Spalted Magnolia and severe boo boo

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bitshird

bitshird

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
10,236
Location
Adamsville, TN, USA.
I have been lusting for some Magnolia for some time, last Friday I finaly got a small tree that had died about 5 years ago, the base was only about 7 in. dia. I was over joyed to see the spalting present,, So I proceded to try and square the pieces up so I could make some blanks.
Things went fine for a while, then the wreck happened,

magnolia-1.jpg


I was using a cheap 100.00 Delta 10 in. table saw and was really delighted with the wood, I was using a push stick on the fence side and went to grab the other side nearly a foot over te end of the table, before it was sawn off, and the thing did what I've always feared the most happened, it kicked back.
magnolia-2.jpg


I lost the first joint on my left index finger, severed the tensor tendon on the middle finger and lacerations on my left ring finger.
I always thought I was careful working with machinery, especially around table and band saws.
Now I'm 8 to 10 weeks away from any pen turning or really any work requiring both hands, and my not be able to play my guitars any more.
Watch out, exercise an unreasonable amount of caution, and never think it can't happen, It Can[:eek:)][:eek:)]
 
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Ken ..... how awful. I know how much you enjoy woodworking and what a blow to you this must be. Don't automatically assume that your guitar playing days are over. Did an orthopedic surgeon take care of you in the ER or was it an on call doctor?
 
Ken,

Wow, that hurts. Take care of yourself and watch out for those old saws without riving knifes or kickback pawls. New saws can do the same.
 
Ken, that's just terrible! [:0] I've had kickbacks, but they were always my fault. It's one of the reasons I like splitters and finger boards installed on my TS. You just can't be too safe. We'll keep you in our prayers for a speedy recovery and are thankful it wasn't worse.
 
Ouch!! What a horrible thing to happen. I had a piece of burl kick back (and explode!) once and narrowly missed losing my right thumb. My left thumb has a sawblade scar through it that only now, after three years, is well enough healed to let be play guitar. It's soo easy to have that happen.
 
Very sorry to hear this but a good worning to the rest of the guys and gals... Saws dont care what they cut!! I have lots of saws at my plant and I am always telling my employees to be safe and pay attention. I have one scarf cut blade that is 28" in diameter and the other 4 blades on that saw are 16's
 
I am sorry to see that. Kick backs are a scary thing. If your doctor sets you up for physical therapy down the road let me tell you from experience to not only go but to do the exercises at home too. I am missing the first two joints on the left index and you will need to re-educate your hands on movement and safety.

Mike
 
Ken,

I'm very sorry to hear about your accident. Thanks for taking the time to warn everyone else. Good luch on your recovery and subsequent return to woodworking and guitar.

A further reminder to everyone else. NEVER grab or PULL wood behind the blade.
 
Thanks every one, They tried to get a hand specialist, but none were available with in 300 miles, The ER on call didn't really have much of an idea what to do, so my family DR. got hold of an Orthopedic surgeon and got me transfered to a real hospital.
i actually feel quite lucky, it only took off just behind the nail, the worst is the middle finger the tendon was pretty badly lacerated, and they have a pin in it now so it cant flex and mess up the sutures but I have feeling in all three that were involved, and yes physical torture will be done, the drag is it's 90 miles round trip, and LOML won't let me by a motor cycle even if i sell my VW . Women are so hard to reason with[B)]
driving it is going to be fun, at least I woke up from surgery, that was a relief. now I have another DR. to make a pen for:D:D

But isn't the wood pretty?? and it's quite a bit harder than I thought it would be, as soon as I can mix up some PR, I'll have some for worthless wood, Yah right about 20 or 30 thousand a board foot:D:D thank the lord my insurance will cover nearly all of it
 
Ken, I am very sorry to hear of your accident. Just another friendly reminder that we all need to be careful in the shop.

Nice piece of wood also.
 
Ken, that is some really nice wood.

I'm really sorry to hear of the accident. I hope you heal up soon!

This will be a wake up call for me and my causal attitue sometimes around my table and band saw. It doesn't take but milliseconds to take off a finger or worse.


Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

Mike
 
Gheez, sorry Ken. I kinda broke out in a sweat looking at that. Bad memories came rushing back. I cut into a finger in 1993 and they had to fuse the knuckle. I had a horrible doctor the first time. For two weeks I would go in for a follow up and he would look at my finger, say something about it going crooked, then straighten it out. I almost lost conscience the second time. I left his office, went to the family Dr. and told him to get me someone else, OR ELSE:(The second surgeon was good. He shortened it up and it turned out pretty good. It sure took a while, and I would break out into a sweat everytime I started the saw for months. Take your time, let it heal, then make the best of it. Humans are pretty good at adapting to what they have. You may not play the guitar the same as you did, but I bet you will still be able to do it. Just look at the people that are born without limbs. They can do some amazing things. Keep you chin up!
 
