Safety instructions

The tip reaches about 350°C, hot enough to cause a deep burn on a split-second touch. Hold the handle only, return it to a stable stand after every contact, and route the cable away from the table edge so it cannot catch. Never pass an iron hand to hand.

The tip stays burning-hot for minutes after switch-off, and the metal does not change appearance. Never rest an iron on the work surface, never test heat with a finger, and let the iron and stand cool before packing up.

Every project is designed for low voltage only: USB, batteries, or a power supply bought as such. Never connect anything you built to a 230V outlet, never open mains appliances, and never improvise a power supply. This is the one warning on this page where ignoring it is life-threatening, not merely injurious.

A lithium cell that is punctured, bent or short-circuited can heat rapidly and ignite. Do not puncture, bend, drop or short it. Charge on a non-flammable surface, under supervision, never overnight. A cell that swelled, got hot or smells: stop using it, keep it away from anything flammable, and take it to a collection point.

Always cut away from your body, on a cutting mat, never against your hand or knee. The hand holding the part stays behind the blade, never in front of it. A blunt blade slips and is more dangerous than a sharp one, so replace it in time. Retract or sheathe the blade whenever you put the tool down.

When you trim a component leg, the clipped end flies fast and in a random direction, and can hit an eye. Glasses for everyone at the table, not only whoever holds the cutter. Prescription glasses are not safety glasses.

A laser beam, even a weak one, can damage the retina in a fraction of a second, also when reflected off a shiny surface. Never look into the beam or at the spot it hits, never aim it at people, animals or windows, and keep shiny surfaces out of the area. When laser engraving, wear safety glasses rated for the laser's wavelength (printed on both the glasses and the laser). Sunglasses do not protect. Engraving makes smoke and can start a fire: work in a ventilated space, supervised, with an extinguisher within reach.

Liquid resin (from resin printing or epoxy) and solvents such as isopropyl alcohol irritate the skin and airways, and repeated contact can cause a lasting sensitivity. Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses, in a ventilated room, and do not eat, drink or touch your face while working. On skin: wash with soap and water. In the eye: rinse under running water for 15 minutes and see a doctor. Never pour uncured resin down the sink. Read the manufacturer's safety data sheet (SDS).

A drill, saw or grinder cuts whatever it touches, and fast. Clamp the part instead of holding it, keep your hands out of the cutting line, and wear safety glasses. Tie back long hair, and no loose sleeves or jewelry that can get caught. Wait for the tool to stop completely before putting it down, and unplug it or remove the battery before changing a blade or bit.

The site and accounts are for adults (18+). A minor builds only with a parent or guardian in the same room, awake and available. The parent is responsible for choosing the project, the equipment and the supervision. The guide cannot see the table or judge whether the builder is ready for a step, so that decision is the parent’s. In steps with a risk of bodily harm (soldering, blades, lithium batteries), the parent performs the action itself.