Using the foam cutter today. I set it by the edge of the table and turned around to grab some dacron. I somehow managed to step on the electrical cord which caused the foam cutter to fall off the table, blade first. The foam cutter is okay. My calf slowed its downward movement. But what saved it from total destruction is when the blade hit my heal cushioning the impact to the floor. I'll spare the photo. It really looks a lot worse than it is. Hurts like hell.
Was the saw still on? If so shame on you kody. Hope it all heals well and quickly.
My saw turns off when you let go of the handle. The shame on me part was setting the saw so close to the edge of the table. Another lesson learned.
Last April I worked for a bus conversion company. One day the GM came out to give all the workers a pep talk. One thing she said is everyone needs to start wearing long pants for safety reasons. The warehouse type building was not air conditioned and I thought this unfair. I could understand the welder or the metal worker but the upholsterer? What could possibly go wrong in the upholstery room. Sure wish I was wearing long paints in my shop yesterday.
Yeah the blades are sharp, especially being two of them.
I always wear dickies, boots, etc. It's always something you least expect.
Years ago I was fidgeting with a very sharp serrated camping knife. I'm lucky I still have my index finger. It did cut down to the bone. Permanent tendon damage.
If your talking about one of the pro models and not the portable electric knife - those blades are dangerous. The one I purchased I hung in the ceiling. One day I was reaching for it and took my eye off the handle and grabbed the blade - nasty cut and deep. Now I keep pipe insulation over the blade when it's put away
SA
Yes sharp things will get you when off guard. I have used carpenter knives most of my adult life. One day on a job I didn't have a saw so was cutting a piece of wood trim with the knife. It slipped and what a job it did on my arm I was alone and had to wrap it in a rag till I got back to the shop. All was OK but it was a bit frightening. Gotta pay attention and remember safety.
I thought those pants that you can wear when cutting wood with a chain saw were a joke. But then I saw a video of them in action.
Or that table saw that stops the blade in a fraction of a second if your finger or skin touch the spinning blade.
I have a scar on my hand where my hot iron fell off my cutting table and I instinctively tried to catch it.
KodyD: Your achilles tendon is between your calf and heal. That's where the real damage could have occurred. But then, you could always tell people your limp was from an old football injury instead of from incompetence with an electric turkey knife. (You do use your foam cutter for the turkey don't you?)
Accidents happen. Be safe out there.
I don't think most of us use tablesaws, but..
My father-in-law is an avid woodworker. He is a very safe guy.
One day he was ripping a board, my wife was standing to the side.
He used his pushing stick to guide the board past the blade, and for some reason, the board got jammed and hurtled it back into his midsection.
Needless to say, he was very stunned and suffered quite a bruise.
Even when we are being the most careful we can be, things happen.
I don't know if the new saws would have prevented this; his hand was nowhere near the blade. He's lucky all that happened was some cursing.
I also admit from time to time I forget some kind of protection, but it is often regretted. I am pretty good about ear plugs since I was born with hearing loss. And safety glasses, just get like 10 of those and have them everywhere.
One of my buddies was at my farm and hauled a load of hogs to a slaughter house for me. He went back to his dairy farm and got back to work on a tractor repair. He was using an angle grinder and laid it down on the bench with the disc still spinning. It flew off the able and hit his arm and cut him right down to the bone. He recovered from surgery and didn't lose his arm thank God.
That accident left a lasting impression on me and to this day whenever I am using a saw, grinder or whatever I am extremely careful about where I sit it down.
On another note I knew a guy who was using an angle grinder and the disc exploded. He had safety glasses on but a piece went right under them and took out his eye. One day during lunch he removed his glass eye to clean it. That too left a lasting impression on me and I always wear safety glasses whenever using these kind of tools.
The worst thing I ever did was laid down my skil saw and accidently cut the cord off it.
Glad your OK Kody.
Mojo
My table saw came with an anti kick back feature. It was the first thing I removed. I don't recommend removing it for anyone this was my choice. I am sure that no matter what kind of tool you use every one is dangerous in one way or another. Anti kick back feature would have probably stopped that board from shooting back. I'm with Chris - safety glasses first rule - second rule - safety glasses - third rule don't underestimate any hand or power tool -
I have a friend that has hearing loss from the staple gun - not sure what my lungs look like from sanding dust, and solvents or air borne particles from textiles - etc.
SA
Forth rule: if it looks dangerous, let someone else try it first.
Fifth rule: Never run with scissors in your hands unless they are pointed at someone else and you intend to do serious bodily injury to them.
Sixth rule: Check with your doctor before having sex if you are in an area where ice cream trucks are know to frequent.
gene
Seventh Rule: If Mr. Softy provides hearing protection for Mr. Softy than it's not an issue
SA
I hear they've got pills that will take care of Mr. Softy.
