Sometimes it pays to remove your ear muffs

**BobL** · 10th May 2012, 04:55 PM

Last night I was doing some cutting/drilling/grinding on some 12 mm plate steel.

I was drilling a 25 mm hole using a newish MT3 twist drill in a 1HP DP at 160 RPM and, because I had just been grinding, had full face shield and ear muffs on.

Even though I have been stepping up drill sizes from 12 mm in 2 mm steps, I was being too greedy and the 25 mm bit jammed towards the bottom of the hole. I hit the DP stop button and did not realize that I had not pushed it hard enough to stop it. I grabbed the bit with my left hand and gave it a twist - the bit unjammed it self and started rotating. Luckily the flutes, which are quite sharp, only cut two half cm long divots out of my left palm and ring finger, but it could have been a lot worse.

If I had removed my ear muffs I would have most likely heard the motor still running. I guess the moral of the story is to really check something has stopped before sticking something into a dangerous place.

SWMBO was most sympathetic, "f'ing idjiot" was one of the kinder terms of endearment used when she saw some blood on my towel.

**Robson Valley** · 11th May 2012, 06:39 AM

I wish you a speedy recovery.
I'd like to add a simple LED (+ current limiting resistor/do I need a diode, too?)
That sits right beside the mains switch, to show there's power to the motor.
What's a deaf person supposed to expect?

**Cliff Rogers** · 11th May 2012, 08:41 AM

I often do this without turning off, I just make a point of grabbing the chuck rather than the bit.

**Kidbee** · 11th May 2012, 08:59 AM

It is hard to believe that ear muffs that block out most of the sound could be a safety problem. I too have had a similiar problem where the sound of the dust extractor and the ear muffs drowned out the sound of the table saw still running with the tip of the blade spinning at 900 klm an hour. It can be scarey.
Hope your hand is better soon.

**FRB Design** · 11th May 2012, 09:23 AM

When you are protecting your hearing, you are disabling one of your senses, when wearing hearing protection you must pay more attention to visual.

Regards,

Frank.

**BobL** · 11th May 2012, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Kidbee

It is hard to believe that ear muffs that block out most of the sound could be a safety problem. I too have had a similiar problem where the sound of the dust extractor and the ear muffs drowned out the sound of the table saw still running with the tip of the blade spinning at 900 klm an hour. It can be scarey.
Hope your hand is better soon.

Thanks. I moved my DE outside which reduces the noise considerably so that the table saw can easily be heard. I also make it a point to watch the spinning blade until it stops. At least with

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I often do this without turning off, I just make a point of grabbing the chuck rather than the bit.

Sure, but there are no chucks with MT3 bits and the arbor is too small and smooth to get a grip on, compared to a chuck.

**Christos** · 11th May 2012, 08:58 PM

It is so easy to get ourselves into trouble. Hope you recover quickly.

**_fly_** · 11th May 2012, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I often do this without turning off, I just make a point of grabbing the chuck rather than the bit.

How does this help? unless your just putting it away.
Its a bit hard to get the next bit in while its going.
Peter

**Cliff Rogers** · 11th May 2012, 09:28 PM

When it jams & stalls the motor, I just grab the chuck & give it a quick twist backwards & it frees up & keeps going.

**_fly_** · 11th May 2012, 09:29 PM

AH, now I understand.

**Christos** · 11th May 2012, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

When it jams & stalls the motor, I just grab the chuck & give it a quick twist backwards & it frees up & keeps going.

To me that is adventurous.

**Acco** · 11th May 2012, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by Christos

To me that is adventurous.

You'd be surprised how easy it is to do, I have been doing it for the last 20 yrs or so, in fact once I've unjammed it, I can still hold the chuck, wouldn't try it with a geared drill though, it'd rip ya arm off

**Robson Valley** · 12th May 2012, 12:27 PM

I'm trying to protect what little hearing I have left. Gunshots (7mm/.308 Unlimited handguns/Trap) or explosions (Movie/TV/commercial F/X work), the damage has been done. My 'muffs isolate me from the world. My point is, why NOT have a visual indicator?

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