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ouch!

Started by etat, May 18, 2004, 04:19:32 PM

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etat

this is embarrassing.  I'm usually pretty safety  conscious.  Try to  keep an eye on everything.  A little bit ago we were cutting 3/4 inch thick 4/8 sheets of oak plywood into one foot by 8 foot strips.  We had about 12 sheets to cut. These cuts need to be accurate so we, and I was watching things close.  Some how that dang blade cut my danged thumb which got it the way.  Now, coulda been worse, had a really thin fine tooth blade and wound up with just one   simple neat little gash to the bone.  My problem I was watching the alignment against the fence and the guy on the other end of the sheet of plywood, and some how I forgot to keep an eye on my thumb.  Just for a second.  Doctored the thumb up and wrapped her up, as I said it went to the bone but should heal fine without stitches.  Just gonna be sore for a few days.  Hoping somebody else will read this and be more careful.
Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

Furby

Yeah, my Grandpa has done that TWICE over the past few years, on his table saw. One BIG gash to the bone on the thumb.  :o Same thumb both times.  ::)
Things happen no mater HOW careful you are, sooner or later.......... :o

Glad to hear you are OK!!!  ;)

etat

Thanks Furby.  My feelings was starting to get hurt cause no one was feeling sorry for me!!!! :)

Thought for a minute I was gonna have to retell the story like I was fishing  to get some attention!!!! ???

Me here suffering in all this pain and all!!!! :D
Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

OneWithWood

Ck, if it helps the pain - I did a similar thing with a small grinder when cleaning up a pin on the crawler prior to some welding.  I had to take the guard off the grinder so it would fit in the small space between the track and the pin.  Thought I was being extra careful because I knew the guard was off.  I turned off the grinder and was crawling out from under the crawler when the still spinning wheel nicked my index finger.  It happened so quick I hardly felt it.  Left a nice groove to the bone just on top of the first joint.  I definately felt it for a week or so after and still feel it when I bang the finger against stuff.
I guess we both need to up our safety quotient. :)
One With Wood
LT40HDG25, Woodmizer DH4000 Kiln

Norm

I had an uncle who cut off all his fingers on a radial arm saw when I was little. It made quite an impression on me so I'm almost anal about power tool safety. I still find myself getting in a hurry and not doing things like I should.

Glad to hear they didn't have to reattach anything. ;)

Mark M

My old Pappy split his thumb lengthwise almost up to his wrist with a kickback from his radial arm saw. :o

I got a minor cut on the thumb from my table saw. Nothing even too serious, just looked like I hit it with a cabbage-crater but boy did it hurt, I almost passed out. I remember thinking at the time what a rough cut it was (as opposed to something like a knife). That was the last time I'll ever try to feed small pieces of wood backwards through the saw. :-[

Mark

ksu_chainsaw

My grandfather-in-law tried to cut all his fingers off on his right hand by accident with a table saw.  He makes kitchen cabinets out of old barn boards to sell at flea markets.  He was ripping a small board and it tried to lift up and kick back, and he pushed it back down, but pushed it down directly on top of the blade.  He spent 2 weeks at KU med center in KC, and had his fingers re-attached.  He now has all his fingers back on, but with limited flexability.  He has now made LOTS of push sticks to use, and uses them all the time.

Glad u didnt hurt yourself any worse

Charles

etat

I appreciate all the calls, flowers, gifts, words of encouragement, candy, fruit, and checks from the Forestry Forum members the last few days while I have been in pain and recuperating, all the while carrying on with that bandage on my thumb!!!!!   All monetary gifts have been donated to myself, 'I mean my favorite Charity!!!! ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) 8)

My first reaction has always been, and pardon my English, oh [I have typed a profane word that is automatically changed by the forum censored words program I should know better],  Immediately followed with an assessment of what I've done to screw up now and how bad I'm hurt, and what consequences it will have for my immediate future, including pain!!!!!  It only takes milliseconds for ALL these thoughts to go through my head.

Seriously, I KNOW I was lucky, I was jerking my hand back even as that blade was making that cut and the blood was flying.  LOTS of blood flying for a fraction of a second, that's really what made me notice it so quick.  Them sparkles of blood flying. Hadn't felt nuthing at that point, the pain doesn't usually come until a bit later, When that blade hit my thumb. Oh yes, that picture is still fresh in my ole brain.   ???

Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

Corley5

My Grandpa was doing finish work in my house while I was attending college and I'd come over as soon as I got home.  One day I pulled in and his truck wasn't here ???.  Kinda odd he was always here during the day.  I hadn't much more than gotten outta the truck and I saw some drips of blood in the snow, and some on the steps, and some on the door, and some on the floor, and some on the table saw :o :o.  I tore outta here and went to his house where I found him calmly dressing his wounded thumb.  It wasn't serious but he sure had dripped blood all over ::) ;) ;D.
Burnt Gunpowder is the Smell Of Freedom

Furby

Been thinking about it and the first time my grandpa got his thumb in the tablesaw was really more then a few years ago. My mom had bought a wooden lightswitch cover, only to find that it wasn't recessed, and wouldn't fit the switch. She asked her dad (my grandpa) if he could make it work. Well one day when some of us younger folks were over playing billiards in the basement, my grandpa was working in his workshop, in the next room. We saw him shut the lights off and head upstairs, but didn't give it another thought. A while later we headed upstairs and noticed these big redish brown dots in a line on the floor and up the steps. We just figured my grandpa dripped some stain as he went up.
Then we found out that he had been trying to recess the lightswitch cover on the tablesaw. He was dropping the 1/4" thick piece of wood over the blade and moving it around, when...........ZIP!  
He drove himself to the med center.  :-/

Kirk_Allen

Well today was my turn :( :(

In 20+ years of woodworking I have been injury free............until today.

I was finishing up the front trim on our new kitchen cabinet when it happend.  Looks like the cabinet is on hold for a couple weeks.

I had used a 13/16" dovetail router bit to route a dovetail in the front trim piece that is 110" long.  Got that done with no problems.

Next came making the opposite pattern on another piece (some call it the key-way) that gets cut and screwed onto the cabinet face.  Once this piece is attached you simply slide the trim piece onto the locking dovetail and you have a secure trim attached with no screws or plugs.

To make the key-way you have to make a test piece to ensure the fit is snug.  After 10 tries I knew the last one would fit perfect.

Well the test piece was a 10" piece of scrap with a knot in it.  On this last piece the bit hit that knot just right and sent the piece flying across the yard.  It ripped the piece out from under my three fingers so fast that once the board was gone the only thing left to route was my fingers. Yes I was going the right direction ;D

Now I can tell you a 13/16" dovetail cutter  can do a quick number on fingers.

By the grace of God I I only severely damaged the middle finger.  The bit took off the nail and about a 1/16" of an inch below the nail.  No bone hit but I doubt I will ever have a nail on that finger.  Minor cut on the finger next to my pinky and three deep slices to the index finger.

My initial comment freaked my wife pretty bad.  I hollered Oh Shoot. Im proud of myself.  I didnt cuss......................until I came inside and had to cut away the remaining mangled flesh on my middle finger.  Took us about 2 hours of pressure to get the dang thing to stop bleeding but I think its going to be OK now.

Wife is *pithed that I dont want to go to the hospital.  Ive seen enough injuries to know that there is nothing a doctor can do for this.  Nothing left to stich :(

I will keep an eye on it for infection but I think It will be OK.  I soked it for 20 minutes in Hydrogen Puroxide.  Never seen so much foam from that stuff.  Lots of blood, lots of foam.  I guess it did its thing.

Stupidity was the cause.

1. Failure to use a push pad on the work peice.
2. Failure to use a knot free peice of wood.  
3. Failure to grab the push pad I had just told myself I should  be using for this.
4. Failure to not use a small parts holder or a sliding jig for small parts.
5. Failure to slow down!

I cant sell my house until the kithen is done and this was one of the last projects before puting that For Sale sign in the yard.  I simply need to pay more attention.

With all that said...................some dirtbags in this country would take a situation like mine and sue the company that made the router bit.  You see, there were no safety instructions with the bits when i bought them. Is it their fault I got hurt?  Some lawyers would try to make such a claim but the only reasons I got hurt are listed above and its ALL my fault.

Enough with that.  I cant type very well with one hand.

Be safer! ;)

Tom

Dang!  That's sad.  If you didn't get the bone, infection is a lot easier to handle/prevent.  When I lost the end of my middle finger to a Unisaw, it clipped the end of the bone.  The doctor was concerned about infection in the bone.

I was also told to hold the injury above my head and it wouldn't hurt so bad.   They were right.  The blood pressure is a lot less and the swelling is minimized too.

Since mine looked like a fire cracker went off on the end of my finger, I asked the doctor what the possibilities of playing the guitar were going to be.

He looked at me with a pause (like he had been waiting for this all his life) smiled, and said "I don't know, could you play one before?"

My accident was a dumb move too.  I was cutting too small a piece of wood.  You never think anythings wrong until "it happens".  Then it's so fast that you can't react.

I guess, if there is a good thing, your lucky it was the back side of your finger.  Having a nail would be nice but most of the nerve endings are on the other side.  At least you won't have lost feel.  I still have a dead spot and it bothers me.

I'm sitting here feeling for you.  Don't let it get infected. You don't want to end up losing an arm over it. :)

Norm

Kirk your wife and I both think you should go see a doctor. No they can't sew anything back up but infection is a real possibility. Since your probably like me and won't go anyways make sure to look out for a red rash type of look to your hand and injured finger. If it shows up get to the emergency room or doctor quick.

Me I would have cussed a blue streak. :D

etat

Seconding the motion of going to the doctor. In lieu of that it sounds like you know what he's gonna do anyway.  Couple of questions, or at least one big one.  Have you had a tetanus shot in the last few years.  We don't want you to wind up with gangrene or lockjaw.  Also the doctor can give you something for pain.  At least for a few days.

