Well, I dood it.

rhncue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Last week we were all getting on Bubsbug about safety, or lack of it and last night I went an stuck my finger into the table saw blade. It didn't cut it off but cut a slot close to a 1/4" wide length wise to the first joint. Hospital called in a orthopedic surgeon and he informed me that there was no saving it because the bone was gone so he amputated it. That's what I get for using the wrong tool. The piece I was cutting was to short and to narrow for a table saw and should have been cut on the band saw but at the time it was set up for something else and I didn't want to take the time to change it. I can tell ya, it hurts like hell.

Dick
 
Dear Lord.
Dick I took my mentor to the ER years ago b/c he fed his hand to the saw blade after it kicked back the square he was corner cutting.
Not a good idea on table saw.
Of course, I been to the ER twice in 3 yrs too. Lost a fingernail from a lathe lid dropping on it.
As I thought then, haah it could have been worse.
Think the same way too if it's possible.
Another badge of honor we call it.
Get well soon Dick. We bleed for you too.
 
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rhncue said:
Last week we were all getting on Bubsbug about safety, or lack of it and last night I went an stuck my finger into the table saw blade. It didn't cut it off but cut a slot close to a 1/4" wide length wise to the first joint. Hospital called in a orthopedic surgeon and he informed me that there was no saving it because the bone was gone so he amputated it. That's what I get for using the wrong tool. The piece I was cutting was to short and to narrow for a table saw and should have been cut on the band saw but at the time it was set up for something else and I didn't want to take the time to change it. I can tell ya, it hurts like hell.

Dick

I know how you feel. I got shot in my finger when I was in Jr. High school. Luckily it bounced off the bone and didn't shatter it or they would have had to amputate my finger. Funny how kids are. I didn't want to get my gun taken away so I stuck my hand in my pants pocket and hoped my parents wouldn't notice. Of course, by the time I got home, my entire jeans were soaked with blood.

Mom: OMG What happened?
Me: Nothing.
Mom: Let me see your hand.
Me: No, it's nothing.
Mom: Put down that gun and let me see your hand!
Me: It just grazed it.

Good news is with modern science you'll heal back to normal (except only being able to count to 9 :) )

Wierdest feeling is the phantom itch and burning that I still get from nerve damage from having part of my scalp taken off and re-attached. I suspect you'll have some of that. I learned that when my head itches and I can't scratch it because I have no nerve endings there, I can scratch other places and it works. Hard to describe, but you'll soon know what I'm talking about.

Cheers,
RC
 
SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT ....DICK......

I know I only have a few months exp. But right after I got my new Hightower , I was running my new router and testing it and the power feed on a shft blank, and run my thumb right into the back of the router blade and lost 1/4 of the tip of my thumb.....I know how bad that hurt without hitting bone, so I cant imagine the pain you are feeling.

I AM PRAYING FOR YA BUDDY
 
Oh man! Do I know what that's like!!!
I did the very same thing to my right thumb on on the table saw November 24th last year. Cut it up the middle right through the nail, and just through the joint. They didn't amputate though. After extensive x-rays, they stitched the 2 halves back together. (17 stitches)
Now I cannot bend it at the joint, and it's a little crooked, but at least by the grace of God I still have it.
I feel for ya man.
Here's wishing you a speedy recovery!!
 
Mercy, Ouch!!!!
Dick I am very sorry to hear that, I bet It did hurt like hell. I have always been scared of tablesaws.

Junior high many moons ago I watched one of My shop teachers go through 4 fingers while he was showing me how to set It up for a project, and took me years after to get comfortable when I had to use one on a job. Had a cousin same thing, and a guy that use to shoot on our league team, It happened on 2 different ocasions with him, and he lost 2 of them I believe. Just watched a show recently where a chief surgeon or someone was doing some weekend warrior stuff at his home,using a table saw, and really messed his whole hand up bad. he had glove on, so I think It pulled his hand into the blade even further. The whole thing was he was the best in that area to work on the type of injury He substained to Himself. I'd think that tablesaws are very high on the list of most common injuries caused By power tools, and It can happen to anyone.


The tracking on My cheap bandsaw is messed up, and I screwed with that thing for hours last night just trying to avoid using the tablesaw If I did'nt have to. I try to only use it when I have no choice. Last time I used It a piece kicked back and stuck in the drywall behind me. I was cutting some small stock at the time.

Anyway, This is a thread I don't enjoy seeing, and sorry it had to happen bud, If I was closer to You I'd offer My services a few hours a week or something to help out around there while Your healing, but there's so much distance between us that It just would'nt be feasable. Still If there's anything You can think of that I could do to help, feel free to call on Me. Hope the recovery is a quick one.