Ooooouch!!!!! [:0][:0][:0]

Ken, I am sorry to hear of your accident. :(:( Please take it easy for a while and make sure that you get a specialist to look at that injury.
 
Ken, two of my fingers are throbbing in sympathy [:I] I'm sorry for your injury.

Thanks for posting a wake up call for all those who work with power tools!
 
Ken, I feel for you! Hate that happened, and am glad it was no worse - but its still plenty bad enough!
I did laugh at you "how hard the wood was" comment. A true woodman to the end!
At least your sense of humor wasn't hurt badly - or is that a pain pill talking??

Makes me stop and think how many times I've had close calls...
and I just bow my head and say "thank you"
 
Ken, I know what you are going thru. I had that happen to my thumb in Feb of '07, and have had two surgeries since (still wearing a cast from third surgery. Mine was slice lenthwise from tip of thumb to palm, and thru the bone. I have had the knuckle fused, re-broke, fused and permanent screws and pins put in place. I can't wait to get back in my shop, but am trying to follow what the Doc says. BTW, my thumb is now over 1/2" shorter, and about 1/2 the diameter it was before. But I still have it. Good luck and take care.
 
Ken,sorry about the accident and thanks for the post...I too use a table saw for such milling(correction I use to use a table saw for such milling).Thanks again for the warning and I hope you mend fast and proper.
 
Thanks Gary, the way the index finger was cut there really wasn't any option, The
orthopedic Surgeon was pretty sure there was no other choice, and I came out of it better than I had hoped, the only one that really presents any problem is the bird finger, I probably won't have quite the range of motion it had before.
I felt pretty confident in the Surgeon, which is unusual for me and Dr's around here, I go for a follow up tomorrow, and considering I'm Diabetic and all the crap that goes with it, I heal reasonably quick, they said 8 to 10 weeks, and quite a bit of Occupational Therapy also known as Physical Torture.
It's pretty hard to find a bright side, but perhaps I can get the design and code done to make some pen parts and have them ready to cast when I am allowed to return to working again. I've already cut back on the pain meds, so this might be not as bad as I thought it would.
LOML clearly stated that I will do only that which the Dr. says
i can, and only as much. I hope I can get working in about 4 to 5 weeks at least a little bit, and I'll have to use my metal lathe for a while.
Living in a rural area does have it's disadvantages, but most of my neighbors have stopped to see if there's any thing they can help with.
I thought I was working safely but in that nano second, things changed in a hurry, I've had kick backs before, but not like that,
The first thing I'm going to do is junk that Piece Of Crap and get a decent bandsaw, I'll probably get another table saw but one with some safety features like a splitter and kic back guard, and enough power to cut through.
I still find it hard to believe I allowed something like that to happen, given what could have happened, I count myself blessed, plus having friends like all of you guys gals and Ed too I count my self a lucky man.

Thanks everyone, this is a great family
[8D][8D][8D]
 
OMG!!!

Hope this help remind others to be more careful.

I myself tend to get complacent at times and forgets that all it takes is a fraction of a second when working with power tools. Hope you heal well and fast.
 
Ken, if you're looking at a new mid size table saw, Sawstop have recently introduced a contractor saw to their line up.

You can check it out at their website

http://www.sawstop.com/

If you or anyone else has never seen the videos on their website, take the time to watch them. They're pretty amazing.
 
Accidents like yours are why I admit I am scared to death of my table saw now. I am sorry to hear of your injury, and hope you have a quick recovery with not too much physical therapy. Thanks for the reminder to all of us to practice shop safety, and no matter how careful we think we're being something can still happen!
 
Dang! I'm sorry to here about your incident. Keep your spirits up. I'll be praying for you.

Don't give up on playing that guitar. There are a lot of guitar players that have missing fingers and a bunch are missing them on their left hand and still play.

Tony Iommi is is a great example. Guitar player for Black Sabbath. He lost parts of two fingers. He uses two prosthetic tips.

Django Reinhardt is another, a great jazz player, he had a partly paralyzed hand. He played with two fingers.

Jerry Garcia is another.

Here's a forum where this very subject was discussed. Keep the spirits up and I promise you that there will be a day that you pick up that guitar and learn to play all over again.

ForumID=2&TopicID=381&PagePosition=1&get=last
 
WOW! You are really lucky that it only hurt a few fingers and not your face, chest or abdominal area. I hope that you heal quickly. We do adapt to changes so hopefully with time, physical therapy, and a positive attitude you will return to pen turning and certainly your guitar playing. My friend played guitar with no first digit on her left hand, having chopped it off with a hatchet as a child playing in the barn. Do your PT as they tell you and you will recover well. I couldn't walk for about 6 months and only because I pushed the PT can I walk today. It does hurt at times, but really works.
 
OUCH, What can I say that hasnt already been said? Keep the faith and please have a speedy recovery. This is a rude reminder of how many close calls we all have had that could have been much worse.
 
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