When most woodworkers think about danger in the shop, they immediately picture table saws, routers, and jointers. But the truth is, some of the most serious injuries come from smaller, underrated tools that don’t look nearly as intimidating.
It’s easy to let your guard down around simple hand tools or basic shop gear — and that’s when accidents happen. In this post, we’re taking a closer look at 29 tools you should never underestimate.
Whether you’re a beginner or have been in the shop for years, it’s worth remembering: even the simplest tools can leave you with stitches, burns, or worse if you aren’t careful.
1. Angle Grinder
Many woodworkers pointed out that an angle grinder, especially with a chainsaw blade, can be extremely dangerous if not used attentively.
2. Utility Knife
Utility knives were noted for their high number of workers’ compensation claims, making them one of the top culprits for shop injuries.
3. Router
Routers have ended the careers of seasoned woodworkers due to their unpredictable nature when accidents occur.
4. Bench Grinder
Bench grinders, if not used properly, can lead to severe accidents, especially when dressing wheels or setting clearances.
5. Chisels
Sharp chisels in untrained hands or dull chisels can cause significant injuries, highlighting the need for proper training and maintenance.
6. Table Saw
Table saws are infamous for shooting pieces of wood unexpectedly, posing a danger not only to the operator but to anyone in the vicinity.
7. Radial Arm Saw
Known for their inherent danger, radial arm saws require extra caution and proper usage to prevent accidents.
8. Screwdrivers
Both dull and sharp screwdrivers can cause serious injuries, often underestimated in their potential for harm.
9. Human Error
Many responses emphasized the risk posed by human error, including distractions, inexperience, and complacency, as major factors in accidents.
10. Loose Clothing
Loose clothing, such as long sleeves, can easily get caught in machinery, leading to severe injuries.
11. Clamps
While clamps seem harmless, over-tightening can cause pieces to snap violently or clamp heads to suddenly pop off. Large clamps can pinch or crush fingers if not handled carefully.
12. Nail Guns and Brad Nailers
While they make fastening quick and easy, misfires, ricochets, and accidental double-shots can drive nails into hands, legs, or even faces before you know what happened.
13. Hammers
A simple miss with a hammer can crush fingers, split skin, or send a nail flying at high speed. It’s easy to underestimate how much force you’re swinging.
14. Wood Rasps and Files
The aggressive teeth on a rasp can tear skin badly if your hand slips. Even simple hand shaping can lead to painful gouges and scrapes if you lose focus.
15. Hand Saws (Backsaws, Dovetail Saws, Japanese Pull Saws)
These small, sharp saws can slice skin and muscle quickly. A minor slip while sawing can cause serious cuts in seconds.
16 . Awls and Scratch Awls
These pointed tools are great for marking, but also notorious for puncture wounds. A slip while applying force can easily drive the awl deep into your hand.
17. Mallets
Wooden and rubber mallets can bounce unexpectedly or cause pieces to shoot across the shop. Mishits can result in serious bruising or eye injuries.
18. Wire Brushes
Hand wire brushes can shed sharp bristles that pierce skin, while rotary wire brushes can throw bristles at high speed, leading to deep punctures or eye injuries.
19. Sandpaper and Sanding Blocks
Extended hand sanding can cause serious abrasions, blisters, and even infections. Touching a spinning power sander can also burn or tear skin almost instantly.
20. Hand Drills
When a drill bit catches unexpectedly, it can whip the drill violently, spraining wrists or slamming the drill into your body.
21. Glue Guns
Hot glue guns seem harmless, but they shoot scalding glue that can cause instant burns. Even small drips can stick and burn badly before you can react.
22. Extension Cords
Old or damaged cords are a huge trip hazard in the shop. Plus, overloading a cord can cause short circuits or even fires if not rated properly for the tools you’re using.
23. Shop Vacs
Powerful shop vacs can pick up sharp debris that can shoot back out. Mishandling the hose or changing filters without care can also expose you to harmful dust.
24. Bench Scrapers and Paint Scrapers
Sharp edges can easily slice fingers during simple scraping work, especially if the scraper skips across the surface unexpectedly.
25. Pry Bars and Wonder Bars
Prying apart wood or fixtures takes serious force. If the bar slips, it can snap back into your body or send chunks of material flying toward your face.
26. Utility Shears and Scissors
Heavy-duty shop shears are strong enough to cut metal — and soft tissue just as easily. Slips while cutting thick materials can cause severe gashes.
27. Calipers and Marking Knives
Marking knives are razor-sharp to make precise cuts, but it takes only a tiny slip to jab yourself. Even steel calipers can pinch hard enough to break skin if mishandled.
28. Tape Measures
A fast-retracting tape blade can slice fingers open or whip across your face if it slips from a high measurement and snaps back uncontrolled.
29. Woodburning Tools
These operate at high heat and can stay dangerously hot long after you unplug them. A simple brush of the tip can cause deep burns without warning.
Every tool in your shop deserves respect, no matter how harmless it seems at first glance.
By staying alert, keeping your tools in good condition, and working with good habits, you can avoid most accidents and keep your time in the shop both productive and safe.
Stay sharp, stay safe, and always treat every tool like it can bite — because it can.