I was working on a 30" X 6" stick of Ash to place a magnetic knife holder into and to do so had to cut a blind dado for an inset to be trued up with hand router and chisel. The blind dado involved putting reference marks on the fence and anchoring one end and bringing the other slowly down onto the 3/4 dado set at a quarter deep and then carefully moving it to the second reference mark. First, I have done this many times in the past carefully and with shallow cuts. Second, I have always been aware of where my fingers were in relation to the blade, just in case something were to go wrong. Third, this was a process I had done repeatedly to where it was almost automatic and I had layed it out the day before. Fourth, and importantly, my mind was on upcoming projects and the finish of this one which had a deadline of a couple of days. All of this led to what was to transpire.
As I lowered the board unto the spinning blades, anchoring the front end and lowering the rear end, the dado grabbed it and pulled it right through along with my hand holding the anchored end. I felt it and knew immediately what I had done. I turned off the saw and was afraid to look at my hand. I realized I had to as blood was gushing from my middle finger on my left hand. My Wife/Nurse/Partner/Assistant was in town, 17 miles away so I called our neighbor. I grabbed a rag and wrapped it and ignorantly squeezed, but it did slow down the blood.
I had just dadoed my middle finger and it was bad. We went to the nearest Hospital and after looking at it and redressing it they sent us to Louisville Jewish Hospital about 50 miles away, known for, among other things, its Hand Specialists. I had to have about a inch of the finger amputated. About 7 hours later we were back home.
I am writing this for two reasons. 1) to present to the members here the stupidity of my actions and let them analyze all the ignorant things I did wrong so, quite possibly, they will not make any of the many mistakes I did and, 2) To hash and rehash in my own mind all that I did wrong while it is fresh. I think the most important is not being totally focused on what I was doing.
Anyhow, I hope this will cause you all to think and reflect on how quick this can happen, regardless of how long you have been doing this Skill/hobby/vocation/art we all love and enjoy. I have many years in at this and am learning every day, but obviously not fast enough.
Your comments will not offend me, I have earned any negative ones and would welcome constructive ones also. The positive is, it could have been much worse.