Homage to Curt Schilling - PICS

[John Hulett]

Let me first state that I AM NOT A RED SOX FAN.

Having said that, I started out this fine holiday weekend intending to build out my side of the master walkin closet. In short order, I had finished the cutting down the first two sheets of melamine into finished sizes. I dragged the third out onto one of my mobile workbenches. I measured, marked and clamped my trusty strait edge (4' level) accross the width of the sheet. I manuvered my second mobile workbench under the cutoff side of the melamine to support it and hold it when the cut was complete.

Mind you, this is the same method I always use. Evidently, I either didn't have it under far enough or I pushed the main one away from the second one while making the cut, but when the cut was completed, the cutoff - complete with strait edge and clamps fell directly onto my big toe.:(

After hopping around and saying a few choice words that cannot be broadcast over terrestrial radio, I finally sat down and pulled the shoe off. What I found was one bloody sock (hence, the Curt Schilling reference).:eek:

I thought I'd be sitting out for about a half hour and get back to it, but at this point, I'd be surprised to get back out there at all this weekend.:mad: Perhapse I'll shop the Internet for some new steel toed shoes. Anyone have any recommendations?

Hope your weekend plans go better than mine!

- John

For the pic police:

[Cody Colston]

Tomorrow, heat up a big needle and burn a hole through the top of your toenail. It will relieve the pressure by draining off the blood underneath. It should be bearable then for shop work.

BTW, I'm not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. :p

[Todd Jensen]

Nice toe picture. As for a recommendation, I'd say paying attention trumps protective gear, but maybe thats just me. No offense, but sometimes, stuff happens, and next time you're not paying attention, that cutoff will fall on the middle of your foot, cleanly missing the steel protection. If you've got to wear steel toed boots/shoes in your shop while woodworking, you're going about your business all wrong. I'm not saying wear flipflops, but your average sturdy leather shoe should be enough.
That said, sorry about your toe. And for future reference, posting gross pictures of low level injuries will almost always garner a form of smart-aleck response from me. :D p.s. Hilarious post, Cody, and ditto on the relieving pressure technique, and say your last rites for that toenail, its likely a goner.

[Bert Johansen]

Ouch! I know that hurts like the dickens. LOML has some magic potion called "AC Cream" and it really stops the pain and speeds the healing. Don't know where she gets it, but check around.

I hate wrestling plywood and melamine around, so several years ago I glued up a sacrificial table and have it atop an old table, ready whenever I need it. I also purchased the EZ Smart Guide System and it has been one of my most used purchases. MUCH safer than a table saw, and the accuracy and cut quality can't be beat.

[Jim Becker]

OUCH.

See a doctor. DIY toe drilling isn't something I'd recommend...

[Nate Rogers]

Hey,
What the heck is wrong with sandles/flip flops in the shop???? BTW sorry about the toe..

Nate

[John Hulett]

As for a recommendation, I'd say paying attention trumps protective gear, but maybe thats just me. No offense, but sometimes, stuff happens, and next time you're not paying attention, that cutoff will fall on the middle of your foot, cleanly missing the steel protection. If you've got to wear steel toed boots/shoes in your shop while woodworking, you're going about your business all wrong. I'm not saying wear flipflops, but your average sturdy leather shoe should be enough.
....and say your last rites for that toenail, its likely a goner.

Todd,

You're right about two things; first I needed to pay more attention, and second I kissed my toe goodbye before I even saw it.

I was really just poking fun at myself regarding the steel toed boots.:o

- John

[John Hulett]

Tomorrow, heat up a big needle and burn a hole through the top of your toenail. It will relieve the pressure by draining off the blood underneath. It should be bearable then for shop work.



ditto on the relieving pressure technique, and say your last rites for that toenail, its likely a goner.


See a doctor. DIY toe drilling isn't something I'd recommend...

I don't see me doing it myself. Would a doctor visit really be worthwhile?

[Pat Germain]

OUCH.

DIY toe drilling isn't something I'd recommend...

Not even if you've got a swell drill press standing by? ;)

[John Hulett]

Just thinking out loud here...

I wonder if I can parlay this into justification for buying a Sawstop? :rolleyes:

- John

[Jim Thiel]

I wonder if I can parlay this into justification for buying a Sawstop? :rolleyes:


"Honey, this wouldn't have happened if I had a euro Slider. Grizzly has one on sale for only 15,995.00"

Really, I'd go for it. I don't see this going south for you at all. Roses all the way.

Jim

[Jason Richer]

Heat a large paper clip to red hot and burn a hole into the nail. It will hurt for a second and then R E L I E F

I've done it a few times since the ER doctor showed me how.... No kidding.

[Bill Huber]

Ok, I have to do it....... I shouldn't but I just feel I have to ask the question...


Did you call a tow truck ?


I agree, go have a Dr. look at it....

[Brian Walter]

You can go see a doctor if it would make you feel better, but when had a similar accident (dropping something heavy on my big toe that is) I went to the doctor and they did used what looked like a soldering iron to melt a hole in the toe nail. The pressure was high enough that when it went through, the blood squirted all the way to the ceiling.

