Safety First
Safety First: Take Care of Your Health
Working with metal, wood, and synthetic materials as part of your hobby can be incredibly rewarding—but also comes with risks. At Nordic Edge, we encourage all makers to prioritise safe practices in every step of the process, whether you're forging blades, sanding handle materials, or gluing up components.
You Are Responsible for Your Safety
Anyone using the tools, materials, or supplies sold by Nordic Edge is personally responsible for learning proper techniques and using them in a safe and controlled environment. This includes assuming all risk for any injury, accident, or damage—including serious injury or death—that may result from the use of our products.
If you're unsure how to use a tool or material safely, or if you're tired or unwell, pause and seek advice before continuing.
The Hidden Risk: Dust
Dust is one of the most dangerous and overlooked health hazards in knife making and crafting.
This includes dust from:
- Metals
- Natural materials like wood
- Synthetics such as Micarta, G10, and acrylic
Even with good ventilation, fine dust can remain airborne or settle—only to be stirred up again. Never work in dusty environments without PPE. Avoid creating or sanding dust in your living space or clean workshop areas.
Best practice:
- Use a separate grinding room or work outside when possible.
- Avoid hand sanding indoors.
- Use dust extraction systems where feasible.
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
PPE needs vary depending on your task, but the following gear is strongly recommended:
- Dust mask or respirator to avoid breathing in fine particles
- Safety glasses to protect your eyes
- Hearing protection during loud tasks like grinding or forging
- Long-sleeved clothing to minimise skin contact with dust
- Enclosed shoes to protect feet from dropped tools or sharp materials
- Thin disposable gloves (like nitrile) for handling epoxy, acetone, and other chemicals
Clean vs Dirty Workspaces
Keep your “dirty” work (like grinding and sanding) physically separate from your “clean” workspace or living area. Avoid breathing in lingering airborne particles.
Set up zones in your workspace:
- Dirty zone: grinding, sanding, chemical work
- Clean zone: assembly, detail work, storage
Changing Clothes
After grinding or sanding, change clothes before entering clean areas (house, car, workshop). Don’t carry dust with you. Establish a routine to remove and contain contaminated clothing before entering clean environments.
Be Safe. Work Smart.
Knife making and blacksmithing are deeply rewarding hobbies—but they come with risks. Whether it’s fast injuries from tools or long-term exposure to dust and chemicals, take time to consider your setup and make adjustments that protect your health long-term.
Because at the end of the day, we all want to make great things—without getting hurt.