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I work hard to be safe. I use push pads and everything I can to be safe. Today after 40 years of working with power tools , I had an accident. I was lucky in that I missed nerves , tendons and ligaments but in a micro second my thumb hit my table saw blade.
I filleted my right thumb and by posting this I hope I can save someone else an accident. I don't blame the Saw Blade manufacturer , I don't blame The saw manufacture , it was all me. I honestly do not know what happened but it happened.
I was ripping red spruce for bracing stock and using a push block and bingo. You cannot be too careful . I hope no one has to go through this. I knew I was lucky after looking at the major cut and seeing my thumb split , I could move it and I had feeling on both sides . I am now sitting and healing.
THINK SAFETY.

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

So sorry to hear this, John. Heal fast.

Can you explain why it happened?

My ex-wife "filleted" her left thumb doing about the same thing--ripping 1x2 into 1x1, using a push stick. She hit a knot; the rest is a bit unclear. I think the piece kicked and her pushing hand reacted by pushing forward. She just described as her hand was "pulled in."

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Ouch, thanks for sharing, John.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Glad to hear it wasn't worse, John. I hope it heals up soon.

Chuck

I am sure that was frightening, John. Sorry to hear about your accident. Get well soon.

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

I don't know how it happened . I think my push block was worn and I didn't check it . The pad collapsed suddenly and my thumb went were it wasn't supposed to be. I can't say this enough check all your safety items and keep you mind on what is happening. Accidents happen fast.
Thanks for the kind thoughts.and I hope no one has to go through this, I am so lucky in that I didn't hit anything that will cause permanent damage. It was scary to see mt upper part of my thumb split from the knucle to the thumb nail.

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

Incredible John!
I hate tablesaws!
If that was what you were using.
I use long push blocks and clamped fences to cut anything on a tablesaw.

I use the bandsaw for all brace,neck ,back & sides .
I then run the pieces through the sander.

I hope you heal soon and have No lingering troubles with that hand.

Be safe!
To all the instrument makers -double check everything you do with power tools!
Mike

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Mike Collins

John: So sorry to hear about your accident. Have done the same thing to both of my thumbs over the years.I do try to work safely as you do to. But we are human and things like this happen.The best we can do is to continue to try to work as safely as we can. Hope you heal quickly and don't lose any use of your thumb.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

John, thanks for sharing this experience. It takes courage and does nothing but put everyone on their toes. We're are allgrateful for that and wish for you the speediest recovery. It's easy to feel highly vulnerable after an accident like that (from experience - I know) but it passes before long and leaves an important impression. Hang in there and take care.

Glad to hear you didn't actually lose any pieces John. Those darned tablesaws bite hard!
I still have very little feeling in my (slightly shorter than it used to be) left index finger, after (oddly enough) ripping braces many years ago. I can't remember exactly how that one happened either.
It seems that small pieces are the most dangerous to cut. At least the blade is usually low & you don't cut TOO deep... A painful lesson & I hope you recover fully & soon.
The buzz phrase in aviation safety lectures used to be "Learn from other people's mistakes... You won't live long enough to make them all yourself".
I'm gonna go re-work my worn out push sticks, right now!
Thanks for the sharing.
Dan

John,

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you but I thank God you still have your thumb! I have been using table saws for 40 years (built pallets for my grandpa starting at 12). It is still the most hated piece of equipment in my shop but a necessity for certain operations. That said, in '02' I was making the first cut of many to frame in a new roof on my house when that little voice in my head warned me about 3 secs. before a kickback that broke my right thumb in 4 places. Now, I only use it with radical safety jigs and contraptions and have made my large band saw the main machine in my shop for cutting. My thumb still ain't right. I still get nervous every time I fire the t-saw up but it helps me to be more defensive in the use of it. And like you, it wasn't the machine's fault, it was my own for ignoring the warning thought that preceded the accident. Still gotta take care with the band saw too but at least it won't bite in as many ways as my table saw. Get healed up quickly John. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Thanks for the heads up John. You may remember that a couple of years ago now (MAN times moves fast!) I ran my right hand through my resaw, resulting in shorter little finger that is now more for show than action (it doesn't move much north of the middle knuckle) and bent middle finger (the severed tendon didn't retake on repair and I never went back to have them try again). And as with you after nearly 30 years of fairly serious tool use. We are never too old or experienced to have these things happen.

