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Memo to self..pay attention when using your bandsaw!
Was cutting a bunch of rounds on the bandsaw. Was thinking to myself, weird how this machine is the cause of least accidents in the workshop. Fed my thumb in. Down to the bone. Blood everywhere. 5 stitches and 6 injections of anaesthetic which had no effect at all. Won't be doing that again anytime soon. :no:
Crikey Mike, I know there are people who wished you an "interesting life" after your former career, but this is going too far!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and a better memory.
Yikes! I haven't lost any fingers yet, but the bandsaw will be the place I do it because I am forever zoning out when cutting.
Repetitive work on the bandsaw is extremely dangerous. You are standing there focusing on one single point (the point where the blade is cutting the timber) for hours on end, and eventually you zone out to your surroundings. even your immediate surroundings such as your fingers which are pushing the timbers. a bloke I worked with a few years ago did exactly this on his first day starting the job, 4hours on.....2 weeks off....
Ouch!
Think on the bright side, at least you don't have to change your nick to Shedhandless!
Ouch, your misfortune is a timely reminder to us all to take care with all machinery in the workshop. I hope you have a speedy recovery and return to the saw soon. Thanks for the reminder!
Crikey. That's one painful lesson.
And if Fletty ever invites you up for a weekend of woodworking then Christos needs to invite himself along, as the responsible adult. :D
Ouch that's not good - hope it heals soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shedhand
I'm not sure where you get the idea that the BS is the least cause of accidents in the workshop.
In this study
Tool-Related Injuries Among Amateur and Professional Woodworkers.
Becker, Thomas; Trinkaus, Kathryn; Buckley, David
Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 38(10):1032-1035, October 1996.
The Authors looked at the injuries suffered by 222 amateur and professional wood workers, and although the BS does have one of the lowest % injury rates, it is the same as the circular saw and higher that that for routers.
Interestingly there's a higher BS accident rate amongst professionals than amateurs .
The highest % accident rate machine by a long way is the table saw and the lowest is the radial arm saw.
However this does not take into account access to a machine or exposure/use. i.e. professionals more likely to have a bandsaw and use it for longer hours.
Perhaps a more telling indicator is Number of incidents per 1000 person hours of machine use
In this case the Bandsaw is right up there and is similar to the DP and RAS, and only "bettered" by the jointer/.planer.
The lowest is, . . . . . . the TS
The bandsaw also has one of the shortest "tool exposure hours to first injury" , only bettered by jointer/planers and the RAS.
I think that that BS are relatively quiet and innocuous looking so users (including professionals) tend to get very casual with them too quickly.
Then when the BS is involved in an injury it is quite likely to be in the digital removal category. It happens so quickly one rarely knows its happened.
I briefly posted the actual data that showed the actual numbers, but sorry, had to remove it because of copyright.
yep, I was cutting 90mm x 40mm rounds - 30 of them - and you're right was so focussed on the line I was cutting to I just "zoned out". :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Kuffy
hmm! I read it somewhere - maybe - but 3 times into the TS and only once into the BS. Lucky in one way. I'd just swapped the King 32mm Resaw blade to a 12mm standard set otherwise I think I might well have lost the top third of my thumb or made an 'or rifle mess of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobL
cheers
ouch:oo: a friend of mine just about cut his thumb off using a band saw. His excuse was that the blade was blunt and he was pushing that hard, the last bit cut through very fast and caught him by surprise. My lesson was learned. :q
I hope you heal soon.
Rob
thanks Rob. Yes he was unlucky however mine was razor sharp new and it cut me deep in a nano second it seemed. So blunt or sharp, valuable lessons abound.:roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by specialist
:photo2:
No gory pictures? Did not happen.
:no::D
Quote:
Originally Posted by specialist
You should really not have any appendages in the line of cut, a push stick is easily replaced.
I have been involved in training Uni students to use bandsaws and the swapping from a wood saw where you shouldn't have to push hard and a metal saw where you do caused a couple of accidents. (Not on my watch but the bloke involved was very conchy so they discontinued with the metal saw).
H.
That said accidents do happen so get well soon.:thumbup1:
If you are cutting round stock on the bandsaw, use a 'v' block to hold it, then push the v block with your hand holding the stock down in the groove - your hand should not go near the blade (don't stick your thumb out either). Some years ago I heard from a fellow who was cutting some wood turnings on a band saw, the blade 'caught' in the turning which proceeded to wind his hand into the running blade as it rotated.
I've cut my thumb twice on a bandsaw, both times cutting round circles. Yep slow learner.
Both on a metalwork bandsaw where you have to push a little harder than when cutting wood.
Sharpens up the reflexes some, I can tell you.
It seems to be when the blade nears the flat and suddenly jumps out the side or maybe between the 20 or 30th circle. :C
I always use a pushstick when cutting straight lines but it can't really be done effectively with rounds.
Moral..... Get someone who is a little more timid on the bandsaw to cut the rounds for you. :roll:
Use one in the course of a trade and it is only a matter of time.
Gday Shedhand. Know exactly what you went through....or rather what went through you (Bandsaw Incident Page 2). Trust all will work out favourably for your hand.
I just spotted this thread, strewth Sheddie, you need a safer hobby, even thought about taking up fishing? :D