The Danger of circular saws-GORE WARNING!

Dear All
The attached pic of a hand belongs to a guy we took to the operating theatre a few days ago. He was using a hand held circular saw and it kicked. He has paid the price by losing half of his left middle finger and severely damaging the ring finger. The tendon was missing a segment but has been reattached to the bone. The distal joint is non functional and will need fusing in the future.
Hefty price to pay for a bit of inattention.
Be careful with the sharp objects.

Note: the pic was taken with my palm pilot so is pretty crap but gives the message.

Nasty .

Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

:oo:

I have a relative who tied back the guard on a big circular saw 'cause he wanted to work faster. He got a chip fly into his eye and he dropped the saw onto his front upper thigh. It then ran around his leg cutting to the bone all the way and then dropped out behind him. It then ran across the lawn until it pulled its own cord out of the plug. He nearly died of blood loss but was saved by a quick thinker using the cord as a tourniquet. His leg was saved but he has a scar that's an absolute BBQ stopper.

Now you all know why I don't have a circular saw, and don't wanted to have one.
I'm using elbow power.
Saw to much nasty accidents with circular saws.
Ad

Thanks for the heads-up, Terry B. Circ saws are used so often these days, its very easy to take them for granted. I suspect your patient decided to go with the 'hand held' wood option or something similarly silly for things to go wrong so catastrophically.

simon d, that story is worse than the photo of the missing finger :oo:. The scar must be a ripper, as you say.

:oo: a wake up call for us all

All powered tools are dangerous a moments distraction is all it takes.

Bandsaws do just as much damage thats why butchers ware steel gloves

Errr,shouldn't the title to the accompanying photo read "UN attached thumbnail"??

Nasty injury, though, and a timely warning that electron burners cut much faster than those powered by elbow grease.:o

Simon D's relo is not the only one to trim his leg - I know a fellow who had a brain phart while using a circular saw and cut through his femur (thigh bone) - he was holding the guard back with one hand, the other was on the grip holding the button down as he cross cut some timber - he rested the saw against his leg when he was interrupted by someone. Ouch :o:o. Luckily they managed to bolt him back together, he now has a limp & a big scar.

I like using hand saws..

Scary stuff this and it has to make you stop and think about just how dangerous our hobby can be.

Let me guess, Terry. He was cutting sheet material, holding the saw with his right hand and supporting the offcut with his left?

My Grandfather was a Cabinet Maker, a good Tradesman he was too. The way you knew who were Cabinet Makers was by the way they had lost parts of their fingers.
Safety was not a concideration for Workers back then.
Like all have said here and in the other Forums that deal with Safety, you can be never too carefull and Guards etc are there for a reason. Attention to the Job your doing and never take short cuts.

Regards,
Keith.

Nice shot Doc Terry.
You had me worried that it was your hand for a moment...

Hate to own up to this but I spent Christmas Eve this year at the hospital removing fragments of dust out of my eye. I was using a circular saw and quick as a flash it spewed up dust and grit. I was wearing approved safety glasses but grit still managed to find itself in my eye. It hit with such force that the immediate reaction is to let go of the saw which I did for a brief second. I went to the doctor after numerous attempts at flushing out my eye failed, the doctor tried and got out most of the grit but said I would need to go to hospital where they completed the job. I don't know why saw manufacturers make saws that spew stuff right back at the operator but it is hazardous. By the way Alex'es theory about how this guy lost his finger correct? Also agree wholeheartedly with Wheelin, the two most dangerous tools are the bandsaw and circular saw, I have used every tool imaginable and these have given me the worst injuries.

That is a genuine horror show AAAAGH,:o

I have seen so many " builders" do "very intereristingthings" with circular saws, I do not know how so few of them end up with bits missing.:stretcher::stars::crutch:

I think the chainsaw and the angle grinder end up statisticaly more dangerous that the circular saw and the band saw.

I know a bloke that almost severed his leg above the ankle with a 9" angle grinder.:toobad:

And a bloke cut his own head off with a chainsaw out Fernygrove way a few years ago.

I think one of the problems is we under estimate the power in these tools.

A 9" angle grinder will be about 3HP, that is enough to push a small boat with a couple of blokes along at a decent clip...... an entry level lawn mower is about 3HP.

I think also they over estimate how fast there reflexes are and how strong they are.

Consider that an olympic cyclist can generate a peak of about 2PH for very short periods, using the combined strength of most of his muscles.
A circular saw spins at about 5000 RPM.... that is 83 revs per second.....times 50 teeth........it can take a couple of hundred bites out if you before your brain knows about it.

No respect that is the problem:no:

cheers

Having stuck my finger into a router bit, I can assure you that time itself slows down and you can feel every bite :o:doh:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bsrlee

Having stuck my finger into a router bit, I can assure you that time itself slows down and you can feel every bite :o:doh:

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I don't know, I stuck my finger under a drop saw a few years ago to see how it felt and I didn't feel anything for a few hours.:(
I didn't get much sleep for the next few nights though.:((:((

Colin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soundman

I think the chainsaw and the angle grinder end up statisticaly more dangerous that the circular saw and the band saw.

