Fab4 Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 (edited) After reading Gator's thread about his accident in the shop, I thought it would be interesting to find out about other close calls we had in the shop. Please share any unpleasant mishaps you encountered. This may help someone else down the line. OR (let me rephrase my comment) If you did something stupid in the shop and want to share that experience please post your story. Thanks Fab4 Edited December 10, 2013 by Fab4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab4 Posted December 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Being somewhat new at this at the time I bought my first table saw, I decided to build a cassette holder. Cutting the 2" X 4"X 1/4" pieces for the shelves with the radio blaring the background. This was a very monotonous chore, but the music was good so I was rockin' until the one cut went in crooked. The piece jammed between the fence and the blade. Went to turn the saw off but I was too late,That jammed piece came flying back at me and hit me in the stomach. This took maybe 3 seconds but took years off my life Other than having a welt on my stomach no other damage was done This is when I realized how fast things happen. Learned a lesson that day and still know today how much it hurt and how fast it happened. Fab4 Oh yeah, I still listen to music in the shop but it's at a "normal" listening mode - The only rockin' I do now is when I sit in my chair bobscroll 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Johnson Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 The only close call I've had is when cutting a 4 x 4 and the skill saw jammed and jumped back at me. Yeh, I know what you mean when it can take a few years off your life. Ever since then I think twice when operating a power saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 a half inch drill with a small bit went thru the wood and into my pants and twisted the pants tight as a drum before the powerful drill motor stopped .Man did that hurt. Ron Johnson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browders Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 My accident didn't occur in the shop, but while working outside. I was building a rack to hold our garbage cans. I made the rack out of two by fours and nailed it together using a framing nailer. As I was nailing in a cross piece, the nailer did a "double tap". The first nail went into the board, the second through the ring finger on my left hand. A trip to the emergency room later, no serious damage. Just a tetanus shot and a comment from the doctor about being careful. Soon after I bought a modification to the nailer that prevented such things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepy Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 One of my goofs happened at the lumber yard while loading lumber. Managed to drive a large splinter through the knuckle of my finger. Asked to some tweezers but they insisted on the ER. My worst stupid mistake was hurrying to finish a project. Was rounding over 2.5" circles in 1/2" wood at the router table. Used my right forefinger to hold the piece down while turning with the left hand. Needless to say, the piece flipped out and my finger went into the router bit. My standard reaction is to jerk my hands back and I thought jeez that was close until I noticed the blood splattered across the wall. Looked down and thought the end of my finger is missing. Wasn't just most of the skin, nail and tip of the bone. Another trip to the ER. Nail grew back but am just getting feeling back in the end of my finger after 25 yrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Well what do I have, I know I was turning a log on my lathe and forgot it was cranked up to top speed the log flew off hit me straight in the face. thanks God I had a full face mask on or I would have looked like I'd just fell out of the ugly tree. Roly Ron Johnson and Bishop 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatknobtony Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Have had a couple nasty kick backs from the table saw as well, also a bad gash while cutting rags. I deserved that one though, I certainly knew better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Johnson Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Well what do I have, I know I was turning a log on my lathe and forgot it was cranked up to top speed the log flew off hit me straight in the face. thanks God I had a full face mask on or I would have looked like I'd just fell out of the ugly tree. Roly Roly, couldn't help but laugh. Glad you were wearing mask. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Johnson Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 a half inch drill with a small bit went thru the wood and into my pants and twisted the pants tight as a drum before the powerful drill motor stopped .Man did that hurt. Lol...hope it wasn't twisting your manhood Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick@tinkers-cove Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 (edited) I once slipped with a Stanley knife and sliced a 6" gash up my inner thigh (just stopping before my groin!) But get this....1 month ago, I was searching in my key cabinet for the workshop keys. I thought the kids may have moved them, but no...they had dropped to the floor. Picking them up, I headed out to the back door - just as my mother-in-law came in through the front! I disappeared in the dust...NOW THAT WAS A CLOSE CALL! (Remember guys - Health & Safety...always keep one eye on the window.) Edited December 10, 2013 by Nick@tinkers-cove Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab4 Posted December 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 a half inch drill with a small bit went thru the wood and into my pants and twisted the pants tight as a drum before the powerful drill motor stopped .Man did that hurt. Eh! Kevin: Sounds like you have one of the home made drill presses I'm trying to picture your technique for drilling but it's driving me nuts......... Fab4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab4 Posted December 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Thank you all for your stories At someones painful expense, i can't help but chuckle at a few of these Keep'em coming makes for good reading Fab4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 okay about 5 years ago i sharpen a filet knife and placed it in a holder in my boat. problem was blade was sticking down and out in a pathway by console, I thought at the time that aint safe, (man I got to listen to that little voice)anyway next day 20miles from a hospital 5 miles from a boat ramp fished 5minutes when i stepped off deck turned around and then seat back down I saw a bunch of blood all over side of boat.never felt it. buddy heard me make a grunt. he thought i had caught a fish said when he turned it looked like i had butchered a pig in the back of the boat. he took a towel wrapped it and used a rope to pull it together, i am on blood thinners for a heart problem.made for a interesting boat ride boat load up and drive to hospital.you know how when you go to a hospital they give you all kinds of forms to fill out .funny you come in bleeding all over there floors they take you right it. 3 stitches inside and 33 outside. well like they say if you aint got a picture it didn't happen hear you go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I would check the "Like This" option but how could anybody like what happened to you okay about 5 years ago i sharpen a filet knife and placed it in a holder in my boat. problem was blade was sticking down and out in a pathway by console, I thought at the time that aint safe, (man I got to listen to that little voice)anyway next day 20miles from a hospital 5 miles from a boat ramp fished 5minutes when i stepped off deck turned around and then seat back down I saw a bunch of blood all over side of boat.never felt it. buddy heard me make a grunt. he thought i had caught a fish said when he turned it looked like i had butchered a pig in the back of the boat. he took a towel wrapped it and used a rope to pull it together, i am on blood thinners for a heart problem.made for a interesting boat ride boat load up and drive to hospital.you know how when you go to a hospital they give you all kinds of forms to fill out .funny you come in bleeding all over there floors they take you right it. 3 stitches inside and 33 outside. well like they say if you aint got a picture it didn't happen hear you go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Well touch wood I have never had an accident in the garage BUT my husband did. He was pushing some wood through the circular saw and it kicked back quick and sharp. To look at only seemed to be minor damage but still needed a trip to the hospital. 