Replies

1. 
   RonInOttawa | Jun 18, 2004 01:58am | #1

   I learned the exact same lesson six years ago, except the router bit got the middle finger of my left hand. To this day, I still have a nail that grows on two different levels, split down the middle of the nail, and I continually clip short little pieces of nail that grow out BEHIND the cuticle, 1/2 way up to the first knuckle.

   There is now a prominent sign in my shop that quotes my long-gone grandfather: "Stupidity is often painful".

   We won't talk about the thumb that was grazed by a rip blade, on the nail that was lost due to a sledge. Suffice it to say that I have the sign posed VERY prominently!

   Regards,

   Ron

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/18/2004 11:52 am ET by RoninOttawa

1. 
   notDusty | Jun 19, 2004 06:26pm | #6

                 Hey Ron ,

        " Stupidity is often painful "

                    That is a pretty good one. The sign up in my shop reads

                                 " it's too bad ignorance isn't painful "

                      Just think of all the people that would be living lives full of pains.

              In all fairness ej611 was working with Plexiglass , IMHO all bets are off of what wood will do compared to plastics. Especially polycarbonate or Lexan , I got a kick back from a long thin off cut of Lexan that literally came back and whipped me . Plastics and such seem to melt or something just as they are being cut. Therefore the properties are different than wood and often times unpredictable. When the off cuts cool down in that split second they contort and may change their shapes.Mine came back into the still moving ts blade.

                                            dusty

2. 
   nikkiwood | Jun 18, 2004 02:50am | #2

   I am really sorry to hear about the accident.

   In the interests of learning from other's mistakes, would you be willing to be more specific about exactly what happened? E.G. how big was the work piece, what kind of router bit, were you using a fence (or did the bit have a pilot bearing), and I assume you weren't using any sort of feather boards or push sticks?

   Thanks.

1. 
   Ejc | Jun 18, 2004 01:10pm | #5

   sure ,  if it helps anyone thats great.

   I was putting an edge on 1/4 plexiglass, using a bullnose bit. I had fences butted up  right to the bit, (within 1/8 inch?) it was a rectangular peice 12x 22

   . I have thought about it a lot, and I am convinced, I must have let up pressure (perhaps to pass one hand over the other,to continue feeding? - that really sounds dumb doesnt it?) and thats when the workpiece climbed, I just cant see how it happened any other way.  So I guess this means that I am now going to look into featherboards in the future when  Iget back to work. Never even thought of using them b4 on a workpiece that large, something I have done, well I dont know how many times. I have been making that part for the display cases for over 5 years.

            E

   Edited 6/18/2004 6:22 am ET by ej611

3. 
   biosf1 | Jun 18, 2004 03:33am | #3

   Sorry to read about your mishap.

   Your not the only one that should listen to someone, but I don't have any one to blame, (NO wife) one thing I have learnt over the 20 years+ of woodworking you should never continue working when you get tired and don't get in a hurry to finish up a job, that's when accidents happen. 

   Over the years I have had my share of mishaps, I started 30 years ago cutting the fore finger and the middle finger at the same time on a table saw, took the fingernail of one finger and took over a year to get the full movement back in the index finger on the right hand and I'm right handed. And over the years I have slipped with chisels, ( 10 stitches ) Thumb, Cut the skin between the thumb and index finger ( Missed the tenon) ( Left hand). Nicked two fingers with the router and have full feeling in both. ( took 1/4 inch of one finger and has healed back nicely) And to this day I have all 10 finger and all in good working order, I Thank GOD a lot. I watch much closer what I'm doing with every cut and think first of the potential hazard. I'm now a professional furniture designer and builder.GR. MIch.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/17/2004 8:37 pm ET by hairfece

1. 
   random | Jun 18, 2004 03:44am | #4

   I had my middle finder piched in between 2 pieces of plywood yesterday because of an over powering individaul who is gone construction happy. Wants to d this and takes control of that, I am hesitant to work with injured people now.