I have been a tradesman for something going on 10 years now. So this is pretty embarassing for me.
Today, as I was ripping down a peice of stock on my table saw I nearly managed to saw off my left pinkie. I am sitting here with a massive bandage on my trobbing finger reminding me of my one second of sloppy work today.
Worst thing is, I did 3 things I know damn well better than to do, I was pushing the work too fast for the blade, I had the blade adjusted way too far out for the size of the piece I was cutting and the clincher, I reached over the blade instead of around it.
Result, a pinkie that resembles hamburger and is going to get in my way for at least a couple of weeks. I am just glad I still have it.
Moral of the story, even the mundane things we do every day have the potential to disrupt our lives if we don’t pay attention. Don’t let familiarity breed contempt.
Sorry, I fainted. Oh wait, you NEARLY sawed off your pinky. Well, that’s better then. I like the picture of it just dangling by a piece of skin better…
Evil, I hope you have a quick recovery. The tablesaw is the most dangerous tool because of familiarity. Also, I for one, give you permission to post solely in lowercase.
::shudders:: Thank goodness you didn’t actually do it, Ghandi!
When I was in college, working in the drama department, late one night one of the guys managed to saw three fingers off of ihs left hand, using the table saw. Somebody wrapped 'em in a clean wet cloth and ran 'em to the emergency room, where they were able to reattach them.
I was skittish around that saw for the rest of my college career.
My dad was a master tool maker, owned his own tool and die shop. He would periodically slice off the top of a finger, or punch a hole through one. ::shudders again:: There ARE advantages to a desk job . . .
::shudders:: Thank goodness you didn’t actually do it, Ghandi!
When I was in college, working in the drama department, late one night one of the guys managed to saw three fingers off of ihs left hand, using the table saw. Somebody wrapped 'em in a clean wet cloth and ran 'em to the emergency room, where they were able to reattach them.
I was skittish around that saw for the rest of my college career.
My dad was a master tool maker, owned his own tool and die shop. He would periodically slice off the top of a finger, or punch a hole through one. ::shudders again:: There ARE advantages to a desk job . . .
You ever hear about the sawmill worker who wasn’t paying attention one day, and sawed off two fingers?
About ten years later, an attractive woman was touring the mill, and stopped to watch him work…“You poor man,” she said, “However did you lose those two fingers?”
“Like THIS,” the guy says, and immediately chops off two more.
Okay, sorry, couldn’t resist. But this ACTUALLY HAPPENED…to my brother-in-law’s ex-girlfriend’s dad.
EG, best wishes for the speediest possible recovery.
Ouch, EG! Glad it wasn’t worse, and hope you heal quickly. It amazing how quickly awful things can happen with common tools; so much pain and damage from just a few seconds of inattention.
I watched in horror as a neighbor tried to lift his lawnmower over an obstruction. He’d tied back the power handle so the mower stayed on, and he grabbed the mower by the casing and lifted it! Yes, he lost a couple of fingers.
Rest well, toss down the ibuprofen or pain pills, and get well soon.
My brother-in-law is missing half of his middle finger, his entire index finger and almost all of his thumb on his right hand from a sawmill accident. Be careful, k?
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
Thanks everone for your words of support and concern.
Everything is healing nicely though there was quite a bit of damage to the cartilige. I imagine I will loose some function in the finger. It seems I will have a nice scar as a remider as a good deal of skin was removed in the process.
Ah well, live and learn.
Satan, man you scare me sometimes. Tell me, how exactly does one masterbate with a table saw? I may not know exactly what “safe sex” is, but I am sure THAT aint it.