It felt better for the rest of the night, but the next day the pressure was building back up again, the hole had scabbed over from the inside and sealed itself back up. This time I melted my own hole in it and it worked just fine. I remember when I was young, my father actually used a twist drill to drill a hole in my thumb nail. He held a very fine drill bit between his fingers and simply spun it back and forth while applying very light pressure to the nail. After about a minute it poked through.

Sorry to hear about the toe, I know they really do hurt more than they have any right to.

Brian Walter

[Greg Funk]

I don't see me doing it myself. Would a doctor visit really be worthwhile?
It doesn't hurt and it won't hurt any less at the Doctor's office. Clean a needle with alcohol, heat it up and gently insert. It goes in easily. If you do it quickly you might save the nail. In my experience if you wait you will most likely lose the nail.

Greg

[Tim Morton]

I did almost the same thing 2 years ago at about the same time...wearing teva's and rooting around for a piece of wood in the shop and pulled a piece of 2x4 out of a pile....yup the one 2x4 that was holding up a sheet of 4x8 plywood. I lost the nail and it took about a full year to grow back...gave me an excuse to lay n the pool and ask my family to bring me beers:)

I didn't do anything...just kept it clean and let it fall off at its own pace...and soaked it hydrogen peroxide from time to time.
PS..a sawstop might be pushing it...but maybe a guided CS? :)

[Jason Roehl]

You didn't manage to get the sock very bloody. As a middle-schooler, I was having some ingrown toenail problems. While in line for something during gym, someone stepped back and accidentally stepped on my toe. I didn't think anything more about it (it didn't hurt any more than normal)--until I took my shoe off in the locker room. HALF of the foot area of the sock was soaked in blood. Yep, I can bleed with the best of them.

I'm with the others on the hot needle trick. I haven't had to do it yet, but several of my friends have done it to their kids. ;) Oh, and if it's red hot, you shouldn't need alcohol on it...

[John Hulett]

PS..a sawstop might be pushing it...but maybe a guided CS? :)

Okay... here's my thinking. When it happened, LOML was in the back yard. I yelled out in pain (along with those choice words I mentioned earlier). The first thought LOML has, confident as she is :o , is that I've cut off my hand.

"Gee, if you're really that worried about something like that, they've got this table saw that stops in an instant if the blade touches your hand. Guess what they call it. Here's the web site. Look at the video. Scary, huh?"

Oddly enough, I was looking at the Festool stuff on their web site earlier this week.

- John

[Todd Jensen]

Probably nothing Nate, but I'm a 2/3 woodshop, 1/3 metalshop type of guy, and metal objects and welding sparks do a number on my woosy toes. :) And as far as 'field surgery', its gonna be up to you John. Its going to hurt no more or no less, home or dr., and probably a similar chance of infection under controlled conditions. That said, its completely understood if having a nurse near by helps take your mind off it....:rolleyes: ...or the LOYL.:cool:

[Adam Burgess]

first of all, whats wrong with being a red sox fan from riverside? i am. and if you really wanted to make it a tribute to curt you would have kept working though the pain.

but seriously if you do want to get some steal toe boots check out the red wings store in the brockton arcade. i think they even sell caps that sick on any shoe.

[Tim Morton]

first of all, whats wrong with being a red sox fan from riverside? i am. and if you really wanted to make it a tribute to curt you would have kept working though the pain.

but seriously if you do want to get some steal toe boots check out the red wings store in the brockton arcade. i think they even sell caps that sick on any shoe.

go sox:D:D

[Matthew Hindman]

OK, I agree that safe practices are best, but I also think that steel-toed shoes needn't be a joke. You can get them at Wal-Mart in anything from a sneaker style to waterproof leather boots, and most cost around only $30-35. I got some for yard work and to wear in the shop. I do occasionally drop things! Just my worthless 2 cents.

[James Carmichael]

Ouch!

Ditto the steel toes, though I don't wear them (and should know better).

A couple years back, I did my first Tim Taylor impression, a trip to the ER after droping a very sharp 1 1/2" bench chisel on my sandaled second toe, which now has a nice zipper down its length.

The pain caused by that experience has caused me to be much more careful. Not the pain of the cut, that was nothing, but the sarcasm from LOML and answering my insurance company's accident questionaire, that was a pain!

[John Hulett]

UPDATE:

I opted not to do the 'field surgery.' I'll just let things take their natural course. The rest of the toe has bruised nicely now, and even migrated on to the second toe.

I did get back out there yesterday and got everyting cut that needed to be cut. The only exception is the drawer pieces are cut to width, but not to length, as I am debating on dovetails as opposed to pocket hole joinery. I basically got to the point where I should have been by the end of Saturday.

Oddly enough, working the sheetgoods was not too bad. The bad part was mowing the lawn. It seems that standing in one spot (for the most part) while working the wood was much discomforting that walking behind the mower. I ended the day yesterday with another boody sock after being on it most of the day.