Table saw injury...

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Art Fuldodger

Art Fuldodger

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Jan 3, 2009
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Sandy, UT
I wasn't going to post this, but maybe this will help someone else be smarter than me. :(

Last week, I was turning some stoppers, and EVERYTHING was more difficult than usual. I mean EVERYTHING. Even just cutting a bead, I was having difficulty, and took a few tries to get it right, and I was getting frustrated. Then I remembered why it was so tough... I had taken a pain pill earlier that day.

I have a chronic medical condition which causes me pain, and it comes and goes. It had been a while since I had needed to take a pain pill, but that day, I did. Not seeing a half-pill in the bottle, I had taken a whole pill - and since I hadn't taken one in a while, I was no longer "used to them".

So, I realized that, and thought "Maybe I should stop turning." But, my good sense was gone, so I decided to keep going, but just be careful.

Then, I took a piece of ebony over to the table saw to flatten up one face. I set the fence, and knew that I really, really, REALLY had to be careful since I was on a narcotic. Alright, slow and steady, watch those fingers... yep, the cut went no problem. I thought to myself "Alright, that's the last saw cut I'm making tonight. I don't want to risk anything."

I lifted my hands off of the table, to turn the saw off, and for some reason (I've never had this happen before, even on the pain pills), lost my equilibrium, and started to stumble. My hands waved, and I cought my balance. Then I realized it... while my equilibrium was off, I felt a quiet "bzzt" on the side of my finger. While I'm not normally a man to use such words, my mind could only think "Oh, sh**!"

I looked down, and sure enough, my finger had touched the teeth of the blade - but just *barely*. I had the slightest little cut, not even enough to draw blood. I've never had such a feeling of terror and relief at the same time before. It's been one week, and I can still just barely see the little line in my finger.

Back when I thought "Oh, yeah, I'm on a pain pill, I should give up", I may not have had the good sense to do it... but the Lord sure gave me a good reason to remember to have more sense next time.
 
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Wow, I can totally imagine *exactly* how you must have felt. Which is exactly what I try and remember when I am about to do something that could be safer. I try to remind myself that I'm a "bleeder," and should do it differently :)
 
Art,
That is a major YIKES... I use my table saw regularly, but I am terrified of the thing, so I never take my eyes off the blade until it stops spinning... then I lower it immediately, and sometimes I lower it while it's still spinning... the very thought of that blade nicking a finger or any part of my anatomy sends a cold clammy chill through me.
I had a kick back on a board that change the way I talked for a short while.. after my voice returned to normal octave, I now tend to stand to one side of all cuts.
 
Thanks for sharing. I take these 'lessons' to my wood working class and share with them. It is always a good reminder to be careful at all times.
 
Man oh Man... Your guardian angel was working triple overtime for you. I'm sure it has some good stories to tell back at the angel clubhouse..."There I was, He was working in his shop and buzzed from pain pills.... He headed to the saw and I knew it was going to be a tough day"

Heck he probably got a free beer from the bartender for that one.

Seriously, I'm glad that your OK, and I especially appreciate that you were willing to share this. It's a mistake we all could make, and you got nothing else than a very bad scare out of it. (If it had been me, I suspect that the underware drawer would have been my next stop)

Thanks again,

Steve
 
Sorry to hear of your close call but with that said I am taking a different approach. WHAT THE H__LL WERE YOU THINKING????? Boy it is a message that gets pounded in everyone's head that operates any power tool or machinery. DO NOT DO IT WHEN TAKING DRUGS. I hate to read posts like this and yes accidents do happen and they are just about always user error but to compound this with medication you are on is just not right. This might have happened even if you were not on meds but you do not need to add to the scenerio. I sure hope you learned a lesson. There were so many signs in your story of why you should have left the shop sooner but didn't. WOW

I know sometimes we all need a kick in the rear and these stories are reminders but lets remember them and not just read them.
 
Yeah, that's the thing about the drugs... once you're on them, your good sense goes out the window, and things that you would never do if you were thinking straight... don't seem so bad. Yeah, you and I both think "I would never go into the shop when I'm on narcotics." But once you've had them... going in the shop seems perfectly legit. :(
 
Been there, but wasn't on medication, just stupid and in a hurry, Now I have one finger that is a 1/2 inch shorter than it was, and one that is all but useless, I still use my table saw but it scares the Pee out of me and I'm a lot more careful, This happened after working off and on in Machine shops for 35 years, where I've seen some honorific accidents, It'll n4ever happen to me!!!! wanna bet.
 
Now you know why people spend a small fortune on a Sawstop. The Lord was looking out for you, and I've had my own stupid close calls too (ever have a bottle stopper blow up in your face on the mitre saw?). I'm only 24 and I'm bound and determined to sit proudly on my deathbed with all 10 fingers in tact. It's a daily battle!!
 
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