Near miss in the lathe!!!

[Sparky Paessler]

Well what can I say but that I’m stupid sometimes. I was going to turn this 12”x8” blank into a hollow form. It had a bark incursion running through it that I thought only went about a third deep. Though it would look real good! First mistake was that I was a little tired. It was around 5:30 and I had already roughed out a large blank and was going to quit but though I would mount this blank and rough it out a little to see what it was going to look like. I mounted a faceplate to it and brought up the tail stock and started roughing. I had it at the slowest speed and all went well. I got it rounded and balanced and was working on the shape when I decided to kick the speed up a little. What I didn’t realize was that I had cut away most of what was holding the two sides together as I kicked up the speed the blank split apart into two 7 to 8 pound chunks one of which went straight up and busted a hole in the 3/8” plywood on the ceiling. The other tried to shoot out the front of the lathe and hit the tool rest breaking the banjo but it slowing it down enough that I was able to duck and get my hand up as the 8 pound chuck of hard maple flew toward my face.:eek: I caught it with the heal of my left hand and deflected it away from me. You say did I have a faceshield on, NO, I haven’t been wearing one because I didn’t like them getting in the way and they were hot and dusty. I did have safety glasses on. Will I wear a face shield from now on, YES. I wasn’t hurt except for a bruise on my hand but it looks like I won’t be turning until I get a new banjo!

[Carole Valentine]

Darn Sparky! That was a close call! Sure glad you weren't hurt any worse than you were. You just made a decision for me...I have similar piece laying on my bench that I was debating wether or not it would be safe to turn. NOT! When in doubt, toss it. No wonder I enjoy doing Itty Bitty's! LOL

[Jim Ketron]

Glad your Ok Sparky and it was only the banjo that broke!
You are very lucky Bud!

[Dennis Peacock]

Wow Sparky!!!!!!!!!!! Glad you weren't seriously hurt. ALWAYS wear a faceshield, even if it's a cheap one....just wear one. One thing I like about my PM lathe? It has a safety cage that I can let down when I am turning a piece that appears to be even a little questionable.

Glad to here that the only real damage was the new hole in your ceiling. Take care buddy and for heaven's sake....watch those flying pieces of wood.:eek:

[Sparky Paessler]

Thanks Carole, Jim and Dennis. Other than a little post tramatic stress I'm ok. Didn't know I could still move that fast.:rolleyes: I will order a new banjo tomorrow.

[Carole Valentine]

Looks to me like you have far to many blanks stashed there!:D Since it will probably take a while to get your new banjo and for the bruise on your hand to go away, there is the possibility that those blanks may run past their "prime". I know you wouldn't want that to happen so I'd be more than willing to help out if you want to ship a bunch of them my way!:rolleyes::D:D:D

[Sparky Paessler]

Looks to me like you have far to many blanks stashed there!:D Since it will probably take a while to get your new banjo and for the bruise on your hand to go away, there is the possibility that those blanks may run past their "prime". I know you wouldn't want that to happen so I'd be more than willing to help out if you want to ship a bunch of them my way!:rolleyes::D:D:D

Oh Carole you wouldn't want them they all have those dark streaks in them from some beatle.:rolleyes:

[Carole Valentine]

Oh Carole you wouldn't want them they all have those dark streaks in them from some beatle.:rolleyes:

Arrrgh! You're so cruel!:D

[Bill Stevener]

Sounds like quite a trip Sparky. Glad to hear you survived the shrapnel. Hang the broken slide on the wall for reminders.

I guess that's what you call an "E-JET-SHUNG".

In an other post, one of the gang noted that baseball players wear gloves, maybe you should have had on the catchers mitt. ;)

All in all, I''m glad to hear your ok.

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Mark Cothren]

Wow Sparky! That gave me chills...:eek:

Glad you lived to tell the story... all kiddin' aside, glad you're okay and hopefully we'll all learn from your experience.

[Bill Stevener]

Hay Sparky, surprised Carole didn't catch this one. Do you folks always work in your shop with out any shoes?? :eek:

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Sparky Paessler]

Hay Sparky, surprised Carole didn't catch this one. Do you folks always work in your shop with out any shoes?? :eek:

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>:)

Funny Bill!:p I had just run down to the shop to take pictures after getting cleaned up. I usually do wear shoes, well at least on Sundays!:rolleyes:

[Glenn Hodges]

Man I am glad you are alright. That is to close for comfort, but maybe we have all learned from this.

[Bill Stevener]

I will bet you had some cleaning up to do. :cool: I'm getting into the photo thing a bit more these days, and I would like to say that's a nice shot of your ceiling, it's a wonder it missed the light fixture.