Sure hope you heal well and fast!

Shane

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Canada

Sorry to hear that John. It only takes a split second for things like this to happen.
Glad the injury won't leave any permanent damage.

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John,

Sorry to hear of your injury, but glad it wasn't any worse. I've had one bad kickback that
resulted in 10 stitches on my right wrist- luckily the injury missed all major blood vessels.
But I know how you feel- it happens in an instant. The power of a big cabinet saw is awesome.
Best of luck on a fast recovery...

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Sorry to hear about you accident John. You are absolutely correct, THINK SAFETY. Something I try to say to myself everytime I am working with a power tool. I also have over 40 yrs working with just about any power tool you can think of. (a lifetime in the home building business). I once put a nice cut in my left thumb on a power miter box, at first I could not believe I did something so stupid, all because I was in a hurry. I just told my nephew this morning to think safe and watch his fingers...he was ripping some hardwood flooring on a table saw. Anyway John, glad it wasn't any worse, hope you heal fast.

Chuck

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Man, I'm glad for you that wasn't worse. Heal well, thanks for the heads up.
It's good to get reminders from others about safety.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Get well John, sorry to hear this happened.
IMO this type of triangle push stick is safer then the standard stick, if it slips, the hand does not go towards the blade. I met a woodworker at the lumber yard who had sad reason to make the recommendation to me years ago.
http://woodworker.com/fullpres.asp?PART ... RGEVIEW=ON
Rob

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Those work well and are easy to make out of 3/4" scrap ply. I usually make 2 or 3 and use them till they get too sliced up then I just toss em and make some more. Only takes a few minutes.

John - Thanks for posting as you just won't know who's fingers you saved by making them be a bit more careful this week. 40 years of using power tools and all I can say is it just happens. Fortunately all I have are scars on my hands and arms; no lost mobility. Glad your injury seems to be one of those that will not cause long-term damage. I hope you heal quickly.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

John,
Heal well and fast.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

That is exactly what I do as well, the guy at the lumber yard made an impression.
Rob

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Of all powertools there is only one that actually scares the life out of me and that is a tablesaw or chop style mitre saw. I try not to use it unless I have to. I think it's the sheer power and the fact like a handheld circular saw it can't have much in regards to a safty guard.

I hope you a speedy recovery!

Sorry to hear about your mishap there John, but glad it wasn't more serious. It's always good to have timely reminders on safety every now and then. I resolve to:

a) fix the rubber on my Grrr-ipper so it's not a chore to use
b) make some of those triangle push sticks
c) save up for a Saw Stop

When it's healed a bit, post a pic would you?

Cheers,
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"

That's a bummer, John. I was scared for you when I saw the post. I'm glad it wasn't worse. Hope you heal soon. And thanks for reminding us to be safe. You can't hear it too often.

I know exactly what happened when I did mine. I was being stupid and did something I shouldn't have done without thinking. Clean the rubber on your grrrrrippers. That way they stay sticky and you don't get frustrated and set them aside. Now, I tend to prefer anything with a rear hook to it.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

For those who may wonder, here's the kind of push stick we're talking about, at least my version. Cheap, easy to make and effective.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Sorry to hear this John. I'm glad it wasn't any worse.

I was so petrified when I used my Tablesaw that I gave it away (how is that working for you Lillian ? ). This thread has removed any doubt I had about my decision. I have an aversion to fast spinny metal things!

I make due with my bandsaw or hand saws. Of course it's easy when I only make one or two guitars a year.

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Jim Hansen