Thread: Bandsaw incident

Originally Posted by OldGrain

Many years ago my first job was at Boomaroo Toys (Kingsgrove) Sydney.The factory was divided in two sections - Toys - & - BMC Components,(brake/excelerator/engine heads) etc.BMC being British Motor Corporation.So i`ve been enlisted to cut some steel blocks to size on the saw.Nothing new.Been doing that & block surfacing numerous times already. Pick from one trolley,cut & place onto another.Doing well for some time.I still swear to this day some one called me & i stupidly turned around.WRONG! Never turn away from any machine without switching it off & moving away from it.A split second interuption & the blade cut through my thumb.Nail edge to nail edge.Never felt a thing.Continued to pick up another block & noticed the blood spatter.Looking about other than where i should be looking I then see blood dripping onto the floor.Only then do i look at my hand.A few expletives!! How`d that happen? Then the initial shock/horror/ panic set in along with wobbly knees & cry of pain.I was lucky.Four or five stitches & pretty much been good after all these years.Slight tinge in winter but jeez i never want to be in that situation again.

Gotta agree - never turn away. A mate of mine from many years ago, afterwards nicknamed 'Fingers', lost a thumb that way on a table saw. The saw didn't have a guard either - he sued and received large compensation, although bottom line is that he should never have looked away when his name was called.
Eventually, he had his big toe sewn on as a thumb replacement. Credit to the doctors, it works well.
He has the hairiest thumb that you'll ever see.

My mates are well trained, after a few unkind words to several, to never try to get my attention while working on any machinery.

Originally Posted by Hermit

My mates are well trained, after a few unkind words to several, to never try to get my attention while working on any machinery.

And we should train ourselves to ignore anyone until we and the machine are in safe mode

Originally Posted by Chesand

And we should train ourselves to ignore anyone until we and the machine are in safe mode

Can't argue with that.

A tap on the shoulder can cause an involuntary reaction, though, so it doesn't hurt to also train others where possible.

A timely reminder.

With this I shall be now talking to my neighbours 1 pair in particular who seem to feel that when they call out at me I MUST RESPOND or be seen to be rude. My garage door face the street. With the new metal lathe in the garage it will now be a case of don't even look up when people or cars pass by some toot the horn.

I have had the door knockers whom travel spreading the word or the lecky n gas mobsters who feel that an open doors is an open invitation to walk in and up behind me when turning on the wood lathe with back to them.

I gave one fellow a big blast and ordered him out he persisted and he was then ordered to leave or else.

Now that factory was that the one down by the railway line/station or one on the otherside towards Beverly Hills if I recall I think my dad did a stint working there about 62/63

Originally Posted by wheelinround

A timely reminder.

My garage door face the street.

This is my situation too, and I keep the roller door open for extra light and ventilation. With most of my equipment, I'm facing away from the door when working.

I mentioned a tap on the shoulder because one of my neighbours did that a couple of weeks ago while I was using the wide drum sander.
Like you, Ray, I gave him a good blast because in the past I'd already spoken to him about waiting until I'd finished whatever I was doing before interrupting.

In a recent post, I can't remember whose, I saw what a drum sander can do if not treated with the utmost respect. I hate pain and value my fingers & thumbs.
Never had a workshop accident from my machines, and plan to keep it that way.

I did, however, cut my left pinkie halfway through in the kitchen a few weeks ago.

The open door to the street.....As much as I hate them maybe a plastic chain and appropriate sign. I wonder if public liability/house insurance would cover the owner if he is injured. After all the "visitor" would usually be a "stranger" and caused you (the owner) to be injured.
Ooooh I can see a long and protracted law suit where no one will win

Originally Posted by chambezio

The open door to the street.....As much as I hate them maybe a plastic chain and appropriate sign. I wonder if public liability/house insurance would cover the owner if he is injured. After all the "visitor" would usually be a "stranger" and caused you (the owner) to be injured.
Ooooh I can see a long and protracted law suit where no one will win

I hate signs too, but this has become a regular and annoying, not to say dangerous, occurrence, so I might have to consider a polite sign, just inside the roller-door. Doesn't have to be rude or too blunt.

Not so sure a plastic chain would help much, people would step over it, but along with a sign, a good idea I think.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'd never considered it.

Not to forget, though, as you mentioned earlier, the number one thing is self-training.
(Being in a rented house, and on a very limited pension budget, I have no insurance of any type.)

Originally Posted by Hermit

Being in a rented house, and on a very limited pension budget, I have no insurance of any type.

OUCH
Thank goodness I learned that lesson when we had no insurance after Tropical Cyclone Larry where we lost part of the house and a lot of our belongings.
On an age pension it was a struggle to replace it.
I was grateful about that lesson when we lost everything in Tropical Cyclone YASI.
I will go without anything else if it means I can have insurance.

