Thread: Didn't think it would happen to me

I nicked my find index finger when moving from one side of the blade to the other in order to better control the timber I was ripping.

Bought a Magswitch feather board so I don't do that manoeuvre any more.

Image of finger attached. Looks worse than it is. Did lose a little bit of feeling.

cheers
conwood

Conwood that looks painful too

I must admit I'm a little nervous about finishing the rip cuts I was doing at the time.

I should go and clean the skin and blood off the timber and saw as well

Mark I'll call you if I can make it over there

In our shop before starting work we usually spend at least 30 seconds going through the activity with our mind and thinking about the hazards of the work and how to prevent it. Just to keep us ready and safe for the work ahead. It works for us, might work for you guys.

Hi Kev,
I finish rip cuts with a push stick..anything thin that is. More wood thru the saw will clean it.

How is your recovery going..back in the saddle I hope.

cheers
conwwod

G'day conwood,

Ist day back at work today

Progress is slow, still quite painful, seems I have lost some feeling in the thumb but doctor thinks it will return.

I started back in the shed last week (thankfully I can still give 2 thumbs up)

Kev

Will be tender for a while Kev. I am 18 months on and still not got complete feel back.
Back in shed is good



cheers
conwood

Originally Posted by Alastair

Your post could have been word for word describing me, and what I did to my LH index finger a couple of months ago

For me it happened ripping a batch of stiles to 22mm dimension. Blade was "buried" in timber, so was using left index to "snug" up to the fence.

Did not take one warped piece into account. It had been jointed first, so when I ripped it, blade broke through surface, and took out my LHI finger.

Stupid

Did the next big batch this w/e, but spent the $88 on the Magfence on Fri.
Quantum change. Now a firm fan, and money well spent.

I firmly believe that safety measures which are awkward to use, and which inhibit your use of machine, will be the ones that are circumvented, ignored, or disabled. This is one so convenient to use, it sells itself.

Some 3 months down the track, I have largely recovered, but still have lost sensation on the tip of finger, and under the nail.. Still improving marginally ATM.

regards

Yep my magswitch featherboard arrived last week . A great bit of gear. Not cheap but I think well worth it.

Originally Posted by Soul14

In our shop before starting work we usually spend at least 30 seconds going through the activity with our mind and thinking about the hazards of the work and how to prevent it. Just to keep us ready and safe for the work ahead. It works for us, might work for you guys.

This is the way I was taught and how I always work. It becomes second nature: think about what you're going to do, think about what will happen, think about what could go wrong.