I have a big bench vise. You know, the ones that plumbers attach to their bumpers. Instead of using it to hold a piece of wood that I was attaching another piece to, I held it in my hand while attaching them to each other with a drywall screw, followed shortly by *(&%^%&$#$!
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
My condolences on your totally avoidable injury.
As a retired aircraft mechanic, I follow two basic rules:
If I mess up some part of a model or my benchwork I can always fabricate or purchase a substitute. Medical technology has yet to develop a reliable way of replacing damaged human parts with 100% serviceable like items. The only answer is to avoid damage to the original issue.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Theres nothing like screwing a wood screw into your leg as you use it as a prop to screw two small boards together. I imagine you experienced the same with your hand?
And do you know hammers were meant to hit thumbs, not pound nails?.
Super glue was designed to glue everything {including fingers to everything} BUT what you want to hold together.
Utility knives can always be used in a pinch by a surgeon as they will cut skin and muscle nice and deep when used improperly- especially with a dull blade- they cut the best.
Torches for plumbing, in the wrong hands-and sometimes even in the right hands- are designed to set wood and insulation afire.
Anyone without a degree in "agrivation" should never ever attempt to use a saw-especially while holding the board to be cut against ones leg.
AS always one should read thoroughly the instruction manual and all it's warning before using any power tool...but do we?
And words such as &*$##) and *@@#$)(!! and #$*(()!@_) were designed to express one's delight in using any tool in the haphazard manner of one's choosing.
The list of DONT"S in the instruction manuals are growing longer and longer, but somebody actually used the tool or appliance or such in that manner to warrant a warning. AFter all, don't you use an hot iron to press your clothes while wearing them?
Expressed opinion of the author. Your results may vary. close cover before opening message. One per customer. Void where prohibited. Do not read message while standing in shower. May be slippery when wet. MAy contain chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer or death. Do not use on or near children. Use message in well ventialated area. Message contains %(&##(( language. Message rated R for resticted. Contents for mature individuals only. Do not expose to direct sunlight. Keep in cool dry area. Not liable for any ramifications of message. Seek proffessional help immediately if message causes injury to the eyes or brains. DO not swallow. Follow directions carefully.
HAve a great day!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Power tools are one thing I don't mess around with. A 'pro' might laugh at how I handle cutting wood on my power miter saw, after cutting through the piece and returning the handle to the rest and letting go of the switch, I pull back my hands and arms until the blade comes to a complete stop, Then I unplug it before removing the clamps - I use the provided clamps to hold each piece I cut, ALWAYS. Clamp in next piece, check blade position, THEN plug it in and make the cut.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Galaxy.
You had me in tears reading that reply. I got another one.
Using a screwdriver for a chisel will make it better at rounding out screws later on. And that splintery, splitting plastic handle feels better in your hand than the smooth undamaged one.
There was a fellow mechanic at work that had a duh moment. After spinning the 3/4 inch nut off the bolt with the impact wrench the nut was stuck in the socket. Being an intelligent human male like most of us he stuck his finger in the nut to retrieve it from the socket. At that moment his left brain controlling his right hand pulled the trigger and threaded that nut on his finger all the way to the knuckle. After we were done laughing someone took him to the hospital. You don't want to hear how the doctor unthreaded the nut from his finger. All I can say is it would have been less painful using the impact wrench.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Sorry you sound like moron (no offense) that worked for me for less then one day. He was cutting a piece of sheet metal for a patch panel with a power saw (not even powered sheet metal shears) while holding it in his bare hand. Please do yourself and your family a favor and don't buy a nail gun.
How about using your finger to try and remove dried ballast from tracks?
Two weeks later, I still am applying vaseline and band-aids to my index finger.
Does a finger qualify as a tool?
Alton Junction
Or how about trying to use a X-Acto knife to pry apart some glued pieces, only to have the parts suddenly fly apart and sinking hte knife halfway into my right index finger.
Yeah, it hurt like crazy. I think i did an easy 70, 75 mph up the stairs and into the bathroom. 15 minutes later and half a roll of T.P., i was back down stairs finishing what i had started.
I admire your willingness to share your story as a warning to others to use safe work habits.
I'm not a big fan of drywall screws except for drywalls, but I am a big fan of clamps, work benches, work mates, etc for holding the work while I drill, cut, plane, etc. For a few bucks you could make a work bench out of 2x4's, here's one site that has a simple plan http://www.handymanusa.com/articles/workbench.html With a few clamps to hold the work, you can avoid many accidents.
My first work bench was similar, but I used an old ping-pong table for the top.
Enjoy
Paul
Drywall screws are rather weak and not good for building benchwork. Even with pilot holes I had problems with the heads shearing off even before the screw is completely driven in the wood, and this is plain old soft pine lumber. Then out come the vice-grips to unscrew the partially threaded in screw. Real pain in the behind. I instead use deck screws, much stronger and haven't had one shear off yet.
Everone here has had some sort of accident, from a slight cut or a black thumbnail from a misguided hammer, to more serious mishaps requiring a doctors care.
