amateur eric Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Got to reading on a thread about some different accidents people have had that either caused severe damage or they were lucky. What experiences have you guys had? What was the damage? Lessons learned? Your bad ideas then can save someone's life now. Share your accidents? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Luckily mine wasn't news worthy. I was ripping a 1x, not using a blade guard or push stick. I pushed it thru and was bringing it back toward me when my finger touched the blade. Fortunately my finger and the blade were moving in the same direction. An old rag and a piece of duct tape and I was back in action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Tablesaw vs finger at 19 years old , trying to cut halfway through a board using the miter gauge. I shut off the saw and was letting the blade slow down, the board slipped forward got kicked out and my pinky finished stopping the blade. It cut the nail in half down the center, there is still a ridge because it damaged the nail bed. Now it's a reminder to be safe and use jigs, push sticks, Grrripper blocks and always remember to wear your safety glasses ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ..Kev Posted December 23, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Hauling lumber into the shop. Had gloves on. Lumber slipped, I tried to catch, smashed finger between the lumber and my bench. Exploded the end of my finger and it's still numb today. Point being that sometimes, $h1t happens. You can be doing everything correctly and still get hurt. I'll be the first to admit that paying attention and following good safety practices reduce injuries but, they don't prevent them. If you wish to never be injured, wrap yourself in bubble wrap and take your food thru a straw for the rest of your life. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I keep banging my hip on this stupid extra long fence rail on my Laguna bandsaw. The guys won't let me hack it off. Other than that, I've been lucky aside from a few splinters and blood blisters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Eric, Make a bumper out of foam pipe insulation and some duct tape that will just slide over it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I keep banging my hip on this stupid extra long fence rail on my Laguna bandsaw. The guys won't let me hack it off. Other than that, I've been lucky aside from a few splinters and blood blisters. Which "guys"? Eric, Make a bumper out of foam pipe insulation and some duct tape that will just slide over it . Great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Which "guys"? THE guys. Can't remember exactly. Pretty sure Steve is one of them, though. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 THE guys. Can't remember exactly. Pretty sure Steve is one of them, though. LOL Ah, ok.. You mean the "guys" here.. Gotchya! I'm on board now.. Wait, what was the question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I vaguely remember voicing an opinion about that. I modified a machine for similar reasons and lived to regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroDave Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Eric... I keep hitting that thing in my Laguna too... I thought it was just me... Hey "Guys" there's two of us now... Can we cut it off now please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyrolan Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I keep banging my hip on this stupid extra long fence rail on my Laguna bandsaw. The guys won't let me hack it off. Other than that, I've been lucky aside from a few splinters and blood blisters. That is correct. Hacking off pieces of your Laguna is as bad as staining walnut. And for when Mike Woodsap reads this, that goes doubly for you mister wanna-cut-my-SawStop-rails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Well I've been using the machine for about six months now I guess...and I still haven't encountered a time when I thought, "Ah-ha! Sure am glad I didn't hack that off so I can do THIS...thing...I'll never need to do again." I do, however, have a perpetual bruise on my right hip. You have to remember...I have two bandsaws, so if hacking the rail off of the one screws me out of fulfilling some once-in-a-lifetime oddball need...I could just do it on the other one instead. But I guess you guys second-guessed me into submission. Okay, thread-jack...sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I don't run my finger down the edge of a blade to see how sharp it is anymore. Why do we do that? It must be something in human nature that makes us as the question "I wonder if that is sharp?" - next minute spurting blood all over the workpiece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Had to check, you did not limit to woodworking. All but one can be attributed to rushing and frustration. This includes smashing my left hand and digits with a hammer (because I am right hand dominant.) This includes carelessly trimming part of my thumb with a razor knife. This does not include the foolish ignorance. Got my finger into a big grinder because I did not know at the time to adjust the rest in. My piece got wedged. I still have all my fingers, I came away with one warped finger nail. Lots of "could have been worse" moments... