Mishap with table saw big mistake.

[gundog]

In a hurry to make a quick cut I am writing this from my hospital bed 5 hours of surgery to try and repair a badly mangled left thumb. I feel so stupid right now be careful guys, I was ripping a small piece of plywood strip 2" wide in 2 pieces for a backing to nail some cedar together. I was using a push stick with the right hand and reached around to hold the out-feed end to the fence when I apparently hit the blade locating my hand around the blade very dumb and a bad work habit. They were able to get it sewn back in place I cut it 3/4 through at the end knuckle and probably won't have movement in that knuckle again and also missing a chunk of flesh. 5 hours of surgery to try and repair it the best they can. This is my 5 busiest days of the year with an exhibit in the Pacific Northwest Sportsman show.

Mike

[Rob Gunn]

Mike, So sorry to hear this. After 30+ years as a Toolmaker I can say I have had a few close calls. Accidents do happen regardless of how careful you are. God's speed in your recovery!

[paul_z]

EM:TE (Extreme Makeover : Thumb Edition)

It is so easy to make that "one" mistake. Take care and heal quickly!

Is there anything I can do to help and then ship it to you? (I'm in NH.)

Paul Z

[MogulTx]

Bummer Mike.

I have had mishaps with power tools over the years, and hope this is the worst we have in the ShopBot community all year long. I mangled a thumb with a table router (That DID have a guard in place over the bit, but it turned out it was an acrylic cover and not lexan / not unbreakable. My bit caught in a knot and I got chewed up. Bad, however it has grown back nicely- and I have recovered nearly 100% of my sensation in it- and it is still VERY useful to me.)

I am hoping that your recovery is similar and that you are as pleased with it in the end. Get well. Be safe. Build lots!

Monty

[bleeth]

Really sorry to hear this Mike. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[myxpykalix]

Well we know what we can chip in and get you for Christmas now...SawStop!:eek:
I know you were working on an exhibit for your tradeshow. I'd help you out if i was closer, but i know what its like to be unable to work on stuff.:(

[seana]

Heal quick Mike! but try and follow the DR orders so it heals correctly.
I'm up the road from you, touch north of Seattle let me know if you need help getting product out for the show.

Sean

[2Egress Sound & Design]

Hey Mike,

So sorry to hear of your accident. Take good care and wishes for a speedy recovery from our shop here in Canada to you!

Brock & Co.

[michael_schwartz]

Hopefully you can make the best of the challenges that are ahead of you, and get back to work.

This could have happened to any of us today. Best wishes, and I hope you have a speedy recovery.
Access to modern medicine, and emergency care are a wonderful thing.

Sorry to hear that this happened.

[khaos]

Damn. Sorry about that. Can I VCarve that plaque for you and ship it on time for the show?

[danhamm]

Another 300 miles up the road from..Sean A but if we can help...just tell us what you need, I did that 20 years ago, left thumb and forefinger..they put them back on..they work somewhat..no feeling...
I have friends that go to ,The Northwest Sportsmen show every year
they are GUides and Outfitters..they have displays..
With the pins and protection they will put on your hand..you will be a tad slower, for a day or two..

[pkirby]

I'm really sorry to hear that. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[CNYDWW]

Hoping you recover quickly. Just a reminder to all of us that it only takes a moment. I have a chewed up middle right finger and it was interesting to walk around for weeks flipping everyone off.

[dlcw]

Mike, I'm diagonal from you in the state (near Spokane). If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. I can make things to your specs and send them to you if you need.

I hope you have a speedy recovery and get most of the use of your appendage back.

[kartracer63]

Uff Dah!!! Sorry to hear about your accident Mike.

These kind of accidents are my biggest fear when working with all of these power tools. I hope everything heals up as well as possible.

[roney c]

I am sorry to hear of your mishap, may the outpouring of sincere support from the 'bot community aid you in your spiritual, mental and physical healing.

[Ajcoholic]

Ouch, that sucks. I hope you heal up as best as you can - but it will take some time.