As a railroad machinist I felt fortunate to have all my body parts still intact when I retired. Of course having saftey drilled into what little grey matter I had helped and staying focused to the task at hand was paramount.
My son in law had a slight owie from a power tool, a bit comical afterwards, but at the moment of impact was a bit painfull. He asked if I ever did anything like that, I stated with tongue in cheek...Ahhh Brent...I think that was covered in the instruction manual....You know....That small pamplet was not put in the box to keep all the parts from rattling.
Experience is a great teacher.
Be safe...enjoy
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Sorry you sound like moron (no offense) that worked for me for less then one day. He was cutting a piece of sheet metal for a patch panel with a power saw (not even powered sheet metal shears) while holding it in his bare hand. Please do yourself and your family a favor and don't buy a nail gun.
I AM coachable... The vise now gets used on a regular basis. The upside to all this is... I have to keep my workbench clear to get to the vise to use it.
rrinker Drywall screws are rather weak and not good for building benchwork. Even with pilot holes I had problems with the heads shearing off even before the screw is completely driven in the wood, and this is plain old soft pine lumber. Then out come the vice-grips to unscrew the partially threaded in screw. Real pain in the behind. I instead use deck screws, much stronger and haven't had one shear off yet. --Randy
Actually, it WAS a deck screw (the kind with the Torx head).
And don't forget - screwdrivers are great for distributing paint everywhere when opening a tin, giving really original patterns for backdrops !
Seriously, when power tools are not immediately in use, then unplug them - saves a lot of accidents by accidental starting. Also labelling each plug with the name of the tool it is attached to avoids confusion.
Like mobileman, not enough hours in the day to do all I want to even though I'm retired, so I'm not going out job hunting !
Dennis
I worked in a kitchen at a reception hall when I was in high school. We had a manager there that nobody liked, he was really cocky. Once in a while he would come out of his office to "help" us with the larger parties. One day he was running the meat slicer (think table saw) and he cut his thumb. No big deal, it had happened to others. He went to the hospital and got stitched up. The next night he was using the slicer again and one of the dishwashers asked him how he got the stitches. He proceded to show him by placing his other thumb near the blade (to re-enact the incident). His thumb got too close and he sliced this one too. Back to the hospital. He came back with both thumbs bandaged now and from then on he earned the nickname "thumbs".
Check out the Deming Sub by clicking on the pics:
While soldering my feeders wires last week, I learned which end of the soldering iron NOT to grab.
The bit about the manager and the meat slicer brings back disturbing memories of a cousin of mine. Back when she was about 18 or 19, she was working in the cafeteria at a discount store. Manager insisted she start grinding up some more beef for the chilli or sloppy joes, but figured she was old enough to do it without instructions. Didn't want to be bothered when the grinder jammed. Told her to just push the meat through. As a result she now has a thumb and a rather scarred index finger on the remaining half a hand.
Happily, she basically has overcome the disability, and even the predjudices that make getting decent employment difficult, and has managed to earn a reasonable living for the last 35 or so years. A significant number of young people in that situation don't.
But, as far as why we don't use tools properly? Many reasons! Just from my own experience, using tools ranging from dental floss to Bridgeports and machine lathes, and repairing 3 V to 480 V electrical machinery, (and, keeping all my body parts intact, albeit with many scars) sometimes we mistakenly think the tool operation is simpler than it looks, we don't feel we have the time (personal feeling at home, or job pressures from the Better, Faster, Cheaper or Need for Speed business philosophies at work), or the "Men Don't Need No Flippen instruction sheets,", or just not wanting to be bothered finding or buying the right tool for the job. Or even asking someone for instruction. Then there are distractions, such as a phone call while doing something, or a wife or other family member demanding attention while you are trying to do something, or listening to radio or trying to watch television while using tools. Sometimes, not being smart enough to use the tools, like an incident at my former employer where a department manager, not authorized to use anything in our prototyping machine shop, was cutting some metal parts with a cutting torch, (G job) and not quenching the white-hot scraps into a scrap cart already filled with wood, paper, plastics, aluminum, and steel scraps that were also wet with flammable cutting fluids and oils. Luckily, a lowly technician walked in and spotted the building fire, and took corrective action. Naturally, the manager was totally oblivious to what almost happened, and copped an attitude with the tech and with the facility safety personel (me included, I was one of the first responders) which happily got him canned.
Oh, ya, another reason, MAchismo.
EM-1...or the "Men Don't Need No Flippen instruction sheets,"... Oh, ya, another reason, MAchismo.
I actually stop for directions... my wife teases me that she thinks I'm "getting hormonal"...Whatever, all I know is, it saves on gas..
Ahh yes the fond memories these make, later down the road. Been there done that. also right leg with skill saw or is it lack of skill saw? dull razor knife cuts are my specialty. also spraying myself in the face with various chemicals. all in the name of get'r done. latest one three weeks ago just pulled stitches out a week ago. looking around now for something else to poke,stab,cut,embed,or otherwise inflict harm unto mineself. Well gotta go find something to stab myself with, ya'll hav fun now heer!!
