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View Full Version : My first and hopefully LAST lathe accident



Jeff Walters
10-19-2015, 10:03 PM
HI All,

I wanted to post this mostly for some of the new turners out there to point out the need to be on your toes when it comes to safety in the shop however it is a reminder for all of us.

Friday evening, after turning for about 4 hours while preparing for a show, I had my first accident. I was turning the bottom of a 8" Ash bowl when I had to stop and wipe of my face shield. I turned around, took off the shield and wiped it off with a cloth and then turned around just as the bowl came out of the Cole Jaws and hit me in the forehead. It happened so fast I wasn't even aware of it. I remember thinking, "Why do I feel this way?" and then I looked at the lathe and the bowl was gone and then I felt the trickle of blood along my nose. The first picture below was taken in the hospital about an hour after the accident. They took some CAT Scans and determined that there was no fracture or any damage. I was not dizzy, sleepy, Nauseous nor was my vision blurry. So they sent me home and told my wife to check on me a few times during the night.

The next day I had no pain at all but the swelling started draining down around my eyes just like the doctor said it would. I was back at work today but looked pretty scary. I little early Halloween present for my coworkers. Below are the pictures. The first one is from the hospital about an hour after the accident and the second on is today.

The mistakes I made where:

Turning past the point of being tired so I wasn't making the best decisions.
Not turning off the lathe when I turned around to clean my face shield.
Not putting my face shield back on before turning back to the lathe.

In my wood turning club meeting on Sunday, they asked me to get up and talk about it and then the president said that he challenges everyone to talk about their mistakes to other members. Not to me embarrassed or ashamed about it. And I agree. we need to talk about these things and pass on what we learned to help other avoid the same mistakes and be glad we can share them

I thank God I am OK and can share this with all my friends here in the Creek. For our new friends out there, Please:


Always where a face shield when facing the lathe
Where a short sleeved smock or shirt
Do not wear any jewelry of any kind
If your hair is much past your shoulders, put it in the pony tail
And finally, take your time and do not push yourself past your Physical and Mental limits


Thank You....Jeff Walters


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Roger Chandler
10-19-2015, 10:23 PM
So glad it was not worse, and in a while you will be all healed up. Thanks for the safety reminders, and take good care of yourself!

Aaron Craven
10-19-2015, 10:49 PM
Ouch! Glad it wasn't more serious, and thanks for the reminder!

Ken Fitzgerald
10-19-2015, 10:56 PM
Ouch! Thanks for sharing and reminding us to be careful!

Dave Ray
10-19-2015, 11:07 PM
Hope you heal quick, thanks for posting and safety reminders

Steve Schlumpf
10-19-2015, 11:13 PM
Jeff - stuff happens so quickly - very happy that it wasn't a debilitating injury! Hope you heal quickly and completely! I also agree that sharing accidents and the situations under which they happen may help prevent future injuries just by alerting others to the hazards.

Brad Barnhart
10-19-2015, 11:27 PM
Happy to hear you're ok, Mr. Jeff. That looks like it smarted a little!:( its appreciated to hear about things like this. As a beginner, it makes me more aware of the things that can happen, & how fast they do. Get well quick, Sir!!:)

Geoff Whaling
10-20-2015, 6:26 AM
Jeff I hope you heal quickly. Thank you for sharing your experience. I agree - turners do need to talk about these things more often & should not feel embarrassed about sharing their experiences.

I am so thankful you were not more seriously injured.

Tony Cognato
10-20-2015, 7:52 AM
Thank you for having the courage to post this. My experience as an electrician has taught me that it is oftentimes the more seasoned operator who gets hurt because over time they sometimes lose their fear ( respect ) for the potential dangers. I think it is human nature that we get "cocky" or perhaps over confident and hence take chances. Thank God you are okay and best of luck getting back at it.

Montgomery Scott
10-20-2015, 10:03 AM
You forgot to include: Keep all factory guards in place when possible.

Jeff Walters
10-20-2015, 10:10 AM
That's a very good point.

Dexter Harris
10-20-2015, 11:44 AM
Hello guys. 1st post. Thanks Jeff for sharing your experience. Again, good that you are ok. You mentioned cole jaws and I, being a user of them also, wonder what speed you were operating at and why did the bowl come off?

Jeff Walters
10-20-2015, 12:10 PM
I was turning a little higher than recomended, 800 RPM. As far as why it came off, I am not sure. I suspect it loosened up and was ready to go anyway. Just my luck that it caught me with my shield off.

Jeff

Dexter Harris
10-20-2015, 12:31 PM
Yessir, that sounds a high. I have the 16 inch Big Easy cole jaws from Easy Tools and have not had it over 400 rpms on my Grizzly GO733. Have never worn a face shield while using it. That might now change.

David C. Roseman
10-20-2015, 12:36 PM
Thanks for posting, Jeff. Looks like you're on the mend.

I'll add another safety point. Wood fibers crush with pressure and move with moisture exchange. So it never hurts to stop from time to time and recheck the tightness of the chuck jaws or Cole jaws on the work piece.

Mark Henshaw
10-20-2015, 1:40 PM
Jeff,
Please let me know what kind of face shield you typically wear and if you believe it would have significantly reduced the impact if you were wearing it. It looks like the impact was quite high on your head. I usually wear the standard light weight face shield that is purchased at any of the big box stores. I question how much protection it is giving me, particularly when turning bowls.
Mark

Jeff Walters
10-20-2015, 1:49 PM
I too was using a light weight shield from Lowes. I've had guys in my club say that that have heard og people still being injured while wearing them so suggested I get a Polycarbonate face shield and pointed me to the Uvex S8510 Bionic Shield available on Amazon. Mine will arrive tomorrow.

Jeff

Reed Gray
10-20-2015, 3:17 PM
I don't use the cole jaws, but have heard that you keep the tail stock up there till you have done as much as possible, then move it out of the way for the last little bit. Standing out of the line of fire as much as possible helps too.

robo hippy

Wally Dickerman
10-20-2015, 3:31 PM
Sorry to hear of your accident. Thanks for sharing.

When I use cole jaws I always have the tool rest positioned in front of the foot and close to the wood. I have had the bowl come loose but it has never come off. 800 rpm sounds okay to me for a small bowl.

Safe turning

Dok Yager
10-20-2015, 4:55 PM
Jeff, Glad you are Ok! I agree with the Uvex S8510 shield. I have used one for a couple of years and have luckily had only one small piece come off and hit me. Saved by the shield! My neighbor was not so lucky last year and got hit in the hand and forehead by a piece of purpleheart that went through into his attic!! He however was turning it WAY too fast.

Thom Sturgill
10-20-2015, 5:51 PM
+1 to what Wally said. Thanks for posting the graphic reminder. I rarely use cole jaws any more, preferring the vacuum chuck or if it is too porous a donut chuck.

Jeff Walters
10-20-2015, 8:32 PM
Hi Thom,

I am indeed working on my vacuum chuck. I have made a couple of the PVC type however I can never seem to get the bowl trued up on them. There is always wobble. So I will most likely make one out of segmented rings which is what Ernie Conover taught me. I just have to get some time.

Jeff

Bob Bergstrom
10-21-2015, 12:09 AM
I'm going to see Jimmy Clews demo Saturday for the Chicago Woodturners. As fast as he spins wood maybe I'll wear my face shield. I stuff a garden kneeler in my coveralls when roughing out bowls as a chest protector. I was hit in the sternum with a chunk of hard maple and it hurt for three weeks. Thanks for the reminder. Glad it wasn't worse.