Blood comes too easily........

[Roger Chandler]

I thought that I would post a reminder about how easily things can go wrong in the wood shop........have you ever tried typing without the use of your index finger? :eek: Believe me it is taking me 3 times as long, and every word I am having to go back and correct.....fingers on wrong keys!

Anyway, I had 2 mishaps in the shop today..........let me preface this by saying that I am very safety minded........I have done wood working for 25 years, and in the past, I was a meat cutter for some very large grocery chains, for over 18 years, and I still have all 10 fingers, thankfully.

That almost changed today.........first, I was trying to square off the slanted end of a maple log to prep it for the lathe.......the big blade just took it out of my grip, and I was using a miter guage to back up the cut and give it support........the log rolled and was thrown back at me when it slammed the table, and my hands were drawn way too close to the blade.......:eek: SCARY!

Later I was trying to sharpen a bit for my monster rig, and had it held against the platform with my fingers.............it slipped and my finger was pulled into the grinding wheel.........took off the end of my finger through all the skin, and part of the nail. :eek::(

I will make myself a block to place the cutter bit in from now on...:o:o:o.....the grinder is usually thought of as somewhat benign as wood working tools go, but please be careful.......it can do you harm!!!

I am done for the day............time for some due reflection about safety on my part.......I hope for you too! :)

[Roland Martin]

Sadly, I've had a log thrown at me from the band saw, same thing, it slamed down on the table, hit me in the chest, pushed me back 5 feet or so and finally caught my breath in 5 minutes. Ended up being fine, but a lesson, hopefully forever, was learned. I have'nt made a clamp block for the small bits yet, thanks for the reminder. Sorry about your episode and hope you heal quickly, I would imagine the end of your finger burns like all hell!

[Jim Burr]

I hear ya Roger. I found a knot buried in a peice of cherry that the table saw blade grabbed, along with my hand. I had 3 pro woodworkers come by so I could see what I did wrong. They all said it was a freak thing. 65 stitches, pins and 3 surgeries later, I'm still a heck of a guitar player, and a more cautious wood worker too!
I think near misses...or a hit, make us better. Glad you made it out ok and came up with some better ways to handle those tasks.

[Chip Sutherland]

I have a previous bandsaw mishap in my past which sent me to the ER. Didn't lose any fingers but very close. I have not experienced this type of mishap on a bandsaw but I think about it a lot.

As for the grinder, I do mine by hand, too, so I will need to rethink this, too. My tool platform is flush to the grind wheel but I'm still at risk for a nasty abrasion.

Thanks for the safety posting.

[Ryan Hellmer]

I've sustained more injuries from a bandsaw than any other tool (and both of them were before the age of 13). I have a nice scar on my chin from cutting a round workpiece that caught, rolled and shot up at me. Even the more "benign" power tools have some serious risk. Thanks for keeping us vigilant.

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

Hey Roger,
Sorry you got hurt. Hope it never happens again. If I lost use of an index finger, my typing would be twice as slow as it is with both.
faust

[Steve Vaughan]

Yup, all that. Glad you're OK...well, it could have been way worse, we all know. I'm very familiar with that old bandsaw and grinder tricks. In fact, I've done it enough times to prove the point that I apparently didn't learn the first time! Still got all my fingers and such, but you're so right - in the blink of an eye, it can all change.

[John Keeton]

Nuthin' with a moving blade or part is benign!! Roger, sorry you had mishaps, but glad nothing serious! We have all been less than cautious at times - it just takes a split second!

[Tim Thiebaut]

Sorry to hear you got hurt, glad it wasnt worse then it was. I could swear I have seen a jig for the monster rig boring bits somewhere recently I just cant remember if it was one someone made on their own, or if it was a commercial for sale version, if I remember where I saw it I will post it up here for ya.

[Michael James]

Call me chicken but I clamp my monster cutters with vicegrips. Also, as mentioned are jigs, or it would be easy enough to make one methinks. Glad you were not hurt more seriously.

