Another tablesaw safety reminder

tyb525 · April 09, 2013, 09:29:04 PM

I almost lost all 5 fingers on my left hand. I blacked out or something while ripping a board at work today, on a small portable saw. All I remember is yanking my hand back and lots of blood. Funny thing is my left hand was nowhere near the blade before it happened, and nothing went wrong with the cut prior to it (it was just a 20" 2x4). I think I started falling, and put my hand right down on the blade. About 3/8" of blade was above the board.

2 stitches on index & middle fingers, small cuts on ring & pinky. Thumb is mangled up beyond stitches, will see hand specialist tomorrow to see what he can do about it.

Good thing is no bone or tendon damage, and I'm right handed. Typed this with one hand, a bit slow.

Banjo picker · April 09, 2013, 09:33:09 PM

I hope you come out of that ok...sounds like the thumb is a mess...keep us informed...I have had a few close calls myself....Banjo

sawguy21 · April 09, 2013, 09:33:37 PM

My gut turns thinking about it, I am very glad it was not worse. I have one finger slightly shorter than the rest due to a similar incident. We really need to be alert and focused when using any power tool.

WDH · April 09, 2013, 09:39:03 PM

Whoa! You were lucky. There is too much of this going on. Cody (Tree Feller) just lost the tips off two fingers from a jointer incident. Thanks for posting. Hope your thumb comes through.

Weekend_Sawyer · April 09, 2013, 09:39:28 PM

Wow, sounds like you avoided a disaster!
Good luck with the thumb.

tyb525 · April 09, 2013, 10:12:25 PM

Thanks for the support guys. Just goes to show you can never be too careful. I have always tried to be as safe as possible but still got bit. Makes sawstop look even better.

beenthere · April 09, 2013, 10:27:36 PM

Sure sorry to hear that tyb. That is scary to think about.

Expect you will get the "blackout" thing checked out real well too.

thecfarm · April 09, 2013, 10:37:20 PM

I wonder what caused you to black out. Been eating,drinking fluids,sleeping enough?? Feel tired? Could be just about anything. And could of been a lot worse too.

Planman1954 · April 09, 2013, 10:58:54 PM

My degree was in industrial arts....shop class. The rule for table saws is to keep the blade 1/8" above the cut. That is done for the exact reason for what happened to you. I'm thankful to God that you are still basically intact! 8)

Magicman · April 10, 2013, 06:44:46 AM

Hopefully you will get through this with only "minor" damage and no long term complications. I also hope the blackout situation can be identified. Take care.

clww · April 10, 2013, 08:34:46 AM

Sorry to hear of your mishap, and hope that thumb is fixed.

Axe Handle Hound · April 10, 2013, 08:45:03 AM

Hope it all heals up well without any lasting concerns. Like WDH said, there's been too way too much of this happening lately.

tyb525 · April 10, 2013, 09:38:22 AM

Quote from: Planman1954 on April 09, 2013, 10:58:54 PM
My degree was in industrial arts....shop class. The rule for table saws is to keep the blade 1/8" above the cut. That is done for the exact reason for what happened to you. I'm thankful to God that you are still basically intact! 8)

That is my rule too, but I thought "just one quick cut so I won't change it" famous last words I guess! Leading up to the accident I felt fine, and I haven't blacked out before that I know of, but it is something to be checked out for sure.

Chuck White · April 10, 2013, 10:25:58 AM

Ty; I sure hope you come through this well!

Just can't be too careful.

Warning: Whenever you're doing anything around your shop or your mill, you will bump one of the fingers that has an injury!

It's just the way Murphy's Law works!

Get well soon, my friend!

Norm · April 10, 2013, 11:24:16 AM

Wow Ty that's scary, top of my list after this spring field work is getting rid of my present table saw and getting a Saw Stop brand.

Hope everything heals up okay.

tyb525 · April 10, 2013, 12:02:31 PM

Just got back from the hand doctor. He is confident my thumb will heal up just fine on its own.

54Dutchman · April 10, 2013, 04:31:45 PM

Sounds great for a full recovery 8) really sorry to hear about the accident.

SwampDonkey · April 10, 2013, 05:48:00 PM

Sorry to hear of this injury. But, thankfully things will heal up. One of those battle scars you can tell the grand kids about. ;)

Roxie · April 10, 2013, 05:59:56 PM

So glad the thumb will be okay! Keep it clean, and please make a doctor appointment to discuss the cause of the black out.

WDH · April 10, 2013, 09:08:11 PM

The SawStop is worth the bit of extra money in my opinion.

beenthere · April 17, 2013, 01:34:20 AM

tyb525
How is the hand doing this week?
Hope you are encouraged with some good progress.

tyb525 · April 18, 2013, 07:12:21 PM

It's healing well. Stitches are scheduled to be taken out next Wednesday. My thumb is healing well, it is really ugly right now though :D Still can't use my left hand for much of anything. I can still manage some things though.