Official Luthiers Forum!

Sorry to hear this John. Really glad it wasn't worse.

Heal fast.

Chris.

I just got a new cabinet saw and Incra jigs. Making lots of binding etc. My splitter/anti-kickback pawls won't work with the Incra fence rails without modification. (one thing at a time) So.... I consistently use feather boards, and a micro jig splitter. MUCH safer.

If you make a push stick, make sure the geometry keeps your hand up away from the blade, and the toe long enough to hold the workpiece down on the table.

I've not tried the Grrrripper, but it will likely earn it's keep in most shops.

If something feels unsafe, it is, so FIND ANOTHER WAY!

I'm sorry this happened John. Glad you posted it though.... Now I'm one of several people to redesign my next push sticks, and rethink my methods... A table saw makes me a little nervous. When I take all the precautions and safety measures I can, I feel safer, and I know I am. Blessings on you and Brenda tonight my friend.

John here's wishing you a fast and complete recovery.

John,

As everyone said - best wishes and a speedy recovery.

Thank you for posting this as an occasional warning is good for everyone. I too am more cautious about the table saw. I have a smaller contractor model, which just feels even more unsafe than the bigger cabinet models.
I just bought a band saw so I can put the table saw on the side and use it as little as possible, I hardly use it now.
Last time I really used it was when I was using it to resaw some 5.5 x 3/4 inch boards. Everything went fine - but man it was a stupid idea. After that I vowed to get myself a band saw.
My shop accidents all came in the form of handheld knives. I think I learned from those accidents and hopefully won;t repeat them.

_________________
It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

No Todd I had a Carbide rip blade. To all check your push blocks . After I got back from the hospital I looked at mine and it eroded to the point it collapsed on me. Safety devices are useless if you don't check them. I gotta admit that I did sleep better than I thought but Vicatin did help.
Safety is only as good as you make it . 1 second to check something beats 4 weeks of healing. Also doing things left handed when you are a rightie isn't easy.
Thanks again for all the well wishes
john

_________________
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

Hi John,
I am real sorry to hear of your incident. I hope you can afford to take the time you need to heal. I read somewhere that experienced woodworkers have a high likleyhood of having an accident. A certaain amount of compacency I guess? I too after 40 years "experience" had some kickback last week & it hurt, I felt nausea for a bit which my wife tells me is a sign of some trauma. Reading these stories still make me cringe. But it is probably good for us to hear them & hopefully will give us pause to think? For me I know I can still get in a hurry, not good.
take care
Mike McNerney

_________________
Mike McNerney

Sorry to hear that John. Here's hoping you heal fast. My first accident was about 3 weeks ago. 3 stitches from my small bandsaw.

_________________
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Tippie!.....Heal!

all my best to you John

Sorry to hear about that John, Hope you heal well.

_________________
Say what you do, Do what you say.

Probably no surprise here, but I feel compelled to speak: yesterday morning I emailed John about a guitar project. In spite of his injury that would be quite frightening to any fine craftsman/artisan and with another burden that goes along with loving someone and "growing to mature years," he responded by email and even more, asked me to call him. I did-we talked tablesaw risks and collapsing safety tools and relative "luck."* We briefly talked of the other extended family pain and then he insisted (I offered to call again when things were less stressed) on discussing my project. And, he was the same warm and enthusiastic John we all love and respect(maybe it was the post-ER pain meds -NOT really).

Each of the maybe dozen or so times we have talked I have always gotten that helpful and generous John Hall. The Good Lord hasn't made that many like him--though I must say that a lot of HIS best work seems to hang around here.

It just warms my heart to be able to post this. Thank you John-and, thanks, too, to the other people who make this group so special. The loyalty that is built and sustained by the efforts and spirit of Lance and Brock does not ebb and flow; this is evidenced by the deep concern and fast action taken when a brother or sister is in jeopardy.

I am honored by being with all of you. Mike T.

* I told John of my closest recent TS call. Brainfade; I was using my fully outfitted Gripper(with the 1/4" rail attached) to push brace material along the fence when I felt a funny vibration. I pulled my hand and Gripper away and realized I had not lowered the blade and it had partially cut through the top of the "U"(inverted)- I am certain it would have collapsed had the cut progressed further and my hand would have been destroyed. Like others who have posted, I ignored one component of safety. The only thing I did right was stay concentrated upon what I was doing so I sensed the "odd" palpable signal. I also have a big "hip check" shutoff on the Shopsmith which was in use-all of my stationary power tools have big panic switches. Perhaps the higher power tries to look out for luthiers, even, hacks like me.

