More care needed- warning-it is gory

**AlexS** · 7th December 2006, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Stuart.

Back on topic, thanks for the warning about forstner bits - I find they are a very useful tool, and not ever having had a 'close encounter' didn't realise how hard they can bite.

I'll have a bit more respect for them in future.

Forstner bits are great for drilling large holes neatly. As long as they are straight in the hole, they are fine, but if they get slightly off line, they can grab, with exciting results. If the hole is not very deep, they can jump out and go waltzing across the job (which is what I'm assuming happened with Terry's victim). If you're using a drill press, the job can act like a helicopter rotor, and if you're using a hand held drill, it can do a quick flick and sprain your wrist, as well as spinning the job if it's not clamped.

Good practice to always clamp the job down, and smear a bit of candle wax on the outside of the bit.

**Iain** · 8th December 2006, 09:22 AM

I have been thumped in the ribs a couple of times by the 'helicopter rotor'.
Hurts too despite the low rpm.

**TassieKiwi** · 8th December 2006, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Terry B

Bureaucracy gone silly.

Ah, but do they have the machine that goes 'Ping!'?

**Terry B** · 8th December 2006, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by TassieKiwi

Ah, but do they have the machine that goes 'Ping!'?

We certainly do and it cost three quarters of a million pounds

**noodle_snacks** · 10th December 2006, 02:50 AM

I've also had an accident with forstner drill bits before, i was drilling out large 54mm holes in pieces of 12mm mdf for use as braces inside a loudspeaker box, had to drill approx 50 holes of that size, then filled in the gaps with a smaller 32mm bit. anyway, i was holding on to one of the smaller pieces and the drill bit digged in and started the piece spilling quite quickly in the drill press, the mdf (not the bit) put a 1-2cm gash in my thumb (could see the bone), healed up fine though. Doing it again i would have dropped hte drill speed right down and figured out some sort of fixture that allowed me to drill all the holes, at a still decent pace.

**soundman** · 15th January 2007, 01:07 PM

Now that one is especialy gruesome

There is just somethig about a foreign body left poking out.

Perhaps we shoud have a special " gruseome gallery" that can be there as a reminder and teaching tool.

It amazes me how we can think we are strong enough and quick enough to controll various power tools without proper methods.

cheers

**AlexS** · 15th January 2007, 01:49 PM

Just back from my plywood supplier & the guy there had a forstner accident in a similar place to the one to the one Terry showed, but on the back of the hand.
Drilled the hole using a drill press, then as he pulled the job out, the spinning bit caught his hand and wound up bits of tendon etc. Ouch!

**Waldo** · 15th January 2007, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Terry B

He has smashed the bones at the base of his middle finger on his dominant hand.

**masoth** · 15th January 2007, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by soundman

Perhaps we shoud have a special " gruseome gallery" that can be there as a reminder and teaching tool.

It amazes me how we can think we are strong enough and quick enough to controll various power tools without proper methods.

cheers

I agree. This post alone has warned me of a foolish habit I have.

It'd be something like the anti-smoking ads, eh?

soth

**Schtoo** · 25th January 2007, 01:33 AM

I have a real simple theory with power tools.

Read the label where it mentions the power output.

And keep in mind that an average human can only produce about 200 watts (1/4 hp).

In a fight with a drill press, you are still down a few watts or so, and logically you will lose.

We won't go into how much the 5hp table saw out punches you...

(Maybe not 100% accurate, but it does keep you in perspective of the larger scheme of things.)

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