Sorry to hear about that. Never a good thing to hear about but at least less severe than it could have been.
Can you explain what mistake you made or how it happened so we can all learn another thing to watch for?
Wish I could... I was on board 5 of 5, preparing to resaw some oak, and as far as I know wasn't doing anything different. The board was a little longer than the others, so maybe my stance shifted without me noticing? In any event, I got about 2'down a 6' board, and then I remember realizing I'd just touched the blade and that I needed to get to the emergency room ASAP. Didn't really look at the wound until treatment started.
I know you are going to be extra careful but the fact that you don't recall how it happened is an indicator that it is likely to happen again.
When I cut half my thumb off 23 years ago I thought it was a kick back. Coming back from the hospital reveled no damaged wood and the last board that I had cut was stacked nicely with the others. So I was clueless for the next year.
About a year later I made the same mistake but fortunately I had already cut half of my thumb off and I only felt the breeze of the blade as it was coasting down to stop when I reached over to remove the rip fence. Ahhhhh that is what happened.
without me noticing? In any event, I got about 2'down a 6' board, and then
Possibly, holding/guiding the board with his left thumb, first and middle fingers; his ring and little fingers hanging off the side/edge of the board, rather than curled up in his palm?
I use the above technique, somewhat, sometimes, not just to guide the board, but to place pressure on the outfeed side. Most often, I use push pads, fore and aft, when facing a board. I've removed the pivoting blade guard from over the blades.
Sonny
That's what I'm thinking. There was certainly SOMETHING wrong with my grip.
Why?
Well, possibly for several reasons (sic). I've really had no formal traini ng in woodworking, other than 1 year high school shop.
When I bought my used jointer and most of my tools, I pretty much taught my self how to use them, though I've always visited with carpenters, woodworke rs, etc., when I had the chance, and learned much from them. These days, I read forums more often. I suppose, back then, the guard was an inconveni ence, to my unskilled technique I "adopted" on my own. I do pay close atte ntion, however, to be safe, but that's not always a sure fire thing. I've just been lucky, I suppose, to this point.
I do recall, long ago, the guard didn't always pivot evenly or properly, ma ybe the result of it being a used tool, and I never took the time to check out why. Jointing a board, in that condition, wasn't a smooth operation, f or/to me (unschooled, stupid, both?), so I removed it and have never replac ed it.
These days, to minimize blade exposure, I move the fence to expose only the amount of blade needed for whatever I'm doing.... that, also, is not neces sarily compensating completely for the guard removal, again, I suppose I've been lucky to this point.
I guess it's similar to why some of us, if I can say "us", remove blade gua rds from the table saw, which I've done also.
In a nutshell, I don't have a very good reason why.
Lucky?! Way off on a tangent: Reminded myself of Lucky Boudreau, a local/r egional Boudreau (Cajun) story/joke.
Sonny
I got a good, deep gouge out of the end of the pointer finger on my right h ad on the table saw about 15 years ago. The machine was off but the blade was spinning and I over-reached to pick up a small part. I was very lucky because the blade nicked the end of the bone and removed some tissue but it grew back.
I do feel for you because in the words of Sam Elliott "Damn, that hurts!" The ER doctor explained that a lot of nerves end in the fingers and that is why a finger injury can hurt all the way to the elbow. I'm guessing you h ave a metal splint and it does help.
RonB
a metal splint and it does help.
No split, but I'm considering a sled style one once the stitches are out next week.
The surgeon took great care to move a nerve bundle to reduce the risk of serious pain. So far, so good.
n my right had
Just a (comparative) assumption: Ron's right (dominate?) hand was injured vs your left (recessive) hand is injured?
Further informative comparison: One function of the index finger is manipu lating objects and the function of the ring finger is to grasp objects.
When our fingers and toes are not injured (not in an extra sensitive condit ion), we don't notice how often we accidently bump them....
Not to trump your doctor's advice or treatment: Re: No splint on your fing er. You might ask your Dr. about this, if he/she hasn't already advised yo u, and unless this has already been done. If you find you are accidentally bumping your finger, more often than you would assume normal, you might li ghtly tape your ring finger to your middle finger. Your middle finger will act as a splint for your injured finger and help protect it from being bum ped as often.
*Always follow your Dr.'s advice & treatment, over my suggestions. He/she knows your specific injury, not me. Taping your fingers, that way, may not be advisable, if any taping would act as a tourniquet and block blood flow . You don't want to constrict your finger, in any way, but taping one digi t to another is often done, with injured fingers and toes, as a reasonable acceptible splinting technique, even for DIY treatment. Many patients find they bump their injured fingers and toes more often than they would have a ssumed, so this is just a suggestion for you to be aware of, if applicable.Sonny
right had
your left (recessive) hand is injured?
manipulating objects and the function of the ring finger is to grasp objects.
condition), we don't notice how often we accidently bump them....
You might ask your Dr. about this, if he/she hasn't already advised you, and unless this has already been done. If you find you are accidentally bumping your finger, more often than you would assume normal, you might lightly tape your ring finger to your middle finger. Your middle finger will act as a splint for your injured finger and help protect it from being bumped as often.
knows your specific injury, not me. Taping your fingers, that way, may not be advisable, if any taping would act as a tourniquet and block blood flow. You don't want to constrict your finger, in any way, but taping one digit to another is often done, with injured fingers and toes, as a reasonable acceptible splinting technique, even for DIY treatment. Many patients find they bump their injured fingers and toes more often than they would have assumed, so this is just a suggestion for you to be aware of, if applicable.
I can attest to the fact that you bump your fingers many more times than you are aware. Simple things like coming down stair. You will be surprised at the number of support for the rail.
This is one case there are many more.
As I mentioned here a couple of months ago, the drummer in our band suffered a very similar injury, losing most of the first joint from the ring finger of his off hand (in his case, the right). His injury vector was a table saw instead.
I'm happy to say that he is back playing again with what seems like similar results as before the injury. He is still hampered a bit by the splint they put on one of his other fingers (two other fingers are complete, but were cut up pretty good), but otherwise seems OK.
Speaking of the splint, he went to a hand specialist about two weeks ago, who looked at the original metal splint with great disdain. She immediately replaced it with something that looks (to my untutored eye) more obviously designed for the purpose. The first one looked like Home Depot mending plate bent with a hammer and a bench vise.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
+1!
My left pocket is staying empty, but sometimes I forget...
I picked up a foam lined metal fingertip guard that velcros in place. I only wear it in situations I know I'll be bumping my finger a lot.
Stitches out Wednesday, course of antibiotics is done. I'm advised it will be a month for full function, and 8 months for the finger to reach final shape.
On Sat, 29 Jung 2013 12:41:25 -0600, Dave Balder stone
Despite all the pain and discomfort you're going (and will be going) through, you got off easier than might have been ~ all good though.
I might have missed it, but what precautions will you take so the thing doesn't happen again?
Lost the tip of my left ring finger today. One little slip jointing some white oak.
The irony is that I used power tools for years and years when I was drinking with no serious accident. 21 months sober, though... Go figger.
Didn't lose the whole joint, though, which is good. The surgeon said if I had to do it, I did it very cleanly.
Just call me "Stubby". And remember to keep your blades SHARP.
djb
---- Try some acupuncture to restimulate nerve growth.
Seems unnecessary. I have full feeling, and very little pain.
Oh, don't I know it!
I'm already using the suggestion to move the fence to the thickness/width of the work piece. Most excellent.
But considering that I ran dangerous equipment while impaired for decades without an incident, I've decided I should start drinking again.
;-D
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