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 Post subject: I fought the saw.....
PostPosted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:54 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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...and the saw won!

Every once in a while we have true to life accounts about shop safety that help us all remember that we are indeed dealing with things that can do some damage. I have a day job as well as this tonewood business, they are like two full time jobs. Well, today I was in the shop with my 7 year old son sawing up some nice figured maple into guitar and mando parts. We were just about finished with only about six or so pieces to complete (my son was at the bench numbering pieces, it is a good exercise for him and he likes to do it!) when my mind was on another issue and my hand slipped up into the moving re-saw blade. I use woodmizer bands, 1.25 inches wide, 1 tooth per inch, they are VERY aggressive. The result is a sliced tendon in one finger and the jury is out on whether or not my little finger will stay with me or not. I now have three steel pins in two fingers ( a cool operation really, I did get to watch it all)) and a mitt full of stitches. It has been 7 hours now since this happened, I had to go and have this orthopedic surgery in an adjacent town as there is no orthopod available locally. Anyway, I typically heal well so it will be what it is. Now back to my day job, I am Occupational Health and Safety Officer!!!! I have been dealing with some internal politics at the day job for the past couple of weeks that have been stressing me a bit, resulting in less sleep and less concentration on things that REALLY matter.

I hope that this little story will just be a reminder to us all that we need to stay focused on what we are doing in the shop when we are there. I am a journey carpenter, I have been a serious woodworker for over 30 years, there is barely a day that goes by that my hands are not switching on a power tool. This is the worst accident I have ever had with these machines. Again, I just want to demonstrate that none of use are immune.

Stay safe!!

Shane

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:01 am 
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Koa
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Location: Spokane, Washington
First name: Pat
Last Name: Foster
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Wow. That's too bad about the fingers, Shane. But it sounds like it could have been a lot worse. Good luck on the recovery!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:05 am 
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Mahogany
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That's terrible! I hope your recovery is quick & uneventful.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:06 am 
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Koa
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Shane, I wish you a full and speedy recovery. That really sucks.

Thanks for the reminder though :(

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"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:11 am 
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Koa
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Wow Shane!

I am so sorry to hear about your injury. I hope that you heal well and heal quickly. I cringed as I read your post since I lost my
pinky on my right hand back in 1989. I was doing work as a journeyman machinist and toolmaker and had a fluke accident in the shop that ended up being the result of the carelessness of another person.

You never realize how much you rely on that little finger until it's not there anymore. I hope they're able to save yours'.

Take care,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:21 am 
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Koa
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WOW! Thank goodness that this is all that happened, and that your son was not involved.

I guess that this is not a good time to place an order... duh

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:21 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Shane, you are being quite cool here, but let's face it, this totally sucks.

How is your son? That is quite a thing to see his daddy do.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:26 am 
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Koa
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Might actually turn out to be a good lesson for the boy. Pity it was so painfull for you.

I feel for you, I did a similar thing about a year or so ago. Lets hope that it turns out as well for you as it did for me - I can still order 5 beers down the pub with one hand.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:29 am 
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Koa
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Good luck with the healing and thanks for the reminder.

It's so hard to keep that concentration when you've been doing this for awhile. I've been trying to come up with some way to constantly remind myself to pay attention. Something like surveyors tape hanging from the ceiling in front of all the saws or a light that comes on automatically every hour or so. Any ideas would be welcome.

After many years of working with power tools almost every day, it's easy to get complacent. I've never had a serious kickback on a table saw in almost 30 years. In the last couple of months I've had two; one so hard it broke my push stick and the piece ripped my thumb open on the way by. Just had my mind on something else.

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:39 am 
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Koa
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That's awful, Shane. Hope everything works out well in the end. Like you say, it is what it is. Bad for you but a good reminder for us.

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clumsy yet persistent
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:42 am 
Shane,
My prayers are with you for a quick recovery and I do hope they can save the finger and get those tendons working like they should. Please keep us updated on your situation.

God bless friend,
Simon


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:45 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Shane, I'm really sorry to hear this! I sure hope you can keep the pinky.
Good luck healing up and thanks for the re-minder about the danger of
power tools when we loose concentration. Man,this sucks!

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:51 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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WOW Shane, I feel your pain.....literally. It seems as though my left fore finger and thumb are the ones that are constantly being stabbed, scraped, drilled into, and otherwise abused.

I'm glad to hear that they were able to put the pieces back together again. I also hope that you will be back at work very soon providing for your family.

In the man time, I have an unusual request. I'll PM you with the details and see if you can help.

Get well soon!
Ken

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Ken H


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:57 am 
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Koa
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Ouch! I hope you get all mended and back to full function fast Shane.

All the best,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:00 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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That so sucks Shane!! Especially for an OSHA worker! Get better fast and well Shane we all need your excellent products!

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Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:00 am 
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Contributing Member
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Shane, this is terrible . . . I'm so sorry. I'll be thinking about you. When I was 18 someone accidently got my arm with a chainsaw. It's a strange story, but I vividly remember the first moment there, looking at it before putting my hand over it and saying, "I'm ok." It jumped around on my forearm, but everything turned out OK.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:07 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Shane,

Get well soon - hopefully with all your digits in tact.

Office politics suck big time and are such a waste of time and energy. Something like this happening puts them in their proper space in the scheme of things. Politics come and go but hopefully fingers are forever.

Did you get the bloodstains off the maple or is there a highly figured Shane DNA set available?

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De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:07 am 
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Mahogany
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Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:32 pm
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Location: Canada
Sorry to hear about this Shane. Hope everything goes well and thanks for posting this. A bandsaw is my next tool purchase so this is a timely reminder.
Get well soon, Warren.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:38 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:58 am
Posts: 552
Location: Canada
Hey Shane!
I hope your fingers heal well!
I know from experience, those blades can whip a slice off a nine X 24 inch spruce billet in about 6 seconds. You must have lightening fast reflexes to have only damaged two fingers!
When I start a machine that can hurt me badly, I have a little ritual I perform... I take a moment & look at my hands & think about past minor injuries & close calls. I check the work area & the floor to make sure all is clear & only then do I hit the ON button.
I have been slipping lately & not taking the time I used to on my little ritual. This is a great reminder of how quickly we can do permanent damage. Thanks to you, I'll be taking that moment again.
Good luck with your recovery!
Best Regards, Dan


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:26 am 
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Koa
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Got the fingers crossed that the pinky hangs in there mate.

Bob

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Geelong, Australia


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:40 am 
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Koa
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Wishing you a speedy recovery Shane.

Cheers Martin


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:59 am 
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Cocobolo
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all the very best with the recovery, and dont forget what Django could do!
steve

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:31 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Shane - Keep the little finger and have a speedy recovery.

Best wishes,

Jim

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kirby@udel.edu


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:05 am 
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Mahogany
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Location: Australia
Sorry to hear about the sore paw, Shane.
Good luck with a full and speedy recovery.

Claire


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:28 am 
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Cocobolo
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All the best wishes for a speedy recovery Shane.

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"All my favourite singers can't sing."


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