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Chainsaws and angle grinders cause more damage and thus are reported more often whereas circular saw and bandsaw injuries tend to me less damaging and thus less reported. I've known guys that don't use any other power tools but a chainsaw and have done so for many years without any injuries. There is an element of bad luck when it comes to injuries, you can do everything right from a safety point of view and still get injured. Best bit of advice, don't use power tools when tired or have any alcohol in your system.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tiger

Best bit of advice, don't use power tools when tired or have any alcohol in your system.

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Guilty.

Christmas Eve 2007. After a bottle of red, I spotted a piece of outside guttering that needed a pop rivet. Up a ladder armed with a power drill and the pop rivet gun, in no time at all, I managed to drill a 3.2mm hole through the tip of my left forefinger.

That injured hand brings back flashbacks. I was ripping a piece of 90 x 45 down the middle with the end clamped to a workbench. I was holding my small 185 mm makita with my right hand, supporting the back of the timber with my left.The saw grabbed, and jumped 300mm back and into my hand before the guard had time to swing shut. I am told this is a pretty common scenario,

40 stitches later I was contemplating how I myself regularly induct younger staff into using power equipment, and the no. 1 rule is hold the saw / grinder etc with both hands.

Made me look really stupid. At least they learnt from my mistake.

While I was being stitched up for a previous injury, the doctor told me that hand held grinders were the worst culprit for hand injuries. Anything you are tempted to hold with one hand can be very dangerous.

How often is alkohol involved in theese accidents?
I know for one that I get a tad brighter and loads braver after a couple of beers.

:o omg , memory's flooding back ...

One of my Grandfathers cut off his little & ring finger with a Bench mounted circular saw - my grandmother told his to sell it after he had his finger reattached

My mate did his little finger on a similar saw - his wife told him to sell it

My other Grandfather put 21 stichers in his thumb with a hand held circ - My grandmother told him to sell it - he gave the saw to me

It scares the " #$%@" every time I use it.

Thanks for the reminder - we can never be too carefull

Thankyou T.B.

I use my Mkta 9/4 all the time. Rarely do I get kick back. But by golly you got me thinking about how I handle the bugger. Gotta stay alert I say. Thankyou for the reminder.

Makita drop saw got me recently. 1'st accident in 15 yrs. All better now. 5 stitches fell out. Wouldn't know it.

Hope their hand heals well. Kind of you for helping them.

:2tsup:

HI, I was working one day and it was late at night... i was using a skill saw and cut the end of my index finger off... just shows you how you should be well rested doing work.
sorry no pics..:(

No! No! No!
I never saw by table сircular saw. The God has forgotten to provide the additional parts for man:oo::no::no::no::o

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tiger

Best bit of advice, don't use power tools when tired or have any alcohol in your system.

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i love it how they have pictures in the manuals (that you never read)
with a picture of a glass of wine and some pills with you router saw angle grinder ect next to it with a huge cross though it :)

these stories crack me up, i must say they have giggling like a school boy.

but i see the serious side to every story too, every story has a lot of pain, downtime and healing which can take weeks and even months.

i have been butchering wood for 18 years now, when i started my apprenticeship in northern ireland, we did'nt have electric on 99% of the building sites we worked on, so we cut and nailed every piece of material by hand. i have not so fond memories of ripping hardwood beams 10 metres long with a blue handled sandvik saw, this was the early nineties believe it or not.

the worst accidents i ever had, were with these bloody saws, a brand new hand saw would buckle if you hit a nasty knot and usually my left thumb and index finger would take the brunt of this. i have cut to the bone many a time, when you are working in very cold conditions and wind chill around minus 20, it seems to multiply the pain 10 times more, same when you would hit your thumb instead of the 3, 4 and even 6 inch nails.
i sure dont miss those 6 inch nails.

moving to gods country in 1997 was great, every construction site had electric, and that began my expensive collection of power tools, sometimes i wish i was a painter or cleaner, because i have so many power tools.

i now have a very healthy respect for all my power tools, every time i lift a planer, electric drill, or circular saw, the first thing i think is, i dont like hospital food, so be careful!

i have worked with some amazing tradesmen all over the world, and the injuries i have seen send a shiver up my spine, 9 inch grinders with a timber cutting blade do not mix, this particular carpenter has a scar from his ankle to his groin to prove that point.

a drunken cabinet maker resting his elbow/ arm on a spindle moulder, ended up amputated from the elbow down, and still a brilliant carpenter!

these a just a few stories i could talk about, reading everybodies stories makes me more aware of what dangerous tools i am using, hopefully this story will make people think twice before using tools in an unprofessional manner.

the big no-no's for me are.....no booze when i have that leather pouch on, no working after 8.00 pm. i have done this in the past and fatigue is not something anyone can control after 14 hours solid work.
no timber cutting blades in any size of grinder, whether it is a 4 inch or 9 inch grinder.