For others, on a wound such as this soak it each day to remove the scab and infection that will be under the scab.  It'll get well much faster.  Soap will help soften the scab so it'll come off, down to pink meat.  On shallow cuts and wounds use peroxide to help boil out infection, and keep antibacterial ointment on it.  Keep it wrapped with a clean bandage, or gauze.  At night I usually like to keep the gauze off for a while to let air get to the wound, but as I said I still have it covered with antibacterial ointment. As Tom said, keep the wound up high, above your head if possible.  This will slow down blood flow just a bit and help keep it from throbbing. When it starts healing adding a bit of Epsom salts to the soak solution will help toughen up the meat of the wound.  Others with ideas please add to this.

Norm, I too would have cussed a blue streak, probably enough to embarrass a sailor.

I hope you heal quick and get well soon.  
Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

Kirk_Allen

Thanks for the input.  I am feeling much better today than last night.  Took off the blood soaked bandage and soaked the finger in puroxide again.  It appears that the circle notion of the bit shaved off the nail right at the quick.  I might just get my nail back. 8)  I wont hold my breath!

Pretty Sure infection wont be a problem but rest assured I know what to watch for and the first sign of it Im on my way to the Doc.

Itook a photo if it and am goiung to blow it up and hang it in the shop behind my push block!

Whats the rules on bloody photos?  This one would make a good training photo of what happens whem your stupid :D

Bruce_A

Might be that a super glue would seal out the air, making it easier to continue working. Also a large pair of pliers or a crescent brand  wrench would be handy.  Should you bump the sore spot, you can always whack a toe with the pliers or wrench till the finger quits hurting.  Good luck.

Furby

A guy I used to work with, was triming brushes at work. He was talking to someone and just reached in without looking, at the end of the cycle to pull the brush out. The blade was still spinning and of course he got his finger in it. It took the nail right off, and chewed up the end of his finger. He went in and had it taken care of and the doctor told him he probly wouldn't be able to grow a nail again. It took several months, but the nail DID grow back, so there IS hope.

Kirk_Allen

Update on the fingers. 8)

Looks like the nail on the middle finger will in fact be back 8) 8)

Currently I have half a nail and its still growing!!
The other two fingers are pretty much healed.  Other than a ver sensitive finger tip on my index finger all seems good.  

Still keepin them fingers crossed for a full recover on that middle finger!  It still hurst like heck when I bump it.  Hope that goes away with time.  

Tom

Don't bump it. ;D

That'll be $100. :D :D

Furby

 :D :D :D :D
I'll second that!
That'll be $200.  ;D

Tom

DanG'd specialist.....   you make all the money,   :D :D

Furby

 :D :D :D :D :D :D
Yep!!!  ;D

MR.CHAINSAW

  Once my dad an I were workin some gelve heifers weighin around 980 lbs. through the workin chute givin them their last round of vaccinations and implants. Well, there were a few angus bulls I needed to cut after we were done with the heifers so I had em outside in the hospital pen. Anyway. I knew this one ol bull was kinda rank so I was bein sorta careful around him. Well, we finished up on the hfrs an I decided to go put them away. As I was shuttin the gate on the hfrs and lettin the bulls out I must've forgotten bout the mean bull. So I put em in the barn to casterate em , dad hollars out that I left one heifer in there so he's gonna send her back to me outside, I stupidly walk right into the barn an BANG that ol bull drilled me. Buckin up high in the air like he's in the NFR rodeo of somethin, kickin an bellerin he just nailed me with both his rear hooves right in the leg. My ol leg swells up like a mellon that night an the wife thinks I broke it.
Think it kinda hematosed on me cause there werent no bruise or nothin. He wasnt no little bull neither. Sucker weighted in around 1100 lbs.
  Hope this makes ya feel better , I am a lifelong cattleman. Never done anything else. Born an raised tendin beef cattle. I aughtta known better then ta get in the way of this ol bull.
After dad realized I wuddnt gonna die he starts laughin at me an callin me bulldogger. Ha. Real funny pop.
  Probably wonderin why a fella like me would join a forum like this. Well, I burn about 7 or 8 cds firewood out here in the house in the winter. I live right here at the stockyards so cuttin wood is a big pastime for me. I've allways had a hardon for chainsaws my whole life. Even took an OSHA approved chainsaw saftey cource a few years back.
Take care.

etat

Hi ya and welcome.

My 'limited' experience has been that it don't necessarily take a 'big un' to hurt ya.

However, bought me some big ole Brahma Cows one time and one a them put me over the fence 'bunches' a times before she settled down. She weren't really that mean, it's just that for a spell she had a hatred of humans!  She'd stand there and look at ya just a minute, lower her head and paw the ground a couple a times, and if you knowed what was good you'd BETTER get on the other side of a fence and hope she didn't jump ::)
Old Age and Treachery will outperform Youth and Inexperence. The thing is, getting older is starting to be painful.

rebocardo

Hope your cut heals up well and fast. I hate using table saws and try only using them with pusher sticks unless I am running a 4x8 over it.  I hate using tile saws without push sticks for this very reason. Too easy to chop something up with flesh on it.

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