I've been known to stop and ask directions. Scared the living daylights out of one of my brother-in-laws when he was visiting us. My in-laws, and of course my wife, are from a South American country that used to be known for Military Police all over the place, police brutality, and in general where people didn't trust the police. One day, on an out-of-town trip, I actually stopped a patrol car and asked a cop for directions (I had a cousin on our local PD for almost 35 years. Great guy.) Thought I was going to have to clean the car seat.
Saw the result of a co-worker that was drilling a hole in a single gang electrical plate to install a push button. Of course he was holding the plate against the workbench with his hand while drilling. When the Drill bit broke through the plate it caught the plate and spun it at a high rate of speed. Emergency room visit resulted in a couple dozen stitches.
Springfield PA
Had a co-worker ignore the condition of the sleeves on his lab coat while drilling some holes in some .250" Steel stock once. 24" floor type drill press. Chuck caught part of the xleeve, left the inside of his elbow a bloody mess. 38 stitches, some tendon and nerve damage.
Sometimes, an older piece of machinery is not designed for safety. I once thought I was opening mnyself up for a sex imposition lawsuit because of an old lathe, but I did what I had to do. A female engineer was showing me how to run a test on an older metal lathe. The machine was built in the late 1940s. When she reached out to press the start button, I had to grab her hand to stop her. The sleeve of her blazer, with it's wealth of buttons and straps, was laying right across the chuck. The control pendant was located to the back of the machine and immediately behind the chuck. For years, just about all of us, without even thinking, automatically used our left hands to press the buttons. But, in this situation, she reached across in front of me with her right hand, letting the sleeve reach a position that could easily have caught on the clutch and done some serious injury to her arm. When I explained what I was doing, she looked at where her sleeve was, and I thought she was going to faint. She immediately understood what I was saying.
Took facilities almost 2 weeks to relocate the pendant.
Even last year, there were a couple guys in the lab complaining about not being allowed to even have suicide cords around anymore.
I find that I don't use them properly a lot of the time because that would make things too easy
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
Man Tools Explained
DRILL PRESS:A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.WIRE WHEEL:Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Oh, s---!"SKILL SAW:A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.PLIERS:Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.BELT SANDER:An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.HACKSAW:One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.VISE-GRIPS:Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.OXYACETYLENE TORCH:Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you wanted to remove a bearing race but will now be unusable.TABLE SAW:A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK:Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.BAND SAW:A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of on the outside.TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST:A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER:Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER:A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.PRY BAR:A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.HOSE CUTTER:A tool used to make hoses too short.HAMMER:Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.UTILITY KNIFE:Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door. Works particularly well on contents such as pillows, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund cheques and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.SON OF A b--ch TOOL:Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "Son of a b--ch " at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need regardless of which tool preceded it.
luvadj I find that I don't use them properly a lot of the time because that would make things too easy
Besides, how are you going to cut the tip of your finger off and patch it up with five band-aids and a little masking tape if you use the table saw properly????
The St. Francis Consolidated Railroad of the Colorado Rockies
Denver, Colorado
Of course, to avoid any battle scars, we shouldn't use tools at all. Accidents do happen - before you pick up the tool THINK what you are going to do, and behave accordingly.
Wow, the old "They're dangerous, so don't touch them" idea. We had someone like that on our Safety Team at work when we first started up. Wanted everyone who was going to be using any kind of tool to only be able to do so while in the immediate presence of another employee, even if using just a stapler. Also wanted the evening and late night guard duty to be increased to 4 so that 2 would do the rounds on schedule, and there would still be 2 guards together at the guard post so even they wouldn't have to work alone. Luckily, some intelligence prevailed to keep things a bit more reasonable.
EM-1 Wow, the old "They're dangerous, so don't touch them" idea. We had someone like that on our Safety Team at work when we first started up. Wanted everyone who was going to be using any kind of tool to only be able to do so while in the immediate presence of another employee, even if using just a stapler. Also wanted the evening and late night guard duty to be increased to 4 so that 2 would do the rounds on schedule, and there would still be 2 guards together at the guard post so even they wouldn't have to work alone. Luckily, some intelligence prevailed to keep things a bit more reasonable.
A stamp that the State of California DOESN'T apply to every newborn's rump:
Warning!!! Being born has proven 100% fatal.
Or, as my father used to like to tell me, "The only guarantee we have in life is death at the end of it."
Life is dangerous. It will remain dangerous in spite of the best (??) efforts of the legal, medical and insurance establishments to make everythng 100% safe. Each of us has a personal responsibility to try to act in ways that minimize the danger to ourselves and those around us. For everyone who can look back and wonder how they survived some really questionable maneuver, there is someone whose attempt to do the same made an underataker richer.
The story quoted above reminded me of a story Tom McCahill told, about meeting one of the safety 'experts' who was responsible for installing padded dashboards on Fords (remember them?) NASCAR was still young, and McCahill asked said expert if he had any ideas for making conditions safer for the drivers.
The answer? "They shouldn't be driving so fast..."
Embrace danger - with the same care that you would bring to trying to hug a porcupine.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - carefully)