[Travis Stinson]

Man Sparky! That was close.:eek: Glad you escaped with only a bruised hand.;)

[John Hart]

Holy Cow Sparky!!! That was scary just reading it. Glad you're ok. Back on the horse eh?

[Gary DeWitt]

Someone's trying to tell you something, Sparky. Glad you're alright. I shudder to think what would have happened if that piece that hit the ceiling had hit your skull!
I'm sure you wear shoes when you're working, too. I used to wear sandals ocaisionally, then I bounced the tip of a dropped skew of the top of a sneaker, and that was the last time I wore sandals.

Gives new meaning to "duck and cover" doesn't it?

Face Sheild Tip: wipe the plastic with a fresh dryer sheet (those softener sheets) and you'll cut down on the static, so the dust doesn't acumulate so fast.

[Sparky Paessler]

Looks to me like you have far to many blanks stashed there!:D Since it will probably take a while to get your new banjo and for the bruise on your hand to go away, there is the possibility that those blanks may run past their "prime". I know you wouldn't want that to happen so I'd be more than willing to help out if you want to ship a bunch of them my way!:rolleyes::D:D:D

Carole

Here is a better picture of the Blanks that I store behind the lathe. I also have a bunch in an outbuilding.

[Keith Burns]

I too am glad you're OK. Thanks for not being to proud to share your experience. Lessons like this need to be shared.

[Jim Becker]

AH...you didn't like that paneling, anyway... :)

Seriously, I'm glad you weren't hurt badly. Tool rest bases can be replaces and walls can be repaired. Chunks of wood moving at incredible speeds towards your body are the really scary part!

[Andy Hoyt]

Sparky - You should know better than to post porn pictures on this site!. All them blanks ....

Glad you're okay.

[Ernie Nyvall]

Too close Sparky... way too close. Glad you're okay and are going to use a face shield from now on. Give me the chills.:eek:

Ernie

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Haven't Had one split like that, but have sent a few flying. You ARE lucky you caught it with just your hand.

Glad you're still around.

Take care.

Bruce

[Robert Watsek]

Sheesh that was a close call Sparky!!! Sure glad nothing more got hurt than your pride and your pocket book.:eek:

Thanks for sharing this mishap with us.

________________

Bob

[Mike Forsman]

Sparky,

Glad to hear that you weren't hurt any more than a bruse on the hand.

[Dick Parr]

Just glad to hear you OK Sparky.;)

[tod evans]

sparky, glad you`re okay! in my younger days i turned a lot and have been knocked silly more than once........be safe:) tod

[Doug Jones]

Sure glad it wasn't any worse,,, safety first.

[Mike Ramsey]

Glad you survived the ordinace Sparky! Can't remember all the times I've
been hit in the face with flying chunks of spinning wood...let me rephrase
that, hit in the FACESHIELD not face ;) . Don't turn without it....

[Jerry Clark]

Thanks for the safety reminder Sparky! :rolleyes: I "forget" to use the face shield sometimes. This will help me remember.:D Glad you are OK.

[Michael Stafford]

Man, Sparky, I think you were very lucky. I am not sure the face shield would have done any good if it had hit you. Maybe it would have cushioned the blow somewhat but I fear you would have awakened later wondering "What hit me?" I sure am glad you were not injured any worse than you were.

Now about all those blanks stacked up behind the lathe. Since they are most certainly going to spoil while you are waiting for a new banjo you may need to distribute them to your turning friends so they can have good homes....:p :D

[Sparky Paessler]

Hi Mike. You can come over and get any of those blanks that you want! I also have some pear and that light cherry looking wood (22 blanks of it) There is also a real black cherry I need to cut that will yield 40 to 50 blanks and in my "Treehouse" there are some pear turning squares that are big enought to turn small boxes out of. Come on by and get some. Then you could go see Mark and I bet he would load you up also.

[Mark Cothren]

I have so much wood now that it would make a whole gang of beavers slobber. Come and get it!

[Sparky Paessler]

Hi Mike. You can come over and get any of those blanks that you want! I also have some pear and that light cherry looking wood (22 blanks of it) There is also a real black cherry I need to cut that will yield 40 to 50 blanks and in my "Treehouse" there are some pear turning squares that are big enought to turn small boxes out of. Come on by and get some. Then you could go see Mark and I bet he would load you up also.

Hi Mark, I meant to say Jim who lives up the road 20 miles or so from me. Your a little farther west 600 miles or there about.

[Jim Ketron]

Yea come on by I love visitors!

[Mark Cothren]

You guys are still welcome, Sparky! 600 miles? Just a good stretch of the legs...:D

Jim never has any wood, anyway...;)