Safety First: Do You Wear Safety Glasses When Drilling?

Hey all, I know we're all about getting the job done, but I had a close call yesterday. I was drilling into some metal and a chip flew straight into my eye! Luckily I had my safety glasses on, but it got me thinking: how many of you actually wear PPE when drilling? I see a lot of folks skip it. What's your take?

Good topic, Dave. I'm a stickler for safety. I never operate any power tool without at least safety glasses. I've seen too many accidents, some severe. I also recommend a dust mask or respirator, especially when drilling into masonry or drywall. It's just not worth the risk. I've got a pair of safety glasses in every toolbox and even in my car just in case.

I'll admit, I used to be bad about it. But after my buddy got a metal shard in his cornea, I changed my tune. Now I have a pair of those cheap clear glasses that sit right by my drill press. They're like $5, and they've saved my eyes more than once. Also, ear protection is a must when using an impact driver, that high-pitched whine is killer.

Good points. I think the dust mask thing is overlooked. I was drilling into concrete last week and coughed for an hour. Gotta get me a decent respirator. Any recommendations? I'm on a budget.

For a budget option, the 3M 6500 series half-face respirator is solid. You can get one for around $20-25, and it takes standard filters. It's comfy and fits well. I use that for heavy work. If you're just doing light drilling, a simple N95 mask is fine. Just make sure it's NIOSH approved.