Dodged a Bullet...

[gsmittle]

Yesterday I was ripping some stock, and the offcut started to fall off the saw. Without thinking, I reached for it with my left hand (standing to right of blade), and my left thumb would have been nicked by the spinning blade were it not for the trusty Shark Guard.

Moral of the story: keep the guards in place whenever possible! I woke up three times last night imagining life without a left thumb. And I'm left-handed.

It was a typical situation for an accident--the last cut of the day, rushing to finish that last cut before I left, planning a trip to the store, etc.

I think I'll slow down next time...

g.

[Uncle Cracker]

Yesterday I was ripping some stock, and the offcut started to fall off the saw. Without thinking, I reached for it with my left hand (standing to right of blade), and my left thumb would have been nicked by the spinning blade were it not for the trusty Shark Guard.

The Shark is great, but the more important advice is to keep your brain fully engaged in the work... The Shark will help you be safe at the table saw, but that brain can protect you in so many other places, too...

[BobSch]

It was a typical situation for an accident--the last cut of the day, rushing to finish that last cut before I left, planning a trip to the store, etc.

I think I'll slow down next time...

g.

Rushing, and working when you're tired, are two of the things that I always try to watch out for. It's really easy to try to get in just that one more ...yawn... cut. It's a rude awakening when that last cut is YOU!

[dkerfoot]

I had a similar experience once. Without thinking, I leaned back against a rope barrier that was much looser than I thought and nearly fell 100 feet to solid concrete below. Just one careless moment, but it nearly killed me. It has been nearly 20 years and I still occasionally startle awake and am right back at that moment.

Whenever I am ready to turn on any power tool, I have gotten in the habit of saying a little prayer for safety and skill. Regardless of who the words might be directed to, I find it helps me focus and keeps my mind on the task at hand.

[cabinetman]

A common table saw injury is reaching across the blade, or behind it and getting mangled. Letting it come to a stop doesn't mean you can't tear up your hand or arm on a carbide tipped blade that's not moving.

I got a nasty tear in my hand with a 35mm cup hole bit that WASN'T MOVING! Just reaching through or around the drill press to do something, I can't remember what, got gouged really good...lotsa blood. It's a momentary loss of concentration.

I'll never forget another close call, but this time it was with a hand held router...a 3 1/4HP Bosch. I had one of those long 1/2" trim bits with the double bearings. I was about to trim off a template of 3/4" plywood. I turned on the router and didn't have a good hold, and lost my grip. Not wanting it to hit the concrete floor, tried to grab it as it was falling, and running. Well, somehow between some footwork and my hands, managed to keep it off the floor and myself.

After my heart slowed to normal, it hit me how lucky I was not to get mangled.
.

[eddy merckx]

Speaking of tablesaw accidents, one of our local woodworkers recently lopped all the fingers off of one hand. He was apparently in someone else's shop, not even using the saw. The saw was left running with no guard. This guy was talking about something and gestured with his hand. His hand just happened to graze the saw blade for a split second. Viola, no fingers. It's frightening to think of how many safety rules were broken by the shop's owner. It really makes you stop and think about why those guards are there.

Eddy

[IBBugsy]

Reminds me of one habit that took me years to break. While in High School, I worked at a drug store. We were taught to stick our foot out if we dropped something while stocking shelves. Cough syrup bottles, etc.

We'll you don't want to be doing that when you drop a running power tool or heavy object, steel toes shoes or not. It's amazing how hard it is to break a habit!

[Ed62]

I'm glad you were able to post something like that instead of posting "I lost my thumb due to a careless mistake". I think we all make 'em from time to time. The best we can do is stay tuned in to whatever we are doing.

Ed

[LinuxRandal]

Yesterday I was ripping some stock, and the offcut started to fall off the saw. Without thinking, I reached for it with my left hand (standing to right of blade), and my left thumb would have been nicked by the spinning blade were it not for the trusty Shark Guard.

Moral of the story: keep the guards in place whenever possible! I woke up three times last night imagining life without a left thumb. And I'm left-handed.

It was a typical situation for an accident--the last cut of the day, rushing to finish that last cut before I left, planning a trip to the store, etc.

I think I'll slow down next time...

g.

I've learned (thankfully without maiming, just the costs of replacement material), that when your in a hurry, just let the project sit/go. It will cost you less to come back to it, then to screw it or yourself up.

Reminds me of one habit that took me years to break. While in High School, I worked at a drug store. We were taught to stick our foot out if we dropped something while stocking shelves. Cough syrup bottles, etc.

We'll you don't want to be doing that when you drop a running power tool or heavy object, steel toes shoes or not. It's amazing how hard it is to break a habit!

Be glad you weren't taught that in a restuarant. You don't know all the knives I have seen fallen over the years, and where they have ended up.