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I read the original thread with great interest this morning. I would have seen it Thursday evening after dinner, but I ended up spending six hours in the emergency room after a table saw accident.

My first real shop accident in over 35 years. My barn and shop are full of dangerous equipment, been using them most of my life without incident. Mostly, because I'm very careful... just like you. But Thursday evening, I overlooked several safety caveats... a perfect storm of poor judgment, if you will. I was cutting up some small pieces of 3/8 ply into strips to sticker some back/side sets I'd cut the previous evening. I chose to do this on my contractors table saw in the barn which is poorly lit. Really should have used the band saw in the shop, the right tool in the right place. Mistakes 1 & 2. When cutting smaller pieces, I generally use a push stick and feather board. I used a stick but didn't feel like setting up the feather board so I used my left hand to keep the wood against the fence. Mistake #3. Finally, I was a little fatigued, big mistake #4 (and probably a contributing factor to the other mistakes). It happened pretty quickly, I had about three inches of wood to cut on the other side of the blade when I hit a void in the ply. The wood came apart and my left hand slid ever so slightly into the blade. Well, off to the emergency room.

David's post on the other thread about having an accident affecting our ability to play what we're building really hit home. I came pretty close to losing the left hand index fingertip at the first joint. Hard to fret without it. The orthopedic surgeon said that I'd probably lose mobility in the joint after the bone healed due to calcification but I'd adjust at the next joint. So I consider myself pretty lucky. At least I wasn't taking body parts to the ER in a baggy. But bottom line... I won't playing or building for a couple of months.

I was a little hesitant to post this here, because frankly, I'm embarrassed. I know better. Hell, we all know better. But being careful is only effective when you're careful 100% of the time... 99% won't cut it. If I have a message, it's probably this: Don't let your experience or mental state, or anything else, convince you that it's OK to take a shortcut. It's not. And BTW, they don't look like shortcuts until after you've screwed up.

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Jim Womack

"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. "
Will Rogers

don't be embarrassed. its a hard lessen to learn. and after all those years things can still go wrong. i still work on a band saw that my dad once almost cut his pinky right off while using its very. ill be being more careful now thanks to your reminder. hope that heals up fast with no complications and your back to playing and building ASAP

Good post Jim. Never enough reminders about shop safety. Are those English Setters in the pen? I used to breed, raise and triain Setters and German Shorthairs and do field trials Look mostly the smaller liewellin, but had some great Laverack end of the breed. Miss bird training and hunting greatly To many fools shot out the covey's.

Thanks for sharing and I hope your have a full and speedy recovery

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

Jim,

Heal quickly! And thanks for the right-smack-in-your-face reminder.

The only mishap I have ever had was while using my left hand as a "feather board" on a tablesaw. Took the skin and muscle off the tip/pad of my middle finger. I couldn't play guitar for a year, and it still occasionally hurts when I fret hard or hammer on with that fingertip - and it happened almost 20 years ago.

If it gets at all infected during the healing process, soak it in warm water with Dreft baby detergent.

Again, heal quickly, and thank you for humbling yourself to make your post - it will help others.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Jim, I can really sympathise with you for reasons that most here will know.

When I lost the top joint on three fingers of my left hand at the back end of last year (in a road accident) my plastic surgeon who did the reconstruction told me that the most common hand injury she treats is that of woodworkers cutting off fingers, or commonly a diagonal cut across the palm with a table saw! So, if it's any consolation you should consider yourself very lucky in that your table saw injury will still leave you complete, if with a constant reminder.

If I can give any advice to you, it will be this listen to the physio and work the joint hard, sensitivity will be a problem at first, but can be greatly improved by graduated stimuli (PM me if you want details).

Since talking to my surgeon though, my table saw now only lives up to the first part of its name, table!

This is what I ended up with, and though I can no longer play, since the accident I have built what many people have said are some of my best guitars.



Speedy recovery Jim

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I hope you are alright. After all these years the table saw is still one machine i don't like. I'm ultra care full when using it. But it's still the scariest machine in a the shop. This goes back to witnessing a kid lose part of his finger up to the first joint in high school. Thats something you never forget.

I am sorry, Jim, to hear of your accident. And that is what it was, an accident, so don't be embarrassed. Thank you for sharing your misfortune to remind us to be careful. I am glad that it sounds like you will recover ok.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Yeowch! Thanks for the graphic reminder on safety Jim. Hope it heals up nicely and you get the mobility you need in that finger.

I have a rule of not putting my hands anywhere nearer than 6" away from a spinning tool (blade/bit) and to always have a slip guard of some sort in place (e.g. Grrripper).
It makes set up a bit of a chore at times, but reduces the chance of an unfortunate incident like you experienced to almost nil.

Regards,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Jim, Thanks for posting - I appreciate the reminder that it could happen to any of us. I sincerely hope you have a speedy and full recovery.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Wow, so sorry to hear this. It happens fast!.....and there is no second chance.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

That's nasty Jim! Hopefully no nerve damage. Are you a player also? Thanks for posting this. It helps us all from underestimating the power of our tools and a reminder to stay on our toes.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

Cheers,
Danny

So sorry for your misfortune Jim. Table saws are pretty nasty (radials are worse to my thinking) along with shapers and routers.
I was surprised a few years ago when I stabbed myself in the fleshy part of the thumb with a 1-1/2" chisel. Very fortunate that it works mostly, but I can't play guitar for very long anymore.
Hope your healing is swift and there is a good end to your troubles.

That brings back some painful memories.
Heal quick Jim!

Steve

I am sorry for the injuries and for most of us not being able to play or build would be devastating. I think I will post a few of the injury photos in strategic places in my shop as a constant reminder. Thanks.

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GEO
perpetual beginner

Jim,

Sorry to hear about the injury. I have thought of some of the times I "got lucky" and avoided injury with the table saw. This is a good reminder of how lucky I actually was and something to think about before using EACH TIME in the future.

I hope you heal up quick. If you need a second hand in the shop to keep you building, let me know.

John

Wow, get well soon. Everytime I see something like this I get a little closer to trading up for a Saw Stop.

Mike

Guys, thanks for the well wishes, suggestions, and so on. I appreciate it. Stay safe in your shops, folks.

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Jim Womack

"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. "
Will Rogers

Oh man jim , I hope it heals well. I have never been big on Feather boards and have done this for years . However after seeing your situation I may revisit my thinking . Heal fast and well sir.

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Jim, thanks for reminder to all of us. I appreciate your bravery being stronger than your embarassment. We all have had close encounters or accidents at one time or another. In my experience we all need to be reminded. Hope your recovery is speedy with no issues.

Jim, thanks for the reminder.

Colin, glad you overcame your challenge and it's great you are building awesome guitars! I would love to play one.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

OMG there should of been a warning on this thread!!!!

I had a very close call last year. Nipped the end of my finger, been very careful ever since.

I do hope you heal well and have full use of all your appendages.

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Disappointment is an empty box full of expectation

Jim,

Another thank you for posting this real life warning for us. Your analysis of the series of mistakes was/is very helpful and thoughtful. I hope to practice your safety reminders, as the last thing I want is to loose the ability to play and enjoy all the uses of my hands. Your courage is a direct help for me to do so. "NO SHORTCUTS" is something I need to put up in front of me thanks to your and others' reminder here.

I do have a question that you can help teach me - why is the bandsaw the proper machine for what you were doing?

May you have a speedy and full recovery.

God bless,
Ed

Thanks for the wakeup call Jim, hoping and praying that you heal well.

Tim

I just got done eating 5 Tacos and sat down to relax and opened this thread unaware what it was about....

We need a warning on it indeed....