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I've been pretty fortunate. In the 'injury' department, I've only had minor issues - splinters, banged knuckles, small nicks on the fingers from chisels. Nothing involving a moving blade, thankfully. In the "close call" department, I was ripping a small piece of plywood and had some kickback. The piece whipped right past my head and landed about 20' away. I keep it mounted on the wall as a reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 almost cut my pinky off i was cuting a block of wood on my bandsaw to use as a turning blank the blade was dull and i was trying to force the cut so i was pushing hard and when it poped through my hand jerked and i almost lost my finger. after surgery and several months of rehab i learned keep your tools sharp so you dont have to use lots of pressure and let the tool do the work dont force it.. would not have happened if my tools had been sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Left bird finger cut off, reattached now numb for life. Right index finger end cut off sort of Frankensteined back together dead and looks stupid nail grows all the way around both on RAS. Left thumb at top knuckle cut to the bone severed tendon stuck on a planer blade machine not running. Lots of other little ones and brad blow outs stuck in fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-astragal Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 10 yrs ago I was pattern shaping a curved rail. I was using a rub bearing and for some stupid reason wanted to take a grazing cut first then follow it up with a final clean up cut. Why? Idk. The part caught and kicked back dragging my fingers through the sticking pattern head. Main injury was it split my index finger down the middle. Finger tip bone was a perfect pickle fork in the X-ray. Crazy thing was it never hurt, just a pinch then o never had pain. It healed well but I had 2 fingernail halves that met in a ridge down the middle. Lesson learned: must be in contact with a fence or bearing at all times. Never free hand anything, even if you're a pro like me. Latest injury was the same finger which is now gone bye bye. It was a very unfortunate case of poor machine design. I can't disclose any other details at this point but when I can I'll share. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cochese Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Various cuts that I never can explain how they happen. Usually don't hurt, just notice occasionally a few get locally infected. A bit of antibiotic and a bandaid for a day does the trick. Kick back from my table saw, bruise on my stomach. Kick back from a router, brown underpants. Thankfully, nothing permanent thus far, and I'll go knock on each piece of wood to keep it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 All of my injuries are related to standing in front of a perfectly good vice, and holding a work piece in one hand. Flush trim saw through my thumb Aluminum Stomp Box turned helicopter rotary blade on my power drill Small End Grain Oak Cutting Board in an unsafely set up jointer - became weaponized, flew just past me, and put a giant gash in a wall stud. I also have a shop vac hose related injury but... um....it's better I don't talk about that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapid Roger Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 My worst one wasn't woodworking related but it was wood shop related. I was dusting and cleaning shop lights and ceiling fan on a ladder (9'-6" ceiling in the shop) and when the ladder fell while I was on it, the first thing to hit the cement floor was my right hip. Broke the ball off the tibia (have a new titanium ball now) but, was still VERY LUCKY. My head missed a VERY SOLID work bench by about 2" I would guess or I wouldn't be posting this. Yes, poopo does occur even without sharp stuff. Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroDave Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Just starting out and I have various nicks and scraps from my knuckles hitting the spindle sander, blood blisters and of course splinters. I have been very conscious of safety but I have gained increased respect for these machines and their power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-astragal Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I had an employee once that was running glass bead, parting off the waste on a 5 hp power feed saw. We had told him to keep sticks feeding butt to butt and stay out of the"gun barrel" that is the front of the saw. Well this one day he was moving in low speed, probably from too much partying the night before. He didn't clear the previous stick and turned his butt toward the danger zone to pick up a work piece and BOOM! The saw hurled the 1/2"X1/2" stick of moulding about 7 inches into his ass cheek. He look like he'd been shot with a bow and arrow. Fortunately he was fine. It just lodged tangentially in the fat later. Good thing he wasn't facing forward. Could have pierced his belly. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cochese Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I had an employee once that was running glass bead, parting off the waste on a 5 hp power feed saw. We had told him to keep sticks feeding butt to butt and stay out of the"gun barrel" that is the front of the saw. Well this one day he was moving in low speed, probably from too much partying the night before. He didn't clear the previous stick and turned his butt toward the danger zone to pick up a work piece and BOOM! The saw hurled the 1/2"X1/2" stick of moulding about 7 inches into his ass cheek. He look like he'd been shot with a bow and arrow. Fortunately he was fine. It just lodged tangentially in the fat later. Good thing he wasn't facing forward. Could have pierced his belly. Steve One in a million shot, doc... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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