2 Hours in surgery having micro surgery and the end of index finger down to the first joint gone and tendons in next finger severely damaged. Off work 12 weeks. His most unusual accident happened while he was at work. He had (he is a carpenter) just sharpened his pencil and put it in the top pocket of his overalls and started to hand saw a length of wood and has he pushed down on the saw his hand got caught on the pencil and it actually cut his hand open. They took him straight to hospital where they had to dig out the end of the pencil because it had broken off inside the wound. 15 stitches later he came home. Moral of this story, NEVER underestimate the power of the pencil. Marg rrjwright 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick@tinkers-cove Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Well touch wood I have never had an accident in the garage BUT my husband did. He was pushing some wood through the circular saw and it kicked back quick and sharp. To look at only seemed to be minor damage but still needed a trip to the hospital. 2 Hours in surgery having micro surgery and the end of index finger down to the first joint gone and tendons in next finger severely damaged. Off work 12 weeks. His most unusual accident happened while he was at work. He had (he is a carpenter) just sharpened his pencil and put it in the top pocket of his overalls and started to hand saw a length of wood and has he pushed down on the saw his hand got caught on the pencil and it actually cut his hand open. They took him straight to hospital where they had to dig out the end of the pencil because it had broken off inside the wound. 15 stitches later he came home. Moral of this story, NEVER underestimate the power of the pencil. Marg Hey Marg...you know the saying -The Pencil is Mightier Than The Sword (I'm thinking maybe that should be "Saw" instead!) wombatie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldhudson Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Although I've made more than my share of mistakes, and been plenty scared, in the shop, I've never taken a ride to the ER. I hope telling stories here doesn't change the karma. I was routing a large circle for a lazy Susan (where'd that name come from? why not lazy Steve?) and my 1/4" bit broke and clipped my pants leg. I was setting up to do some horizontal boring with a long bit.(I was working on a lamp) and I must have not gotten the bit incorrectly so the chuck really didn't secure it and when I started the equipment the bit worked loose in a couple seconds swinging loose and damaging my equipment. Like most my scariest events are with the table saw. I have several kick back incidents but he worst was when I was new to woodworking. I was showing the equipment to a nephew who stood behind the saw.. The saw grabbed and threw the stock back nearly catching my nephew. I don't allow anyone in the shop now when I'm working. No one is to enter the shop if equipment is running. I use safety glasses all the time. I use feather boards and a variety of push sticks at the saw and I always use the blade guard or a splitter. I use a variety of pushblocks at the router table too. I am much more careful. I try to think through operations in my mind as I set up looking for potential problems. I encourage everyone to work carefully. I've never had any problems or scare with a scroll saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatknobtony Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Doing goofy things is where I got my name from. As the wife talks to her friends she can say " oh, and guess what that knob tony did now". Doing stupid things just seems second nature for me. Not much of a gift I think.lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullyscroller Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Here's mine, holding a small piece of wood in my hand not clamped down and trying to cut a biscuit in it with a biscuit cutter - not good !!! Wood went to the other end of the shop which only left my hand to satisfy to hunger of the cutter. Knew it was bad before i even looked at it. Squirting blood all over my shop and noone home to help me. So I wrap it up with paper towels from the shop and head in the house to call the wife .She gets histerical in Wal-Mart and beats me to the ER LOL. said she just left $300 worth of groceries sittin in a buggy in the middle of the store. Needless to say it was 18 stitches to close up my finger . Funny part was everyone at the ER had to see how bad it was even though i told them it was a squirter ,receptionist , nurse, orderly,and the DR. Messed up a lot of pretty white coats. Lesson learned ---CLAMP YOUR WORK DOWN !!!!! sully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick@tinkers-cove Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Wow Sully...sounds bad! (What happened to the trolley full of groceries?) LOL. No seriously - good that you're ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Oh and forgot I fell of my chair once and bump my yud. And I've been like this ever since. Roly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick@tinkers-cove Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Oh and forgot I fell of my chair once and bump my yud. And I've been like this ever since. Roly Ohhh...man! Roly...that explains so much. Why didn't you say so before? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefie Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I had a fall when my leg gave way while using my bandsaw, luckilly I managed to twist away from the blade and only lost a little bit of skin off three fingers and cut through the nail on one of them too, half inch further to the left and three fingers would have been on the floor. My picture was taken a week after the accident when the dressings were taken off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 (edited) a half inch drill with a small bit went thru the wood and into my pants and twisted the pants tight as a drum before the powerful drill motor stopped .Man did that hurt.[/quote Lol...hope it wasn't twisting your manhood a half inch drill with a small bit went thru the wood and into my pants and twisted the pants tight as a drum before the powerful drill motor stopped .Man did that hurt.[/quote Lol...hope it wasn't twisting your manhood i would never have to worry i have a shed built over my lower half of my body that would hold 17 18 wheelers and all i got is a push bubble making toy mower Edited December 12, 2013 by gator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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