[Baxter Smith]

Glad it wasn't more serious Roger. Amazing how many things we do that end up seeming rather dumb later. Figure I can say that since I've been there done that relative to bandsaws and grinders.

[mickey cassiba]

There's a sig line around here that pretty much sums it up...something about things with teeth and meat. Hope everything heals up alright!
Mick

[Bernie Weishapl]

Sorry to hear about your mishaps Roger. Had the same thing happen 5 yrs ago on my bandsaw. Won't do that again. Also made a aluminum 3 jigs with a set screw to sharpen my cutters. One for each size cutter. Yep I have a finger that has a scar. Heal quickly.

[Roger Chandler]

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes..........this will heal up in 2 or so weeks........nasty wound, but thankfully in the grand scheme of things it is still considered a minor wound.

Lets ALL stay safe out in our shops!!!

[Dan Forman]

Roger --- Hope you heal quickly, and are able to get back to turning soon. As you may remember, I had a bit of a mishap of my own about a month ago involving three fingers, so yes, I know what it does to typing, not to mention dish washing and other household chores. Two are now fully healed, the third just lost the scab a few days ago, but is still in the process of filling in what the jointer removed. All are still tender. I just started typing with all fingers yesterday - it is a big relief, but still have to go gently. Glad I have one of the new, short throw Mac keyboards. No guitar for this picker for another month or two I suspect.

Tylenol works surprisingly well for that sort of pain, the oxycodone they gave me made me sick after the second day, so I quit taking it.

Dan

[David E Keller]

No pictures, didn't.... Aw, nevermind. I'll take your word on this one.

Get well soon!

[Roger Chandler]

Roger --- Hope you heal quickly, and are able to get back to turning soon. As you may remember, I had a bit of a mishap of my own about a month ago involving three fingers, so yes, I know what it does to typing, not to mention dish washing and other household chores. Two are now fully healed, the third just lost the scab a few days ago, but is still in the process of filling in what the jointer removed. All are still tender. I just started typing with all fingers yesterday - it is a big relief, but still have to go gently. Glad I have one of the new, short throw Mac keyboards. No guitar for this picker for another month or two I suspect.


Tylenol works surprisingly well for that sort of pain, the oxycodone they gave me made me sick after the second day, so I quit taking it.

Dan

Dan.............I thought about you today........I was so thankful that big bandsaw didn't get me! I thought about your tangle with the jointer.......man, that thing will gnaw you up.

I am glad to hear you are recovering well, and I understand the guitar picking thing.........my son plays one very well, I might add. That oxycodone can do a number on your gut......some folks don't tolerate codine very well, and some get addicted, so if you can then it is good that you can get by without it.

It takes me a long time to type now, it is so frustrating.........almost every single word has to be re-typed!

[Roger Chandler]

No pictures, didn't.... Aw, nevermind. I'll take your word on this one.

Get well soon!


Thanks Doc!

[Jeff Nicol]

Roger, So far the band saw and I have not tangled and I hope never to do so, but the grinder and I seem to have a love hate relationship! It loves to take little chunks out of me here and there while sharpening things or grinding parts for tools and things, most times they are more like burns and just plain sting for a long time. I hope you heal up fast and nothing further happens to have a blood letting. Thanks for keeping us all thinking of safety, it is always a good thing to refresh our minds.

Take care,

Jeff

[Steve Schlumpf]

Roger - been through the bandsaw thing myself and ever since then throw my blanks on the lathe without rounding first. I was lucky in that it ate 2 Timberwolf blades that day - but none of my fingers. Figured that was enough of a sign and have only used the bandsaw for flatwork items ever since.

The grinder sounds like it can bite you at any time... just a matter of circumstances. Hope you heal quickly and I am very happy to hear that your wounds were not serious!

[Jamie Donaldson]

John Jordan does make a nifty little jig for sharpening hollowing bits, and I don't recall the price, but I paid it gladly!

