From: donb@crash.cts.com (Donald Bowen)
Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
Subject: WARNING
Date: 2 Jan 93 18:45:17 GMT
Organization: CTS Network Services (crash, ctsnet), El Cajon, CA


        I guess it is time for another warning for all to be careful. 
I am typing this without the use of three fingers on the left hand
due to an accident.  The cause of the accident was none other than
brain fade, short circuiting, or just plain stupidity.  Luckily
there is no permanate damage, all I did was remove several chunks
of skin off the tops of the fingers, it could have been much worse.
 
        I try to work careful.  I grew up around heavy machinery and
power tools and learned early on about safety.  One uncle had a
sawmill and built houses, another had a construction company,
another a welding shop, and another had an appliance shop and did
home wiring and I lived on a farm.  Soon after I finished school
I started collecting my own shop and now I have the tools and
equipment for fine woodworking, house construction, and automotive
repair.  Over the last 40 years I have never had an accident with
power tools, until last night.
 
        My shop is in my garage.  The typical garage is designed for
2 cars, a washer and drier, and a freezer.  I have had to add
wiring and lights.  The fixture in the center has a bad bulb and
I have not had time to fix or replace it.  I have always wanted to
replace that one and add another one.  The thought was why fix when
I will replace it.
 
        My day job as a software engineer has kept me working long
hours as we try to complete projects.  Over the last 5 months I
have worked 25 weekend days in addition to well over 8 hours a day. 
I have not had a day off in over a month and no one knows what we
will be doing when these are out the door.  I am tired and
stressed.
 
        I am building a sewing room chair for my wife.  It is a sewing
box with wheels.  I am using Melamine covered MDF with oak trim
joined by biscuits.  
 
        Last night I was trying to finish one side of the seat.  I had
joined the top and bottom to the MDF and was adding the ends.  I
had ripped the oak, used the jointer and cut the trim to length. 
I knew I was wearing down so I was extra careful and paid attention
to what I was doing.  I had used my Freud biscuit joiner to cut the
slots in both ends of the MDF and in one oak trim piece.  I had cut
all but one slot in the other piece.  As I was cutting the last
slot, the blade grabbed the ok and threw it across the shop.  As
the wood left, it pulled my fingers into the blade, causing damage
to the ends and tops of 3 fingers, 15 stitches worth.
 
        I was using the shop to reduce stress but fatigue and stress
had reached a point where shop time did not help.  I use my table
saw as a bench and usually clamp the work to the saw top or use the
fence as a stop.  This time I could not see some pencil marks so
I shifted to the left to get a better view.  This moved the end of
the trim away from the fence. The last cut on the trim was at the
end so only one of the pins was holding the wood steady to the
cutter.  I used my fingers to hold the work against the cutter.
 
        I spent the time in emergency analyzing what happened and what
to do to prevent recurrence.  
 
        1.        I was not using safe practices.  As soon as I can I am
          going to build a woodworking workbench and find the room
          for it.  Meanwhile I will use my workmate more and clamp 
          everything.
 
        2.        I was tired.  The shop is a great way to retreat for a
          while but the potential for injury is great.  I have
          stopped working there until I can get the rest of my life
          calmed down.  I will start sending out my resume' Monday
          morning.
 
        3.        I did not have good lighting in the shop.  This weekend
          I am going to Home Depot to buy 2 of those $9 dual tube
          fixtures.  I may even buy a third.

	Donb