PSA: Don't forget your safety glasses (and a face shield for the big cuts)

Hey all, just a friendly reminder after a close call today. I was ripping some plywood with my circular saw and a knot flew out. Hit my safety glasses square in the lens - thank god I had them on. Scared the crap out of me, but no damage to my eyes. If I hadn't been wearing them, that would've been an eye patch situation. So, yeah, PPE is no joke. And for the bigger cuts, I'm thinking about getting a face shield too. Any recommendations?

Glad you're okay, Matt! That's a wake-up call for sure. I've had my share of close calls over the years. My advice: don't cheap out on glasses. Get ones that meet ANSI Z87.1 and fit snug. I use the ones with a foam gasket around the eyes - they keep dust out too. For a face shield, I've got one that mounts to my hard hat, but you can get standalone ones. Just make sure it has a clear, anti-fog coating. Also, consider a dust mask - that plywood dust is nasty.

Good reminder! And if you're using a miter saw or table saw, a face shield is a must for any cut where there's kickback potential. I have a DeWalt face shield that's great, but honestly anything from a decent brand will do. Also, don't forget hearing protection - those saws are loud. I always wear ear muffs even for a quick cut. Tinnitus is no joke.

Oh man, I bet that was scary! So glad you had the glasses on. I'm a stickler for PPE, especially when I'm using my table saw. I wear safety glasses and a face shield combo - the face shield has a flip-up for when I need to see fine details. And I always make sure my blade guard is in place. One thing I want to add: check your glasses for scratches - they can cause glare and reduce visibility. If they're scratched up, replace them. It's worth the money.

Great tips, everyone! I never thought about the scratches - I'll check mine. And yeah, hearing protection is a good point, Dan. I usually wear earplugs but I'll upgrade to earmuffs for the big cuts. I'm going to look into a face shield that flips up like Sarah's. Thanks for the advice, guys. Stay safe out there!