re: Lessons learned...or what every new woodworker should know...

I loved your list. Can relate on several issues. My biggest issue is with the drill press. For some reason, when I get closer than an arm’s length of it, my sense of caution seems to go out the window. Perhaps it is because it looks so quiet and harmless there. I have learned more than once the hard way (or . . . maybe I still haven’t learned!) to take care when removing the bit from it. Those sharp bits can bite. Then I need to refer to #3. It sucks.

Another lingering problem I can’t get over is leaving the chuck key in and turning it on. I need to get the spring loaded chuck key. I know that. But I always think I learned.

That will be my contribution to the list:

1. - Turning on the drill press without removing the chuck key will launch a small missile into your head better than NASA.

I think I really figured it out this time. :/