[Kathy Marshall]

Glad to hear you're ok! I've not had any incidents with the bandsaw, but I am extremely careful, to the point of being anal. Same goes for the chainsaw, at least while it's running, but a couple weeks ago I found out that chainsaws bite even when they're off. I was ripping some logs and the saw got clogged with the long shavings, so I turned it off and it was packed pretty good so I removed the bar and chain to give it a good cleaning. When I went to put the bar and chain back on, I laid it on it's side, unfortuneately I missed the handle and grabbed the exhaust, Ouch! there go the fingertips on the left hand. Got the bar and chain back on (with my fingers in my mouth trying to relieve the burn), while I was adjusting the tension, I was moving the chain to check that it was moving freely, when the chain stopped and my finger didn't. Found out the teeth were plenty sharp and lost a nice chunk of the index finger on my right hand. On the plus side, it took my mind off the burns on the left hand, and I perfected a technique for holding and guiding my gouges with my thumb and ring fingers lol.

[Roger Chandler]

Glad to hear you will also heal up soon, Kathy...........I have lost a hunk of meat from a finger more than once with a chainsaw....I try to remember leather gloves when I sharpen chains, but sometimes I get in too big a hurry and that is when stuff usually happens.

[John Hart]

Wow...glad you decided to back off for the day Roger. those kind of days just get worse. The bandsaw is such a quick and easy way to get hurt....not because its the most dangerous, but because it lulls you into complacency...then WHAM! ....Too fast.

You reminded me of the time I was watching the local butcher cutting up chickens on the bandsaw. He was working so fast that it was making me nervous. While I was waiting, he must have cut up 20 chickens...hands darting back and forth within less than an inch from the blade. I was impressed....but thought, "Man...one lapse of attention....."

[Roger Chandler]

Wow...glad you decided to back off for the day Roger. those kind of days just get worse. The bandsaw is such a quick and easy way to get hurt....not because its the most dangerous, but because it lulls you into complacency...then WHAM! ....Too fast.

You reminded me of the time I was watching the local butcher cutting up chickens on the bandsaw. He was working so fast that it was making me nervous. While I was waiting, he must have cut up 20 chickens...hands darting back and forth within less than an inch from the blade. I was impressed....but thought, "Man...one lapse of attention....."

Been there, done that and a lot more! Too bad back then I did not know about DD's chicken schmaltz drying process! :D:D;)

[bob svoboda]

Glad it wasn't any worse. A good reminder to us all, though. BTW the Jordan sharpening jig is about $25 and works like a charm!

[Joel Albert]

John Jordan makes a nice little jig to help sharpen hollowing bits. For a little lower tech, try a pair of vise grips.

[Cathy Schaewe]

I've had those days too - and it's funny how when one thing goes wrong, something else seems to follow pretty quickly. I'm glad you're okay.

[Roger Chandler]

I've had those days too - and it's funny how when one thing goes wrong, something else seems to follow pretty quickly. I'm glad you're okay.

Thank you Ma'am.........you are correct.........it is better to take a step back instead of push ahead sometimes...........a new day a new perspective and a fresh appreciation for safety is a good thing!

[John Hart]

I just came in from the shop and did something sooooo stupid. I was trimming up a blank on the bandsaw...and thinking about this thread. My thoughts were so intense on the blade that I wasn't paying attention. When it came time to shut off the saw, I reached for the blade instead of the OFF switch.

I almost did it.

Sheesh.

[Roger Chandler]

I just came in from the shop and did something sooooo stupid. I was trimming up a blank on the bandsaw...and thinking about this thread. My thoughts were so intense on the blade that I wasn't paying attention. When it came time to shut off the saw, I reached for the blade instead of the OFF switch.

I almost did it.

Sheesh.

John.....:eek::eek::eek:..........maybe we turners need to get a bottle of focus factor to help with our concentration...........glad you caught yourself in time.........scary! :eek:

[Cathy Schaewe]

Ugh. It only takes a second for that lack of attention to strike -