I grew up in the woodworking business. I saw my father nearly cut off all his left hand fingers not once, but twice. Once as a teenager and once when I had just finished college, and started to run the family business. I will never forget the way his hand looked, pretty much like a two pound blob of hamburger.

WHen I relocated my business last year, I sold off the Delta Unisaw and invested in an Industrial 5HP Sawstop table saw. It gives me piece of mind that if I ever do make a lack of judgement all it will cost me is a blade, and a $70 cartridge. But from years of use, I treat it as I would any other saw.

WOodworking is full of potential danger - shapers, jointers, planers, sanders, saws and routers- they will win every time in a fight with human flesh, unfortunately. Every day I go to work I make a point of remembering no matter how many hours I have under my belt, today might be the day... and that usually keeps my mind clear.

Take it easy, all of you guys. I hate to hear things like this happen.

AJC

[bruce_taylor]

This is a terrible things can can happen to any of us in the blink of an eye,
i wish you a speedy recovery and hopefully this will make someone else think twice and hopefully avoid something like this. Truly my worst nightmare. Again get well soon so you can get back to it!!!

[gene]

I had that to happen to me , twice. I am a slow learner . Both thumb tips. they healed nicely. Just remember that it could have been much,much worse. god speed.

[Xray]

"Complacency breeds contempt" is very true.
We are all creatures of habit, and we may do routine things like this 100's & 1,000's of times ,,, But 1,001 may be the one that bites !
Obviously could have been worse, glad you didn't get too racked up. I saw a guy at a job site mangle his hand on a table saw a few weeks back, very sobering.
[This guy had no business being around a table saw. He was fumbling around for the height adjustment, and looked like he was randomly trying out anything that looked like a switch, knob, wheel or lever. Just as I was headed over to offer some help, he tried the power switch, and sliced through his right index finger].

[feinddj]

Ice is your friend. If there is anything to do for your display, let me know, I am down here in SF but UPS and Fedex deliver. Get well soon

[waterwheelman]

Mike, I'm realy sorry to hear about your accident. I pray that the surgery went well, and that your hand heals back to full use. You know I'm not far away, if I can be of any help please let me know. My greatest fear is that I will make one false move and injure myself like that.

[Brady Watson]

Mike - I hope you have a speedy recovery.

-B

[wberminio]

Sorry to here about your accident.
Hope all goes well!

[dana_swift]

I wish you a complete recovery. Be patient with it, and use it as a learning opportunity.

One of the things that I really like is that SB operators are not normally close to the bit when it is running. So I have not read of any significant injury from using the bots. I retired my table saw when I bought my bot, and use the bot to cut long material. I have posted on that subject.

Best wishes, and I appreciate all the Botters willing to pitch in and help out. This is an amazing community.

D

[myxpykalix]

I think I recall that Gene Crain had the same type of injury a few years ago and he had a blog describing his progress (I couldn't find it if it was him) that might help with your outlook on recovery. Maybe he will jump in if he still has the blog up.

[Rick W]

Wow, Michael sorry to hear about your accident! Hopefully you are in good spirits today (I assume reality has set in by now). I wish you all the best for a speedy and FULL recovery. If it helps, I'm only 20 minutes away from the Sumas border?? Chin up mate! Take care!

Rik

[gundog]

You guys are great thank you for all the offers and well wishes it means a lot this is a great group of folks on here.

I have been at the trade sale all day yesterday and will be there through Sunday I am in pain but it will hurt no matter where I am so I might as well be at the show.

I have great friends and family that are taking care of things for me. I do have an employee who will have to be my set of hands for a while I hope he can tolerate me.

Thanks Mike

[Rick W]

Nice to hear that you are up and at em. Hope you do well at the show!!

Rik

[harryball]

Sorry it happened to you and I wish you a full recovery.

/RB

[cnc_works]

Michael, sorry to hear about your accident. Been there, done that a year ago December. Finally learning how to deal with a stiff finger...not the middle one, thank goodness.

Heal fast and thank goodness for good meds.