i lost 1/4" of my left pointer finger because SOMEONE ELSE wasn't paying attention. it was a long time ago but still fresh in my memory every time i fire up a power tool. i was an advisor for junior achievement. the kids were building small cedar planters. i was running late that night and another advisor set things up. this guy was a top manager at the plant where i worked. he set up a crosscut cut on a tablesaw with a FENCE!!!!! he told them it was ok. kids leave the room................. i walked in to someone screaming HELP! a 15 year old boy was at the delta, comercial grade, 5hp tablesaw. he had a board stuck between the fence and the blade. the board was starting to lift up so i put both hands on the board and yelled for him to shut the saw down. (1977 and the laws were different then) he left the room. i heard a pop, felt something like my finger being flicked.....wrong! looked up, swearing silently, noticed the blood squirting all over the wall, shortly followed by the bone sticking out of what was left of my finger. e-room visit, 4 hours of plastic sugery, 20 stitches and weeks off work. talk about a lesson learned.....the WRC board, flew 14 feet, slammed into a concrete block wall and imbedded the corner 2 7/8".. a number i will always remember. osha said that it would have killed the boy. super smart manager person said i was stupid. that kids had to learn on bad equipment so they would know how to use good equipment....and we wonder why everything is messed up.......on the plus side, someone was watching over me so i only lost a piece of finger. was watching over the boy also. he is currently a woodshop teacher and will flunk students for breaking his safety rules. that guy rocks. and yes, i would do it again if it kept some safer.....and yes, i use power tools but i do have a better perspective than most people i know. one other thing......sometimes, paper towels get wrapped around the blank when applying finish.....i still havent got that one right yet!.......happy turning...bear :beat-up::biggrin:
? Hope you're ok.