no hands behind the circular saw, i never do this, if i need to support the material i am cutting, i set up a support with spare timber. the saw will always kick back because it does not have a riving knife, the number of carpenters i have worked with, that have made this stupid and painful mistake is unbelieveable!

when drilling through steel, very slow speed, lots of oil/lube, when i send the young fella to the trailer for the drill, i say, "get me the wrist breaker please".
i worked with a carpenter who broke both wrists driling steel, could'nt work for 2 months.

i am sorry if this story is too long, i don't normally ramble on. this is a subject i feel strongly about.
i have never had a smart accident, every one of them has been stupid. luckily, mine have never been serious, maybe someone reading this can prevent themselves having a serious accident in the future.

cheers, justin.

Hi everyone,
This is my first post - what a place to start...

I have been building garage cabinets by ripping MDF with a jigsaw, clamps and a straight edge (you have to start somewhere). The project is going quite well.
I was considering upgrading to a circular saw until I read this thread. I think I will stick with my jigsaw.

The reason for my post: looking at circular saws at bunnings, some of the Bosch models have tags on them that say "ideal for overhead work due to light weight 3.8 Kg"

Unbelievably bad advice, don't you think?

cheers
MR T

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr_T

Hi everyone,
This is my first post - what a place to start...

I have been building garage cabinets by ripping MDF with a jigsaw, clamps and a straight edge (you have to start somewhere). The project is going quite well.
I was considering upgrading to a circular saw until I read this thread. I think I will stick with my jigsaw.

The reason for my post: looking at circular saws at bunnings, some of the Bosch models have tags on them that say "ideal for overhead work due to light weight 3.8 Kg"

Unbelievably bad advice, don't you think?

cheers
MR T

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Welcome Mr T,
not bad advice really, light saws are good for overhead work and overhead work when building is often impossible to avoid. If you get a good saw and use it properly it is quite safe. You can do quite a bit of damage to yourself and your work with a jigsaw too if it's not used safely. BTW how did you ever get a jigsaw to run along a straight edge without running out?
Cheers
Michael

hi MR T, and welcome to the forum, you are right, that is very bad advice, i would never let any trainee working with me to use a saw in the overhead/ upside down position.

i am very surprised that they market their product in such a way.

i would recommend a circular saw, btw, your cabinets will thank you for it, i feel sorry for your poor jigsaw trying to cut sheet goods. surely you can sell some of your gold necklaces and buy a decent circular saw!

good luck, justin.

Definitely up grade to a circular saw from a jig saw, jig saws are just not designed for cutting sheets.

I have a couple of circular saws and yes they kick back when not paying attention but just being alert at all times helps.

I have used a circular saw for almost 30 years and they are great tools if used for what they were designed for but too often they are used for cutting in any situation.

Now a 9" angle grinder is out of my league, I find too scary, and almost never use.

A chainsaw is my vote for the most dangerous tool, but I use it reguarly and am very well prepared with chaps and visor.

Pulpo

This post just reminded of my first encounter with a circular saw.
My partner at the time bought it as a b'day present. So you can
imagine :2tsup: let's try it out!! It frightened the sh#t out of me!
Just the power of the thing, that was 15 years ago and i still have
healthy respect for it, and it's never drawn blood! I often cringe at seeing motorcyclists in shorts and t-shirts, uncovered hands and ankles, i say if it's too hot for safety gear it's too hot to ride....same goes for us woodworkers, thongs, loose clothing, alcohol are inviting the worst kind
of injury...I know we caught up in the enjoyment of it all, creative process
etc...but that pic , oh that must have hurt.

yep,...."hand saw would buckle if you hit a nasty knot and usually my left thumb and index finger would take the brunt of this..."
Working in a timber yard many moons ago. Had to cut some green scantling for a guy. Got the good ol' Spear and Jackson 4T saw out. First down stroke, the blade buckled sprung sideways into my thumb and index finger. Blood everywhere. Showed the boss and he fainted (true). The damage was so messy that it couldn't be stitched so they put a heap of see through tape over it. Been wary of handsaws ever since. I've never had an injury from my Poulan Chainsaw in the 30 yeras i've had it nor any from a jigsaw, circular saw, drill, bandsaw or angle grinder. Why? Because I am VERY careful with all these tools. Now the table saw thats a different story. Dunno why I'm so clumsy with it. Been bitten twice by the damn thing.

HAd a mate once who worked in a quarry. Was cutting sandstone slabs with a 9" stone cutting wheel. The guard had been removed for some reason. The blade disintegrated. He got into his ute to go get a new cutting wheel and when he got out of the ute at the workshop (it wasn't far from where he was working) he collapsed. A third of the cut-off wheel was embedded in his thigh. He nearly bled to death.
Anyway nice hand shot. Beats my gore from the plumbers accident with the C12 Festo drill.. :o

Hi terry, whats the go with these armidale blokes, I know one who cut off his little finger the same way just prior to Christmas. :U