BE SAFE!!! -- update -update and I don't know what happen to the text

[Scrappile]

I post this not to get pity but to stress shop safety. 

Had a kickback on the table saw.  The wood flew back and hit the back of my hand. Also hit my stomach.  The stomach hurt some, the hand not much, but when I looked at my hand,,,all the flesh and meat on the back of my hand was laying back over my wrest!! Bleeding like crazy.  No real pain..  I put the flap back in place, wrapped my hand in an old dirty towel that was handy, called and cancelled an appointment I had, got the dogs in the house, locked up and drove to the ER. 

 

Once again I was lucky.  No broken bones, they x-rayed, which was not really necessary, lift the flap and just look at the bones and tendons, totally exposed.  Just a hair more and the tendon would have damaged.  All, barring infections, is well, will be crippled for a few weeks, but like the doc said, I am one lucky dude.  Lots of stitches and antibiotics, should heal.  

 

Stupid, hurrying and not doing things properly.  Not the first time for me either.  Obey the rules, do things correctly.

 

 

Edited May 10, 2019 by Scrappile

[Gordster]

Wow Paul,you were some lucky just to get away with what you got.Broken bones would have been better than torn and damaged tendons

We play with fire with table saws for sure.I have had a few threats last while with jam ups.One piece flew by me one day,and I didn't realize it went by until it landed behind  me.We learn from mistakes,I am going to use yours as a safety reminder...Hope all heals fast for you

Take care and be well...Gordie

[Scrappile]

1 hour ago, Gordster said:

Wow Paul,you were some lucky just to get away with what you got.Broken bones would have been better than torn and damaged tendons

We play with fire with table saws for sure.I have had a few threats last while with jam ups.One piece flew by me one day,and I didn't realize it went by until it landed behind  me.We learn from mistakes,I am going to use yours as a safety reminder...Hope all heals fast for you

Take care and be well...Gordie

right now, the pain medicine is wearing off some what,,,, I am thinking I wish I had the money for a newer saw with the SawStop feature, riving knives, kick back guard... etc.  If I was younger, working , and loved wood working as I do now, I would have nothing less.  The older I get, it seems to me the more careless I get... what surprises me is I still have no fear of the table saw, because it is safe if you remember and practice all the rules.  But, in the past few years,,,, I sorta go off in la la land and do not play by the rules because they take a little more time.... my hand is the price you pay,,, if you are lucky... it will be much worse if you are not "lucky".

[wombatie]

That is a terrible thing to happen Paul but a little luck was on your side.  Now rest and take thing easy and hopefully it will mend quickly. 

Marg

[Foxfold]

5 hours ago, Scrappile said:

But, in the past few years,,,, I sorta go off in la la land and do not play by the rules because they take a little more time.... my hand is the price you pay,,, if you are lucky... it will be much worse if you are not "lucky".

Oh Paul, such an accident. Unfortunately as you say as we get 'older'. The same happened to my husband, he lost the end of his finger, so nothing near as bad as your hand. 

A reminder to us all I think to be ever 'conscious' of what we are doing. 

You have my very best wishes for a straight forward recovery with no complications. Take good care of yourself. 

[JimErn]

My prayers are with you for a full easy recovery.

I am in that getting older group too, I do find my self zoning out on occasion, I may print your hand pic and put it up at the entryway to the shop as a warning reminder kind of thing.

[kdparker]

My prayers are with you also.

This can happen you any of us if we allow ourselves to take shortcuts.

I wish you a speedy recovery but I thank you for posting this and giving us all a wake up message.

Keith

[dansnow]

Prayers up for speedy healing with minimal pain.  

It only takes a fraction of a second at a table saw, I know as I have a divot in my right thumb for a split second of inattention.

[Sycamore67]

Hope the pain is tolerable but suspect it will be tough.  Take care....

I know the following is a tough thought but I do not think you should be operating a table saw if you occasionally go off to la la land.  

You did not describe what you were doing but having a riving knife will reduce kick backs and a guard with anti kick back pawl.

I have never had an injury but still bought a Sawstop as insurance.  It is no substitute for safe practices but it does provide a layer of protection.

[bobscroll]

OUCH!...Hi Paul, I'm sorry to hear about your hand, It's keeping the Concentration going as we work That's the problem!

All the best Paul, Hope you mend soon,

Bob 

[new2woodwrk]

YIKES!

I hope you heal well - I've had a similar experience but near as awful, thankfully.

Safety at all times is a good motto for us all - specially those of us with high power saws and tools.

Get well and best wishes!

