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A quick story of stupidity!

2K views 20 replies 20 participants last post by  rsmith71 
#1 ·
A quick story of stupidity!

Well it happened, I was building a couple drawers for my boy's dresser and had a small accident. While I was a little tired, I just didn't think. I was cutting multiple pieces and assembling. Once 2 drawers were complete, I decided to cut the pieces for one additional drawer…..that is when it happened….kickback! Set up the fence to cross-cut a couple matching length pieces, but forgot to add the small scrap block spacer to allow for a gap for the off-cut piece. Let me tell you, all went down hill in the blink of an eye. The piece (1/2×6x15) flew back and hit just to the right of my belly button and then into the wall and onto the floor. Surprised me more then hurt, but today it is tender and I have a quater sized bruise…....I was lucky, and will not make that mistake again.
joe
 
#5 ·
Glad you made it through with only minor injuries. I had a similiar one and my mark was about 1" in the beginning and about 6" after all of the brusing.
 
#6 ·
Ouch!...glad you are ok and not seriously hurt….Those are what gets the attention when we push the envelope….I know that because I've done the same….I'm always relieved when something like that gets my attention as hopefully it will prevent me from the serious oooops…(I am glad when I get that feeling of stupidity for doing it….shows me I know better). Thanks for the wake up call….
 
#7 ·
I know the feeling except I was ripping a small piece and when it kicked it pulled my hand into the blade breaking knucle and trimming the end of my finger. two weeks I wasn't allowed back in the shop(my wife) finally healed but and was able to finish the project a Hope chest of crotch walnut on Christmas Eve.
 
#10 ·
i gotta say i just got into woodworking, havent done more then 2×4s since junior high, and recalling all i knew, or could recall and lacking any real common sense, in the mode of "this will just be a quick easy cut" the full peice was like 24×10x1/4 inch ply and forwater reason i went to iuse the fence and next thing i know i was holding nothing and my leg felt as if it was cramping up, so after walking that off and seeing the oddly shaped bruise, well call it a pistol shape, since i had something similar to that shape in my pocket…anyways id be incredibly scared if i didnt have that much metal in the way to see what that tiny chunk of would could have done,or if it had been an inch to the left…eeeeek so anyways i used ms paint and rubbed the jewels out of the full sized pic and hung it on my wall to keep the reminder….. i do look at it atleast once per visit to the garage and i have yet to attempt another"quick cut" like that, STAY SAFE guys and gals!
 
#11 ·
That was close! I am glad that you were not seriously hurt. I think that most of us can relate to this and they seem to happen whenever we want to make "one last cut" and are tired.
 
#12 ·
Yes I would say time to stop when you are tired. But that doesn't mean things happen. There was a girl in my shop class while we were in HS. I lay part of the blame on the teacher in class, she had long hair and it got caught in the jointer and yanked out hair and scalp. Saftey is always the thing that comes first.
 
#13 ·
I had severe carpal tunnel syndrome a few years ago…...(Pre-surgery). I was having a hard time putting pressure down on the tablesaw. Yup you can imagine, a 24" square pice of 3/4 ply. Bam right in the crease of my leg and hip. I limped for a week after that one. Us woodworkers love sharing our war stories from the shop….
 
#15 ·
Normally, I like to work at a very leisurely pace in the shop. However, prior to Christmas I had a lot of shop work to do and I felt some pressure to meet deadlines. I started working faster than my normal pace and that is when I nicked off the end of my thumb. The injury was not very serious but it was a great "wake up call". The thumb has healed to the point that it looks almost normal, but there was some nerve damage and it remains sensitive. Maybe that's good. Every time I touch the end of my thumb I get a reminder to work at my normal slow and deliberate pace.
 
#20 ·
I have done that also, but was lucky. Instead of hitting me it stuck in the sheetrock on my garage wall.
It happened before I even knew it. Very fast.
Usually with me it is when I am getting in a hurry to complete something. Too excited to see the end result. I have to remind myself to slow down and enjoy. I am at my most peace when buildng a project and have my kids working with me. Glad it was not too serious of an injury.
 
#21 ·
Craziest one I ever saw was a coworker cutting 3/4 aluminum panels. Basically it's two aluminum skins 1/32" thick separated by a honeycomb of aluminum. Aircraft Cabinet panel. Somehow, the panel bound up and the fence on the Delta TS sprung loose and moved as the panel spun. It cut a perfect circle in the middle of that 4' x 4' panel. As it spun it left two parallel slices across the front of his jeans, drawing blood. The zipper saved him from any injury more embarassing to explain.
 
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