Can we return to our regular programming?
I once read an article in Fine Homebuilding Magazine. The carpenter was ripping limber on his table saw. Someone stepped into the room and asked him a question. He looked up for just a second and that's when he cut his finger off.
1. Never let someone distract you. Always finish what you are doing and turn the machine off before you look away from your project.
2. Never distract someone who is using a power tool. Always wait until they are done before you get their attention.
When I was just out of HS I worked in a shop with 10 guys most yelling Spanish curse words to overcome the noise of the machines. No safety requirements - no eye wash fountain - maybe a box of band aids in the office - poor ventilation - always in a hurry - space heaters pointed at 5 gallon buckets of contact cement to keep it flowing - no dust collection system - trip hazards like wires running across the floor - the boss yelling in Italian to get the jobs done - ate lunch with dust settling around us - never injured and there was always something telling me to be careful no matter what's going on around me.
I went to visit my old boss last year - he's 85 and still has his hands in the business - and in his blood.
SA
I'v got to tell you, I have met many carpenters/trimmers/wood workers who are missing one or 1/2 finger. The guy who built my shop is missing 1/2 digit. An elder upholsterer in this area, now retired has two fingers missing on one hand.
Be careful out there folks.
When I got starved out of making shoes I sub contracted for a guy doing camp maintenance and light construction. One day we were making kitchen cabinets for a camp we were building and he told me to run this tiny piece of wood through the table saw. I started looking for a push stick and says " just hold it by the corner here" . During the ensuing argument I had to point out that he only had 5 digits left and that I intended to keep all 10 of mine.
Quote from: kodydog on November 11, 2017, 10:15:47 am
2. Never distract someone who is using a power tool. Always wait until they are done before you get their attention.
Ed, we have this rule at our shop. If I am in the machine shop working or if someone is sewing we stay clear and do not talk to them.
Mojo
Urgh I wish I hadn't read this thread.
Could you put a warning label on it ..lol..
Suzi
Speaking of safety does anyone remember when June ran her fingers under the foot of her machine ? She posted a pic of her finger and the needle stuck in it. That photo left a lasting impression on me and it is why I have a tool pouch hanging on every machine in our shop. To remove the foot in the event it happens to me or someone else.
It does no good to have tools 3 ft away when your hand is mated to your machine.
I have ran my finger against the foot numerous times and causes an instant moment of shear panic. The foot hits your finger and it scares the hell out of you.
Mojo
Thankfully the closest I have come to pricking my finger with a needle was after the machine had stopped. I hit the point of the needle and put a nice gash in my finger.
I once stapled web of my hand to a chair. I was alone, and could just stretch to reach the diagonals to pull the staple out and free my hand. It hurt like hell and lasted a long time from stretching the skin to reach the pliers.
Paul how did you manage that?
Not paying attention I guess
I think just before you get hurt something is telling you this procedure is risky. Whether you let your common sense deter you or not is left to chance. I was carving a leg years ago and stuck a chisel in my hand - I knew I was pushing the chisel toward my other hand but never thought I'd slip. I cut the nerve - it took 15 years before the other nerve took over the area of the damaged nerve of my index finger then I got the feeling back. This was 35 years ago and it made me a very careful person around tools....... Sorry Suzi :)
SA
Steve I think your right in that we know it is not the best idea to do what we are doing just before we have an accident. I guess we should listen to our inner selves more. An occasional small accident does make you more aware once again. Keeping that "fear" is the trick.
I have had many a day this year I just closed up the machine shop and went home. I was tired and knew I was an accident waiting to happen. I can think of better things to do when you are tired or out of sorts then screw with a band saw, drill press, grinders, cut off saws, metal shears, etc.
Mojo
I have learned firsthand that nerves do re-grow, albeit very slowly.
My accident has lifetime consequences. Sometimes it isn't even your tool, it's how you're doing it.
Yes I remember that well, like wise, since then I keep a small tool kit right by the main machine & basic screw drivers by the others.
It's ok Steve I wont look. :-)
Had my finger 'pinched' a few times by the walking foot, scares the **** out me every time.
Suzi
Quote from: Mojo on November 14, 2017, 05:13:53 am
Speaking of safety does anyone remember when June ran her fingers under the foot of her machine ? She posted a pic of her finger and the needle stuck in it. That photo left a lasting impression on me and it is why I have a tool pouch hanging on every machine in our shop. To remove the foot in the event it happens to me or someone else.
It does no good to have tools 3 ft away when your hand is mated to your machine.
I have ran my finger against the foot numerous times and causes an instant moment of shear panic. The foot hits your finger and it scares the hell out of you.
Mojo