I commend a properly used Gripper. In spite of the expense I have three. At my Shopsmith and conventional TS(in the detached garage) and at my router tables-hmmmm, I guess I have four. mt

I hate posting something that suggests an accident could have been avoided (and maybe it couldn't) but in the interest of safety:

Never push so that the vector your hand is applying goes through the blade. Or more simply, don't ever push toward the blade. Push parallel to it. That way your push stick could disintegrate, and your hand doesn't go into the blade.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I have that rule and also never set the blade higher that what you need to cut.>What I did was assume the push block was ok but I had used it too long and eroded the block to the point the left side was weak. As I was ripping the bracing stock the block colapsed after I cleared the blade , but my thumb hit the blade.
I have a new design for a safer push block system. I will post the pictures once I have it made. The new design will use the rip fence as the support so the push block will not be able to colapse. Once I get it made I will post pictures and feel free to use it so that no one will have to go through this type of accident.
Howard and all thanks for your concern. We all need to be aware of safety and ways to improve it
this is one great thing about the forum

_________________
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

I've had a few near misses when doing work around cars, bricklaying and general work but only one with woodworking. I was tired (bad for a start) and was using the jigsaw to cut out a template. I stopped the saw simply so I could re-grip the saw as my hand was tired only to realise the way I was holding the wood with my left hand would have resulted in the blade going straight through my fingers from underneath the plywood. Lucky.

Jeez John, I'm really sorry to hear this. I hope you didn't do too much damage. Unfortunately, I know just how you feel. It's been 5 months since my table saw accident and it's still a big inconvenience. Here's hoping you have a much quicker recovery.

_________________
Jim Womack

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

I hope you get well soon John! Be safe!

Same here. I am happy to hear it didnt go worse. Happy to hear your are enough ok to sit a write !! . I need to really listen to this as I have now within th last 3 months cut my left thumb on the bandsaw while cutting out some bindings. and the right one on the Safe-T planer, and just like Howard said about his wife. it just pulled me in !! . non did any magor damage, but still I need to use more protection while working.

Again glad to hear your ok John.

Lars

I second Mike Tobey's post......John is extremelly helpful. Get well soon John and thanks for the safety reminder.

_________________
Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I've nicked myself on the tablesaw and the bandsaw before which was a good, but painful wake-up call. If it can happen to a guy as experienced as John, it can certainly happen to anyone for a number of reasons. My worst injuries have probably been with chisels or knives (long time ago).

Get well soon John and thankfully it wasn't worse.

Hi John,
Sorry to hear aout your accident
I hope you heal quickly.

I have had a couple of "near misses" in the last year.
They have been a real wake up call.

I now approach my power tools with more "respect"

Regards,
Brad

today is the 3rd day , the wound is closed and not that sore. I am more than lucky. Stitches will stay in till next wed and then they come out. While the cut was over 3/4 inch I am so happy that my thumb works and isn't unbearable. Please don't do as I did .Thanks for all the kind thoughts. I know it helped

_________________
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

Happened the same thing to me today, on a band saw. Nothing really bad, but what scary moments... It happens so fast, you don't have time to realize you made a mistake or a bad move, and it's already done. This accident will push me to be just scared enough of power tools to double and triple check the safety of the tool and of the manipulation of it.

_________________
Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

If I save 1 person from getting hurt this was worth it.

_________________
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

Glad you are on the way to healing. Anybody have experience with "saw stop" braking system?

_________________
Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I am glad to hear that it looks like the thumb will be fully workable again.

_________________
GEO
perpetual beginner

I was going to mention the "Grrrippper" system. One thing about it that was attractive was that, in use, it actually covers the saw's blade. I have it and I haven't used it yet, but I plan to. (I haven't done much with the table saw lately, but the Gripper is assembled & waiting next to the saw . ) You can even rip thin strips with it, down to something smaller than an eighth. I bought the whole set up and I think it could be very usable. I'll give my views on it after spending a little time with it. The guy demoing pointed out that he was demoing in public with a TS with no blade guard, because the blade is covered in normal use (ripping, typically). I'll try to give my views about it after some use. But I investigated it prior to purchase and it looked like a solid and safe way to do the very thing that typically causes the most injury: ripping hardwood on a TS.

_________________
Mark W. Lewis
--------------------------
I'm tired of followin' my dreams. I think I'll just ask 'em where they are going and hook-up with 'em later - Mitch Hedberg