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So, the classical neck is clamped to the bench edge, and I'm carving the side of the heel away from me with a gouge, and I see the inevitable spot on the near side (towards me) and think "I can get that now" AND PROBABLY EVEN THINK "but I shouldn't be doing this" ...

One stab in the stomach and seven stitches later (two internal to tie off bleeders), I'm good to go, glad it wasn't worse. If you're not supposed to do it, don't do it.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Glad you're OK.
Bleeding while building is never cool.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Ouch! Edge tools pointed toward flesh are generally not a good thing.

My policy is to only use finger power when doing that, so it doesn't go far if I slip. If it takes any more force than I can exert that way, reposition. If I can't get a better position, resharpen and take smaller bites.

OUCH!! Glad you're ok. That could have been much worse.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

All of my scars are from hand tools, and all come down to dull tools, working tired, or both. Both is especially bad....

I bet if we collected all out splinters and bandaids we could build a new shop.
There isn't one of us that at one time was thinking , you know this is stupppppp awwwwww S$##
Hey Super Glue worked !

One of my AFM's I hit my shaper blade with my thumb. Laid it open pretty good , smeared CA on it , walked into the house with my jacket over my shoulder in my best Sinatra imitation , only the blood was dripping from my elbow BUSTED .

SAFETY think it and live it. No one wants to hear of anyone getting hurt .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
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Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Hi Jim,
Sorry to hear about your injury. I am sure there are times in lutherie when we all feel like committing seppuku, but I'm sure that was not your intention.
Thanks for the reminder that we shouldn't push a blade toward - any - part of our body. I have gotten better at not having a hand in front of the blade (a basic woodworking practice) and use clamps to hold the work more often. Now I will try to remember to keep the rest of my body out of the tools path.

Scary stuff! Glad you´re OK, thanks for the reminder.
speedy recovery!
miguel.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

Jim, don't do that again! Speedy recovery!

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Waddy

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Ouch ! Hate to hear of anyone getting hurt Esp. when hospitals are involved ... Hope you heal soon and completely.

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Hand tools can def be the most dangerous tools in the shop. Especially when you get into a groove carving something out and your mind starts to wander a bit. Before you know it your slinging a sharp open blade in places that can easily grab some flesh in it's path of travel. Aside from a powered jointer handtools are nasty flesh eaters. But at least the bone will stop most handtools.

But a handtool toward the stomach is a huge disaster waiting to happen, I've been there and done that. I've taken 5 stitches to the gut from a sharp chisel. But I did get a compliment from the doctor about how clean of a cut I made, he was inpressed with the sharpness of the tool.

Thanks everyone. I hear you Anthony - I didn't even feel the cut it was so clean, and I consider myself to be a pretty mediocre gouge sharpener.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Just a reminder: one hand tool that can make really nasty cuts yet is seldom thought twice about is a scraper. Freshly sharpened, they cut as well and as deep as any other tool, and for that reason, I never sharpen both edges on mine. Whenever I see a tutorial showing how to sharpen a scraper and the fella sharpens both sides, I cringe....

I had a few stitches in a finger, caused by a chisel. . . or rather me working a 14 hour day. Golden rule with Chisels is both hands behind the blade. Those stitches were put in 15 years ago. Since then I've only had the minor cut caused by catching the hand on the sharp edge of a piece of wood. Even wood is dangerous!

Thanks for the post, Jim. Glad you're OK.

Due in good part to similar posts here and on other forums, I am finally starting to pay attention to that little voice that says, "you shouldn't do that" in the moment just before I prove that little voice to be right.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Yeah, I cut myself on 90 degree wood edges far more often than tools. Even if I'm aware of the danger, it's just not practical to go overboard on safety. I go to extreme lengths to avoid permanent injuries, and waste a lot of time to minimize the chance of injuries that require hospital visits and/or prevent me from working for days, but minor cuts and blisters grow back right away so I don't bother too much with them.

Please do not impale yourself again. Just reading that made me cringe. I'm so glad that wasn't much more serious.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Glad you didn't stab yourself worse. I'll keep your misfortune in mind! Thanks!

Regading scrapers, just the other day, I was sharpening a card scraper, and as I was rolling the hook, I was thinking about how good I am at getting a nice sharp edge on a scraper, and how well/controlled they cut...as my burnisher slipped and I sliced my thumb. (minorly)

Did the ole nine-fingered shampoo technique for the rest of the week.

Your health is your wealth ! When we went to woodworking school many moons ago.Our teacher was constantly grinding us about safety first !. Get well soon jim

Thanks for the reminder, please heal up fast.

I nearly lost a finger to the table saw 2 years ago, when I was in a hurry, working on stuff I don't normally do. I usually don't hurt myself much, but when I do, its in situations like that. I usually try to think through every aspect of an operation before I do it, and concentrate on the job at hand when I work, obviously I had neglected to do that, and I had other things on my mind. The accident was a giant wake-up call; power tools, hand tools, it doesn't matter, they will all hurt you if you let them. Awareness is the key, even with the familiar stuff. It is too easy to become complacent, or satisfied with your own abilities, which is a good recipe for disaster.

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