Greg
 
Safety

I've had a couple close calls that made me start really paying attention. I hate cutting little pieces! I hope it heals quick for you.
 
Very sorry to hear about your accident Dick. I bet it does hurt. :mad:

I remember in your post you said the bandsaw scared you because it was quiet and timid and can give one a false sense of safety. The sheer rpms of a table saw and kickback etc is what I don't like about a tablesaw. It sounds like it just did catch you but tore it up something fierce. :(

I hope it heals fast for you.

Kelly
 
sorry to hear that dickie
that makes this saw seem all the more attractive

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42 second video
 
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Oooouuuch!!!!!!!!

I feel for you man. I did the same thing cutting up a hundred board ft into
squares for shafts at the end of November last year. I was about half way through about 370 squares when I guess the repetition of it spaced me off. Also it was the first night that we got snow flurries that winter so maybe that drifted my focus a little. Either way I was cussing myself out because I had just put myself in the same catagory as all the stupid people I was *****ing about at work earlier. I do not like the sight of my own blood especially when it comes with that much pain.

I myself did not lose my finger but with my record I almost think it is bound to happen.
1 table saw
1 band saw
2 lathe
1 router
All with just scars and some nerve damage. i've been taken to the hospital 2 times but ended up walking out just thinking about how much it was going to cost. I know some nurse friends that said 4/5 times I should have gotten stitches but I am too damn stubborn. It is good for me that the ol lady is good at that kinda stuff. By the way she says ouch and feels for you also.

It is kinda ironic that I just came from the barbers, in which I was showing her some pictures in my phone that I came across those gross wound shots and I show up here at home to read this.

As Greg said I would offer some help but I don't think there is much I can do for you from this neck of the desert. The offer stands if there is anything I can do to help.

Good luck with your recovery.
Mike Gatzke
 
BHQ said:
sorry to hear that dickie
that makes this saw seem all the more attractive

7 second video



42 second video

I got a chance to use one of the larger sawstop saws recently, and I was very impressed. I have used some high-end industrial table saws before, and this was every bit as solid, and smooth operating as anything I've ever used. Virtually no vibration, plenty of power (I think it was 5hp), and the stock fence was pretty nice as well. I had thought that much of the price was a function of the safety mechanism, but honestly it's performance rivals saws in the same price range that don't have the safety feature.
 
Sorry to hear it...

Dickie, I was just about to drop you a line to see how you were doing. Man, hate to hear that you had that accident. I'll bet it won't keep you out of action long, though.
 
Way sorry to hear that Dick. The guy I work with lost the ends of two fingers to the shaft machine a few years ago. God bless.

Martin


rhncue said:
Last week we were all getting on Bubsbug about safety, or lack of it and last night I went an stuck my finger into the table saw blade. It didn't cut it off but cut a slot close to a 1/4" wide length wise to the first joint. Hospital called in a orthopedic surgeon and he informed me that there was no saving it because the bone was gone so he amputated it. That's what I get for using the wrong tool. The piece I was cutting was to short and to narrow for a table saw and should have been cut on the band saw but at the time it was set up for something else and I didn't want to take the time to change it. I can tell ya, it hurts like hell.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
Last week we were all getting on Bubsbug about safety, or lack of it and last night I went an stuck my finger into the table saw blade. It didn't cut it off but cut a slot close to a 1/4" wide length wise to the first joint. Hospital called in a orthopedic surgeon and he informed me that there was no saving it because the bone was gone so he amputated it. That's what I get for using the wrong tool. The piece I was cutting was to short and to narrow for a table saw and should have been cut on the band saw but at the time it was set up for something else and I didn't want to take the time to change it. I can tell ya, it hurts like hell.

Dick
i am sorry to here that dick. You can never be to safe. Today I was helping out a friend who is remodeling his billiard company building. I was cutting some 4x8 chip board without safety glasses and got what I thought was just some saw dust or something in my eye. Truns out I scrached my cornea. It hurts very much and it is a major strugle to open the eye and it constantly waters. This is my good eye as I am blind in my left eye. I havnt seeked medical attention as I have done this several times before and I know the routine. The cornea is the fastest tissue in the human body to repair itself I hoping by tomorrow i will be fine. If not I may go the the Dr. then. I thank sometimes safety is a matter of being lazy, or stupid. I know that it is in my case because I know better and I only have one good eye. heven forbid I loose it due to something stupid.
 
Sorry

Boy am I sorry to hear about your accident. I have had a few minor bouts with my lathe but the worst I have done is taken fingernails off. I hope you mend soon.
 
Thanks for the thoughts fellows. It only takes being careless for a second. I know I'll sure be glad when this throbbing stops.

Dick
 
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