Originally Posted by SAISAY

OUCH
Thank goodness I learned that lesson when we had no insurance after Tropical Cyclone Larry where we lost part of the house and a lot of our belongings.
On an age pension it was a struggle to replace it.
I was grateful about that lesson when we lost everything in Tropical Cyclone YASI.
I will go without anything else if it means I can have insurance.

You're right, of course, but I don't own enough assets to warrant insurance.
As it is, I go without almost everything, never travel or even go out much, only eat one (good) meal per day, don't drink, don't have a car, buy clothes from the op-shop, etc etc.
Believe me, that list goes on virtually forever.
Even my timber is recycled, often donated by friends, now that my savings are gone.

Not whinging, I'm happy enough, it's just a statement of fact. Rent and regular bills pretty well do me in.
I'm sure I'm not the only one here in that position.

The cost of insurance is out of the question, and I do live in an area where natural disasters never, or very rarely happen, (Nowra, NSW), whereas it appears that you live in a riskier part of the country.

Sorry if I sounded overbearing, it was not my intention.
I suppose what you win on the swings you lose on the merri-go-rounds.
Yes, I do live in a high risk area where housing probably is cheaper. The reverse side is no public transport so a car is a necessity and food id dearer however, there is the possibility of growing your own vegies but to buy the mere necessities is a 38 km round trip, no walk to shops here.
Best thing is:
No shops, no cops, no crime
Living in the tropics saves heaps on clothing and heating expenses but on the reverse you cannot do without an air conditioner or the humidity would kill you.
Aren't we pensioners lucky with the ginormous increase in our fortnightly payment? $13.50 almost $1/day, WE ARE RICH

Originally Posted by SAISAY

Sorry if I sounded overbearing, it was not my intention.
I suppose what you win on the swings you lose on the merri-go-rounds.
Yes, I do live in a high risk area where housing probably is cheaper. The reverse side is no public transport so a car is a necessity and food id dearer however, there is the possibility of growing your own vegies but to buy the mere necessities is a 38 km round trip, no walk to shops here.
Best thing is:
No shops, no cops, no crime
Living in the tropics saves heaps on clothing and heating expenses but on the reverse you cannot do without an air conditioner or the humidity would kill you.
Aren't we pensioners lucky with the ginormous increase in our fortnightly payment? $13.50 almost $1/day, WE ARE RICH

No need to say sorry, I didn't feel that you were overbearing.
Yep, town rent is a killer.

Public transport, apart from taxis, is virtually non-existent here too, so rather than shoulder the expense of a car, I bought myself an electric pushbike. (The lungs can't handle pedalling any more.) Only has about a 30km range, though, so your 38km would be out of reach. Costs virtually nothing to run, though.

I get advances on my pension whenever I'm eligible, for the larger expenses. The latest one will buy me my long-awaited Scheppach router table, when H&F have them in stock. Next week, all being well.

I have lots of shops, lots of cops, which I don't mind and even more crime here. (On a main road, between two pubs about 1km apart. Be some consolation if I was a drinker. )

Sorry, OldGrain, for getting so far off-topic - I'll pull my head in.

You are going to love that router but watch your fingers. Safety first
Back to topic

G`day Wheelinround. The factory was in Richlands St beside what is/was a postal depot.I`m thinking King Gee would`ve been inline with the factory but on Kingsgrove Rd. Arthur Findlay was the owner & it was actually called Artlay Mnfg.Joe Dittino (spl?) was my supervisor. Frank Moses was the tradie i worked with.Ken Thurston was one of the machinists.Drove a blue fj which i always loved.Betty was the lady who bandaged my thumb before they took me to hospital.Some names your dad might remember if you`re fortunate to have him around.I was there in `66.Used to ride a red speedwell to work. I ride a black one now & i`m 62. gordon

Originally Posted by OldGrain

G`day Wheelinround. The factory was in Richlands St beside what is/was a postal depot.I`m thinking King Gee would`ve been inline with the factory but on Kingsgrove Rd. Arthur Findlay was the owner & it was actually called Artlay Mnfg.Joe Dittino (spl?) was my supervisor. Frank Moses was the tradie i worked with.Ken Thurston was one of the machinists.Drove a blue fj which i always loved.Betty was the lady who bandaged my thumb before they took me to hospital.Some names your dad might remember if you`re fortunate to have him around.I was there in `66.Used to ride a red speedwell to work. I ride a black one now & i`m 62. gordon

Thats the one on Beverly Hills side I meant just thought it was further down towards station, but now you mention King Gee mother worked there during the late 60's they were paying them piece meal money not even enough to pay the bills as it was how many garments you pumped out, less any reworks. I used to go down after school and meet her coming out some times.

Dad worked at the place down near Kingsgrove station pub lunches were often had those days early 60's even the owner/bosses went think they were doing mainly Ford and Holden parts.

Name Ken Thurston rings a gong not sure why tho, I could have been going to Kingsgrove High with one of his sons maybe.