I got a new 10"table saw and Monday night decided to cut up blocks of wood. After some cocobolo was cut I cutthe power to the saw but reached in with my left hand to knock the block away from the still spinning blade. Something jumped or kicked or something and the next thing I knew my left hand was in the blade! I was very lucky as I did not lose a finger but got severe cuts (rips) on my index finger and thumb. So no knifemaking or anything else for me for a while! I go see a hand surgeon tomorrow to see about reattaching the cut tendon in my index finger - it's bent all the time now. I took these pics today when we changed the bandage, and all I can say is they look much better than they did when I first got to the ER! I wish I was
OMG! I am so sorry! That's really a nasty set of cuts! I have 3 table saws, but I have only sufferd the "kickbacks" into the face! My oldest son went to work for a cabinet shop right out of high school, and I was concerned, but he paid attention to me and my mistakes! I have bben "bit" by a router thatwas inverted and mounted into a table....those bits spinning at 30,000 rpm really disappear don't they? I misjudged the size of the bit and fed my finger and thumb into it....strangely enough it only "buzzed", no pain, until later! Both nails and some fingerprints were removed! Those saws can be a really nasty hazard, I made a few "pushsticks" and had them taken out of may hands and tossed around a few times....better them, than my fingers! Please, take care! Something's grow back, and some dont! I know a lot of mechanics, and woodworkers that are missing several digits today! Get that tendon fixed! I know, I have 1 that wasn't. Bill
YIKESeek3 Glad you didn't loose any fingers, those table saws can be nasty!! I have been in woodworking since HS and my worst injury has been a broken thumb on a lathe. Hopefully the doctors will get you healed up and back to new. I have looked into the "sawstop" tablesaw, it's a great idea, I just didn't like what the owners did. 1st they went to the TS manufactures to sell their idea, nobody wanted it. 2nd they went to congress to get a law passed that said all TS had to be fitted with their stopping mechanisim. When that didn't work they started their own TS line. If they would have just done that first great, but I didn't like the fact they were trying to force their product on us. Sawstop is a bit more expensive, but I may still one day buy their product just because I like all 10 of my fingers. http://www.sawstop.com/
Ouch !!!! My Dad did that back in the late 50s but he lost the end of his thumb . Keep it clean and follow the Doc orders .
Man that sux, be careful with that blade. If memory serves me correct, didn't it bite you right after you unwrapped it? Sounds like the bandsaw is after you. Keep it at a distance for a while, next time it bites you shoot the bastard.
Sold my table saw to a friend working on his boat, next day, he cut off two of his fingers. He sold the saw the bought it back a few months later to finish his boat; next day he cut off two of his fingers. Nearly a year passed and he decided to finish his boat, cut off another finger and a thumb. He might be reading this; Hi Stubby! Long and short of it is that when challenging a table saw, the steel will win damned near every time.
Valkman you brought back the horror I suffered from than dang blade spinning at 5000 RPMs three years ago. I was putting in a wood floor for a customer and over Christmas holidays their little baby girl learned how to walk. Somehow she got into the garage and pulled on the power cord and it went off then on again. Thank God the blade was only a carbide tip higher than the flooring, or I would of lost my thumb and part of my hand to the lifeline. I'm just now able to play my Alembic Bass guitar again. People watch those darn things and ALWAYS keep it at the proper height. You are very fortunate my freind, that you have any fingers, and you thought knives were sharp! Collodial silver for infection.
ow!!...mo fo! hope you heal fast. then throw that thing off a bridge some where! just the whine of a table saw spinning up and the unguarded blurry spinning blade gives me the creeps. I know they have their place in the shop but yeesh!
Thanks all - I saw the surgeon today and he said no surgery on the finger. He'd rather splint it for 6 weeks and see if the tendon grows back together on it's own.
Valk, you and Sniper remind me of the Budweiser "Real Men Of Genius" series. Mr. get-bit-on-the-foot-by-a-snake-so-I-can-be-a-test-monkey-and-show-my-friends-what-happens guy! No better love, hath a man, than to subject himself to extreme pain, and possible loss of limbs, to provide a learning experience for his fellow monkeys. This Bud's for you two! In all seriousness, I hope that both of you two get better soon and back to 100%!
If the tendon was completely severed get the surgery. One evening, my daughter was making lemonade and cut her thumb between the knuckles. The emergency room doc verified that she severed the tendon and sliced halfway through the nerve. By the time we got to the hand surgeon (two days later), the tendon retracted almost into her wrist. After the surgery and a little physical therapy, she has complete use and about 95% range of motion. Hoping you heal completely,
