If you have a tight schedule and must work evenings after having been in the shop all day, always try to do work that does not invole power tools. Finishing chores, sanding, hand planing panels, making cut list for the next day. Both workshop injuries I have suffered occurred at night when I was back in the shop trying to get ahead on a piece with a tight schedule. Needless to say I got behind real quick with one hand bandaged for a while. The only up side is that I can now do things with my left hand that I could not do lefty before.
Ron
Edited 2/8/2006 10:49 pm ET by Ronaway
Replies
I agree, and will add that working if you feel at all tired, or are sick with a fever can have the same results. I generally work with the tools as long as I can and then move to other things, including cleaning up and putting thing in their proper place so that next time in the shop I am ready to go.
I also find that taking a 15 min break ever couple of hours helps with relieving stress and keeps my focus better. There was a study a number of years ago on education that showed that the attention span ( even into adulthood ) starts dropping off after 30-40 min and if it goes much long the retention rate starts dropping dramatically.
Yes, I agree with you. Working late can lead to late visits to the ER. In the last three years, I have been to the Emergency Room 3 times, all after 10:00 pm. The good news is that I still have all my digits (fingers & toes). And only one follow up trip for surgery. Actually, I am very lucky over all.
Be careful in there. We don't woodworking to be listed by insurance companies as a dangerous hobby like sky diving or scuba diving, although I may accomplish that by myself.
Rusty
Ron,
I have a ~ 600sq ft shop in my basement. I've trained my family not to enter the shop when I may not be able see, or hear them. That way I don't have the surprise of someone tapping me on the shoulder when I'm using the table saw. Now my family knocks on the door, and if they don't get a response, they open the door a a few inches, and wait until I notice it. I'm thinking of adding a light inside the shop door, with a switch on the outside of the door. I was thinking of putting a red light bulb in the fixture. If someone wants me they turn on the light from the outside, and wait for me to let them in. I don't want to get hurt, but I don't want to miss lunch either.
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