[Scrappile]

i'm pleased.  looks a lot better than i suspected it would.  still does not hurt much, have not had to take any pain meds.  i think the doc did a good job putting it back together

 

[Fab4]

Hi Paul:
It hardly shows...
Heal quick, my friend
Fab4

[rjweb]

Paul, heres hoping for a speedy recovery, did your saw have a riving knife ? RJ

[Scrappile]

@rjweb, no my saw does not.  Nor have found any third party ones that well fit my saw.   If I was younger,,, I would order a new SawStop with all the safety stuff.  As it is, I just have to deal with what I have.  It is a good saw. 

[meflick]

Oh my gosh Paul, I am glad you were not hurt worse. That hand looks like it would be painful. I’m glad it’s not really so far. Prayers said for a quick healing for you. This is why when my hubby was looking at the Sawstop a couple of years ago but was hesitant to pull the trigger, I said please buy it as his safety is important. Even with that, I don’t use the Sawstop, I let him do it if something requires the use of the table saw.  I am glad you were not Burt worse and able to get yourself to the ER.

[tgiro]

Paul, Paul, Paul!!  I'm feeling for you, buddy. At least you came through it with all the fingers and thumbs attached.

For those of you who do not use the upper saw guard, a riving knife, or splitters on your table saw - may I strongly recommend the MicroJig Grr-Ripper push blocks. Yes, they are expensive, but they hold your board flat to the table on both side of the blade, tight against the fence, and keep your hands and fingers three inches away from the blade. And - when you compare the costs to Emergency Room costs . . . ?

I do not work for MicroJig, nor know anybody who does or is in any way related to that company. I have been using the Grr-Rippers for years and they are awesome.

[Scrappile]

Been really thinking on this today.  SawStop is expensive, let's say $2200 - $3000, depending on motor and add-on.  I always thought that was way too expensive.  This one trip to the ER is going to exceed that!  I have a good Steel City saw that cost over $1000.  But no real safety features,  I certainly would have saved some money buying the safer saw.  Not to mention other hurts over the years.  Kick backs have been the most problem for me, but I also have one finger that is a little shorter than it was meant to be. 

[teachnlearn]

RJF

[Scrappile]

13 minutes ago, tgiro said:

Paul, Paul, Paul!!  I'm feeling for you, buddy. At least you came through it with all the fingers and thumbs attached.

For those of you who do not use the upper saw guard, a riving knife, or splitters on your table saw - may I strongly recommend the MicroJig Grr-Ripper push blocks. Yes, they are expensive, but they hold your board flat to the table on both side of the blade, tight against the fence, and keep your hands and fingers three inches away from the blade. And - when you compare the costs to Emergency Room costs . . . ?

I do not work for MicroJig, nor know anybody who does or is in any way related to that company. I have been using the Grr-Rippers for years and they are awesome.

Thanks, for posting.  You are 100% correct about MicroJig.  I have two of them!  I love them!  I use them a lot..... but this one time I did not go over and pick them up.... it was only one simple cut, nothing will go wrong......

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

First thing hope you recover quickly and with little pain. Next thing it is one thing to type the words but takes determination to actually follow through. Sawstop is nice but it is by far not the cure all to shop dangers and until you start to take working in the shop seriously you will continue to get hurt. I am not saying this stuff to be mean or anything but any tool in the shop will hurt you. Depending how bad you misuse them will determine the amount of hurt. Kickbacks you say you have many of. Have you stopped to figure out why you have these kickbacks??  Many reasons to cause kickbacks and number one is fence not lined up properly. If your fence is canted inward toward blade just a millimeter you are asking for trouble. Yes riving knives and push sticks,  featherboards are all helpful add ons. But a well tuned saw is the start of a safe saw. 

Rushing things, working while tired or stressed, not using proper safety equipment or practices, not knowing how to use tools properly, not using the proper tool for the job are all recipes for disasters. Along with becoming too complacent from boredom or just laziness is also trouble.  Working around tools that cut are just dangers waiting to happen. There are many other dangers as well in a shop such as eye, dust in lungs fumes in breathing and use around flammable materials.   

Good luck and hope you take your own advice in the future. Take a photo and hang it on the shop door as you walk in. 

[spirithorse]

Oh, Paul,

I am so sorry to hear of your accident and prayers sent your way for a quick and complete recovery.

I hope this doesn't keep you off the scroll saw too long but, please don't risk any infections.
As I get older, I am MORE fearful of things that did not bother me before. I sold my bench top table saw 
because I didn't feel safe with it any longer and always tried to find other tools to do the intended job.

Thanks for reminding people to keep safe.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[rjweb]

I have a Sawstop and love it for the saws performance, and with all the extra safety features that’s just icing on the cake, RJ 

[Phantom Scroller]

Now that is a ouch moment I always have two sticks to hold it down the blade scares me.Hope it heals up quick but get back on that horse. Roly

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

If you are making home made push sticks which I do all the time of various sizes, you want a good design. Stay away from those tip type push sticks. No control with them. Something like this work better because the fingers are far from the blade and the length allows for downward pressure for better control.