and adjust. You can do it even with gloves on. The functionality is good, and we’d say it’s worth the price.
Overall, we’d say the product is excellent because of its high coverage and maximum visibility. You can click this link if you are interested in getting the product.
Product Details:
| Item Weight | 1.75 pounds |
|---|---|
| Size | Ratcheting Headgear |
| Style | Anti-fog |
TREND AIR/PRO Airshield
Pros
- The cleaning process is easy with this safety gear.
- It offers overall protection for your face and head.
- It has a double filtration system with built-in air circulation.
Cons
- The power output may decline over the years since it uses a NiMH battery.
The AIR/PRO Airshield from Trend offers a safety face shield that has excellent functionality. It is lightweight, which gives you maximum comfort while working. Another good aspect of this product is that it comes with a filter and a built-in air circulator. Before the airborne particles reach your eyes, the built-in fan suctions the air externally and passes it through the filter.
The filter is not HEPA graded, but you can replace it with one. Even with a regular filter, it can capture most of the dust particles. The headband is also adjustable and doesn’t cause any hindrance while working. Note that the Airshield is run through NiMH batteries. It means you have to charge for 24 hours before using it.
Product Details:
| Item Weight | 3.2 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 16 x 11 x 9.25 inches |
| Material | PLASTIC |
| Pattern | Dust Protector |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Voltage | 230 Volts |
Why are face and eye protection important when woodworking?
Both face and eyes are an essential part of the body. Injuring your eyes can lead to partial or complete loss of sight, not to mention the probability of even worse injuries in case of machine malfunction or operator error. Hence, it’s vital to wear safety gear while working. It’s better to be safe and secure than to regret not wearing a face shield later on.
More than 90% of workplace eye injuries could have been prevented if eye protection such as a face shield or safety goggles were utilized. While working, one may never be sure of the unseen accidents. Therefore, it would be better to put on safety gear before you start working on your project. For some individuals, is uncomfortable to wear a shield while working. However, once you get used to it, you won’t feel anything.
The eyes and face are delicate parts of our body that are close to where the machinery operates as we need to keep an eye on the task at the moment. An eye or face injury could have life-changing consequences, it’s better to take steps to prevent that as much as we can.
When should a face shield be used?
The face shield should be used while working with power tools. There are different types of tools for various works. And it’s essential to wear the face shield while working on it. Some of the power tools are as follow:
- Angle grinder
- Circular saw
- Miter saw
- Table saw
- Power sanders
- Power drill
- Nail gun
- Router
All the power tools mentioned above are used for different purposes. And it’s essential to use a face safety shield while using these tools to avoid accidents.
Face Shield Vs. Safety Goggles
Both face shields and safety goggles are essential safety tools while working. We’d recommend you to use both. There is not much difference between a safety goggle and a face shield. However, with a face shield, you can expect a higher coverage as compared to the goggle.
With the face shield, it covers both your face and head. Whereas safety goggles only protect your eyes. However, you can wear goggles underneath the face shield. Most manufacturers have designed a face shield that gives space for the safety goggle. Both the tools are equally important, and it would be great if you could use both.
Consideration When Looking for a Woodworking Face Shield
Protection level
When you look for a face shield, it’s essential to check the protection level. Your face skin is sensitive and might get hurt easily. Hence, it would help if you look for safety gear that is tough enough to protect you from unseen accidents.
Note that face shields are not a replacement for safety goggles, and you should always protect your eyes with safety goggles. Face shield are an additional layer of protection.
Visor clarity
Most people avoid wearing face shields because they think it would block their vision. However, there are excellent face shields that come with a wide window allowing excellent visibility. So, check for a safety shield that doesn’t block your view.
Comfort
Comfort is essential, especially while working. And it’s only necessary that you get the correct face shield for yourself. While buying face safety gear, see that it fits your head and is adjustable. If it’s loose or tight, you can adjust it. It would be best to buy a safety shield that has simple settings and is not too complex.
Airflow
Before buying a face shield, another vital aspect to keep in mind is that it should have proper airflow. You will find various safety shield that offers adequate airflow. The safety gear should have sufficient ventilation for the air to flow freely. When the airflow is good, it will avoid fogging and help you to work without any hassle.
Plastic Visor vs. Mesh Shield
A plastic visor and mesh shield offer different pros and cons. For instance, a mesh shield is great for people living in a humid environment. It provides ample ventilation and avoids fogging. But if you use a plastic visor, there would be fogging unless there is proper ventilation.
Both mesh and plastic are helpful in their way. A plastic visor offers more protection from small dust particles than compared to a mesh shield. Also, a mesh shield doesn’t offer much protection from UV rays, unlike plastic shields. In addition, it is also easy to clean and sturdier. However, it would be best to buy a plastic visor, although the airflow may decline. You can buy an adequately ventilated face shield to increase the airflow.
Closing thoughts
There are different types of face shields available in the market. And each product offers varied features. Eventually, it boils down to the user’s needs and requirements. Looking at the overall aspect, we’d say the best face shield for Woodworking is Uvex Bionic S8510. The features in this safety gear have all the essential requirements needed in a face shield for Woodworking. Furthermore, the price is reasonable along with good durability.