Replies

1. 
   Spelch | Sep 27, 2023 05:14pm | #1

   My father had one put in recently. He's not a serious woodworker but does have a shop with power tools in it. The only "restriction" per se that he was given was not to mow the lawn immediately following the procedure. The restriction was lifted after about a week, at least partially because he uses a riding mower.

   I don't believe they had any concerns about him using power tools.

   I don't mean to contradict anything your wife's physician has told her, I'm only relaying what was told to my pop.

   I hope she's able to continue on.

   There is always hand tools too, if her
   restrictions forbid power tools.

2. 
   bilyo | Sep 27, 2023 05:38pm | #2

   You might ask your tech if she could wear some kind of shield kinda like the lead apron the dentist puts on you when doing an xray (only smaller).
   Please post back what you find out. I was under the impression that the newer pace makers didn't have that problem. I haven't got one yet, but who knows?

3. 
   rob_ss | Sep 27, 2023 05:57pm | #3

   In general, pacemakers are not affected by most power tools. They are very robust implements.
   In the past some were upset by magnets as a magnet was used to set them to test mode - they would usually set to beat the heart at exactly 100 beats per minute in the presence of a strong magnet.
   In specific and personal terms this question should be addressed to their physician as there may be device-specific restrictions about which we cannot be aware.

4. 
   tom_minehart | Sep 28, 2023 08:31am | #4

   Thanks folks. I'll let you know what the tech says. The booklet for her German pacemaker may have been written by a liability lawyer rather than a tech. It also tells her not to use an electric toothbrush. :-)

   ...Tom

5. 
   Jack57 | Sep 28, 2023 10:06am | #5

   Check with her cardiologist. Pacemakers can have a different leads and functions and her doctor would know her situation the best.

6. 
   jpe52 | Sep 28, 2023 10:14pm | #6

   Before retiring I ran a laboratory full of high magnetic field equipment. We were told that magnetic fields in excess of 5 Gauss (about 10 times the local
   earth magnetic field) were a potential problem for pacemakers. As a result,
   my lab was basically off limits for people with pacemakers when the big magnets were energized.

   We were told of no other restrictions and our lab was full of electronic instrumentation, vacuum pumps and their large motors, light power tools, etc. which were in use all the time.

   I'd definitely see if the physician can provide you with some knowledgeable advice.

   Good luck!

7. 
   tom_minehart | Sep 30, 2023 04:20pm | #7

   On Friday we chatted with the pacemaker tech who told us that the usual power tools in a wood shop should not be an issue. Arc welders and industrial tools would be an issue, but not usual shop tools. She also gave us the phone number of the manufacturer's engineers, so we could send them info on our tools to double check.

   The tech was more concerned that my wife not hold her cell phone over the pacemaker and if she gets wanded by airport security they need to be careful at the pacemaker site too. She has a card to present to security about the pacer and we all have to hope TSA and other security folk have been appropriately trained about the hazards associated with a wand.

   ...Tom

1. 
   john_c2 | Sep 30, 2023 09:28pm | #8

   Thank you for the update. Good luck to you both.

1. 
   tom_minehart | Oct 12, 2023 07:06pm | #9

   Circling back ... the pacemaker's folk are telling us that battery operated shop tools are ok and corded tools must be kept at least 6 inches from the pacer. The manufacturer of the pacer had a detailed list of types of gear and how far one must be away from the motors, if you could be in the same room with them at all. They were quite helpful.

1. 
   john_c2 | Oct 12, 2023 07:26pm | #10

   6 inches seems pretty easy to do. Outside of getting extra leverage on a drill, I'm not sure I ever get my heart closer to a running motor.