Being a complete full weight To$$er

[northwest]

I gave myself first prize yesterday!

After everything else that has gone on with my health this year, yesterday afternoon I completely ignored my own safety advice. Bit like "do as I say, not as I do" I am still so Pi$$ed off with myself. So the story (and some clues) I was asked to fix and reinforce some holes in a bit of ally, I will photograph the finished article later, when I am back from the hospital, and so a couple of bushes were required. Bit of 303 stainless and off we go:



Turned out well, no pun intended. Did require me getting out the Carbide drill to bat a hole in it nice and clean. Anyhow, you see that lovely birds nest of swarf down there in the first pic, well it was bird nesting and obscuring my view to the cut so what do you do? Well I tell everybody, GET a PAIR OF PLIERS DO NOT touch, so I grabbed it with my left hand and pulled. It went straight through to the bone!! REALLY bad, bad enough that I hit the emergency foot stop, with my shoulder as I went down friggin hell, the shock was terrific. Gripped my hand closed (I knew I would bleed all over the place, blood thinners see) ran up to the house and got a big dressing. Then reluctantly allowed my missus to take me to A&E. I don't mind the cut but I know from experience that I have severed a nerve. Anyhow got to A&E to be greeted by a sign saying "wait time 3.5 hours" this is my worst nightmare.

Gave all my details to reception and we settled down to wait. In fairness to the Hospital we waited about half an hour and without seeing anyone we were sent straight up to orthopaedics where the lovely Melissa took charge and within an hour X-rayed and cleaned and dressed and an appointment made for the specialist nerve unit this morning at 9.30. Can't fault it really.

 

[Johnnybravo]

Pain is a good teacher. Ok, maybe not a teacher but it’s a good way to revise You won’t do that in a hurry again…How often do I nearly do the same thing and think to myself, resist the temptation…
Hope it all heals well

 

[striker]

Ooh, I hope it heals quickly. Nowt worse than trying to do stuff with dressings on. Sounds like a close call. Take care, could have been a lot worse, and don't do it again! I gave a pair of surgeons tongs on the lathe tray for removing swarf.. within reach but sometimes use my hands!

 

[Other Daniel]

Yep; It happens all too quickly and easily. Ow...!!!
I do hope the damage isn't too bad.
Take care.

 

[Keith 66]

When i worked at the college my technician oppo had his middle finger missing. Lost it when clearing swarf from a Colchesterer triumph with it running, swarf looped round his finger, caught in the chuck, finger gone before he knew it.
Since i met him I have been careful, a pair of long nosed pliers always live on the saddle of my lathe. Stainless swarf is awful stuff like a long curly scalpel. Only surpassed by Silicon bronze that stuff comes off like jagged razor wire!

 

[northwest]

Only surpassed by Silicon bronze that stuff comes off like jagged razor wire!

I see your Silicone Bronze and raise you Titanium!
Managed to cut a finger end off with that stuff.
Just goes to prove. I am a slow learner.

 

[8ob]

I see your Silicone Bronze and raise you Titanium!
Managed to cut a finger end off with that stuff.
Just goes to prove. I am a slow learner.

Most of us have thought about changing our names to Isaac Hunt after mishaps like this.

Bob

 

[galooph]

Ouch! Hope the nerve unit appointment goes well this morning, and you make a speedy recovery.

 

[E T]

Ouch! Hope it heals quickly without lasting damage.
On the upside. It could have been worse and this mishap will keep you save for a while.
It hasn't happened to me yet, and hope it never will. Long nose pliers always at the ready in the chiptray, but we all do stupid things sometimes.

 

[Gritineye]

That's just so easy to do, I keep a pair of very long nose pliers with the handles sticking out of the chip tray by my right hand, but occasionally my left hand seems to have a mind of it's own.

Hope it heals up ok.

 

[Redsailor]

Done similar as well, even though it was many years ago well back in the last century. Still hate the swarf that comes of stainless and always have a pair of tongs hanging on the lathe splashback. Was turning some stainless at work and went to pull of some swarf off the stationary chuck. Luckily the hospital was just a few minutes away, so sat in A&E with a cotton wool wrapped around thumb, odd drop of blood dripping on the floor. Next in came a local butcher who had been a tad overenthusiastic with a knife. Now two of us dripping blood on the floor. A few long moments later a young lady arrived, having badly trapped her finger whilst closing her car door, yes more blood. Eventually some young doctor called out. "Right you three in here" pointing to a door. Three of us sat round a table whilst he went round with needle and thread.

Still wince even after all these years at stainless. Hope you recover and no serious damage.

 

[Morris]

Stainless swarf is the work of the devil, evil stuff.
Hope the finger heals ok.

 

[Morrisman]

I've done it several times working in the machine shop years ago.
Scariest incident was when I used a swarf hook to pull a big ball of long thin swarf out of the back tray of a running lathe, it hooked on a jaw sticking out of the spinning chuck.... and threw the big ball of swarf straight into my face.... Luckily it was only aluminium, not stainless, and only left me shocked to hell, not cut to hell.
Lesson was learned that day.

 

[Morrisman]

Stainless swarf is the work of the devil, evil stuff.
Hope the finger heals ok.

I was once told that stainless cuts take longer to heal because cyanide is used in the production process, not idea if it's true, sounds a bit far fetched. I do know they seem to fester and weep for a while rather than heal normally, like a steel cut would.

 

[Brad93]

i done it the other week, also 303. lathe wasn't on, just went to remove long stringy swarf. very deep but not to bone, lots of claret, ended up cleaning best i could then sticking the flap down and chucking some superglue on top to seal it

 

[not done it yet]

I sympathise with the pain when something goes wrong. But where revolving machinery and swarf (like that) are concerned, it is far better to use up a few seconds and be safe with a stationary machine and a mechanical aid for removal. My A&E is 14 miles away, out of office hours.

The temptation to act just before the chuck has stopped is always resisted, however far away from the chuck I might be - unless there is clear air and no possible risk of connection with the machine. By the time one has checked, the risk is usually over, anyway.

I wish you a speedy recovery, but please don’t risk doing it again - we want you on the forum!

 

[mike os]

Well that sucks... take care pal, and hoping for a speedy recovery

 

[fizzy]

You stupid so and so
Considering all your health scares etc you should be more careful

 

[Keith 66]

If you are in Essex my wife thoroughly recomends the Minor Injuries Unit at Orsett hospital. I had to take her there a few weeks back after she had a hard fall. Nearest hospital to us is Southend followed by Basildon but parking at either is a nightmare.
Drove to Orsett, all but empty car park, walked in she gave her details to reception, we sat down & 15 seconds later she was called, Seen by a nurse practicioner, x rayed, seen again & out in 20 minutes flat. Best bit was the parking machine was broken so it was free!

 

[Guineafowl]

I know what you mean about the annoyance. That moment’s inattention that you know will lead to weeks of not being able to use your hand properly, put it in your pocket, etc. Peripheral nerves regrow at about 1mm/day if repaired well - how about measuring and timing it?

Not so long ago I was slicing a garlic clove with my Tormek-sharpened kitchen knife, got a bit careless and sliced off almost the whole nail of my middle finger, from quick to tip. Unbelievably painful - even the air moving over the wound stung like acid. What was worse was the annoyance with myself, and the prospect of weeks of limited hand use.