new guy with nine fingers

[430752]

Yeowww!

And you're still working wood? I cut the tip of by bird finger (you know, given 'em the bird) with a circ saw a few years ago, it was a bit nerve racking getting back into the drivers seat, but can't imagine with that injury!

well, good luck and my sympathies.

curt j.

[scorrpio]

Condolences on the body part loss. Hope you don't lose any more.

Why would shark guard make a difference? Well, we don't know weather OP had blade guard on or off during the incident. Dunno about you, but should MY fingers bump into the guard, I'd realize something was not right. Shark is somewhat larger that the stock guard - gives a little extra time to realize something isn't right.
And more importantly, if you are making a non-through cut, you can remove only the top part of the Shark - and after, it can be quickly reattached. Which means you are a lot more likely to keep the guard on.

Far as red line goes - I dunno how really effective it is. For setups, sure - you will see if your miter fence crosses it, but during a cut, workpiece usually obscures the line. My solution was to attach a laser module from a cheap laser level to my blade guard, so it shines over the blade and on the table, and is wired to turn on when the saw turns on, but also has an independent switch. A bright red laser line on anything I don't intend to cut (fingers, miter fence, etc) is an excellent warning.

[1index only]

well first off I never got the rails with the saw, it had been used in a school setting as was parked due to them getting a new one. I'm guessing the missing rails was the reason. I've made it work with a couple pieces of angle iron clamped to each side. As for the accident well there is no one to blame but me, I had the blade up a couple of inches and was cutting scrap 2x4's for firewood. I had the rip fence up and was even using the miter gauge for awhile when all of my brains exited my body through some strange phenomenon and I started holding both hands on opposite sides of the pieces of wood and pushing them across the blade with no gaurds or fences. The 10,000.00(total cost of medical bills so far) dollar piece of wood in my hand had a knot in it and when I pushed it across the blade it kicked back momentarily (and obviously moved my hand over slightly) I pushed it back in along with my hand and the rest is history. As for still wanting to do this, well I'm no pro thats for sure, but I will not allow myself to be overcome with sorrow or pity because of my own disregard to safety or commen sense. I knew better and I'm paying for it but I still like to make things with wood. No one wants to learn from a mistake like this and I surely didn't want to lose any fingers but that is all over now ands its time to get back to living. There are many people out there that have suffered far worse suffering than me and are being successful, happy and productive people. If they can so can I.

[linear]

No one wants to learn from a mistake like this and I surely didn't want to lose any fingers but that is all over now ands its time to get back to living. There are many people out there that have suffered far worse suffering than me and are being successful, happy and productive people. If they can so can I.

Right on, man. I appreciate you sharing your story.

[tfischer]

Sorry to hear of your injury, but, please change you user name (I'll cringe every time I see it).

And cringe we should. It will be a nice safety reminder for all of us, if nothing else...

Welcome, and sorry...

-Tim

[boblon]

Welcome to the forum 1IO.

Very sorry to hear about your accident. I too thank you for sharing your story and wish you well continuing with this hobby.

On a different note I would really like to commend you for your attitude. Not only do I think that it is the best attitude you could have, but it is refreshing to hear someone take responsibility. In this world of everybody wanting to claim victim status and wanting everybody else to pay for thier circumstances....well....

..sorry, it's just that freeloaders and people who think the world 'owes' them drive me nuts.

Sorry for the rant, once again welcome to the forum and here's wishing all your projects turn out great.

BobL.

[tribalwind]

Welcome to the forum' and the ,missing digit tribe

i have some of that same costly a$$ wood species. my ordeal was a serendipitous coming together of events. first the 'my faults'
1: no blade gaurd
2: no bt3100, it was a crrrappy cheapo craftsman with a fence that mustve had a clothespin mechanism for locking down the fence(swear!)
3 no push-sticks .
4.little experience,at the time i was brand new to WWing and shouldve found a safer way to do the operation,
5:tired, it was a long day and i was exhausted.
then the ones i had less control over. 6: short blackout on my block
7: hitting a soft knot the second before the blackout
of course the bade kept spinning long after it lost power(along with all the lights,this was at 10pm)
cut up my thumb real good,down the middle to the cuticle basically. mostly healed cept for a part on the right side of the thumb that died,took a while for te nail to grow back. doc said we could cut open the side of my index finger and stitch the thumb to it to grow off of some,6months making a permanent "ok" sign? nahhhh
i gto away lucky with just a lot of scar tissue on the pad and funny shaped tip

my next purchase will be 2 grrrippers

[Never2old2start]

I can't even look...

Sorry to hear about the accident and welcome. I also enjoyed reading your posts since it was your great attitude that stood out between the lines. Please be more cautious in the future and if there's doubt think twice.

~ Paul ~