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Message
Got into a fight with a palm router today
Posted on 1/10/22 at 10:44 pm
Posted on 1/10/22 at 10:44 pm
It kicked my arse pretty good and as a result, I lost a ton of blood, some skin, and will have a gnarly new scar once the stitches come out.
I used a bit that I should have only used on a router table and put it on a free-hand palm router because I got cocky. It got away from me when I hit a knot in the board and flew into my left hand I was using to hold the board. It walked down my thumb and I am convinced had I not had a sweater on it would have done more damage to my wrist and possibly dug into my arteries. The ER doc thinks I barely missed tendons but now I have to go see a hand specialist this week.
I had to drive myself to the ER 18 minutes across town since I was alone. That was fun to do with one hand while trying to put pressure on the wound. It looked like hamburger meat but I must say the Dr did a great job stitching it up.
Be careful with those tools.I learned my lesson and will only use my palm router with lighter bits and for flush cutting. Tables or plunger routers with two handles for the rest of the stuff.
I will post links to the pics if you want to click them but they are pretty
Before
After
My sleeve that saved me
I used a bit that I should have only used on a router table and put it on a free-hand palm router because I got cocky. It got away from me when I hit a knot in the board and flew into my left hand I was using to hold the board. It walked down my thumb and I am convinced had I not had a sweater on it would have done more damage to my wrist and possibly dug into my arteries. The ER doc thinks I barely missed tendons but now I have to go see a hand specialist this week.
I had to drive myself to the ER 18 minutes across town since I was alone. That was fun to do with one hand while trying to put pressure on the wound. It looked like hamburger meat but I must say the Dr did a great job stitching it up.
Be careful with those tools.I learned my lesson and will only use my palm router with lighter bits and for flush cutting. Tables or plunger routers with two handles for the rest of the stuff.
I will post links to the pics if you want to click them but they are pretty
Before
After
My sleeve that saved me
19
Posted on 1/11/22 at 6:52 am to stout
I’ve been in fights with my nail gun before but never a router. The nail gun was a puss compared to your router! 
Posted on 1/11/22 at 7:01 am to stout
jesus that had to hurt. glad they got it looking right.
My cousin cut through 3 of his middle finger joints (said knuckles at first) with a table saw a few years back. they set his fingers with a permanent bend in them so he can still grab stuff. Whenever he points you can't tell where the hell he is pointing because he forgets his fingers are bent.
My cousin cut through 3 of his middle finger joints (said knuckles at first) with a table saw a few years back. they set his fingers with a permanent bend in them so he can still grab stuff. Whenever he points you can't tell where the hell he is pointing because he forgets his fingers are bent.
This post was edited on 1/11/22 at 8:11 am
Posted on 1/11/22 at 7:59 am to Loup
quote:
Whenever he points you can't tell where the hell he is pointing because he forgets his fingers are bent.
About 15 years ago I cut the tip of my middle finger off on my left hand. Barely missed the bone due to the angle. They sewed it back on and you can hardly tell now. The nerves never healed back and it's not as sensitive to touch as my other fingers.
My left hand is becoming pretty beat up
Posted on 1/11/22 at 8:29 am to stout
That is a nasty-looking injury. I have a palm router as well and every time I use I hold on to it for dear life. About 15 years ago, I had a plunge router catch my shirt. It twisted my shirt so bad it made it look I was wearing something 3 sizes too small. That thing almost gutted me and scared me shitless. I don't do a lot of woodworking, but that image comes back each time I grab any router.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 9:40 am to stout
Hope it heals well. My father lost a fight with a jointer when I was in about 5th or 6th grade. Ground off the middle finger right before the middle knuckle. He still plays guitar to this day and way better than me.
I haven't been able to eat Golden Grams since that morning before school.
I haven't been able to eat Golden Grams since that morning before school.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 9:49 am to stout
I had one get away with me one time while trying to do too much with it. Thankfully it didn’t hit me.
Thanks for the PSA. I don’t think people realize how easy it is to hurt yourself with one. I didn’t.
Thanks for the PSA. I don’t think people realize how easy it is to hurt yourself with one. I didn’t.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 9:53 am to stout
Palm router: 1
Stout: 0
We've all been there before, just not that bad however. Glad you're on the mend brother.
A good rule of thumb for the palms is to stick with 1/4" shanks as a reminder. I also have a palm, router table and plunge router.
Those plunge routers can get scary if you're not careful. Over the Xmas break I was making these snack holders and cutting walnut. Well, I went too deep with the plunge router on one pass and all the chips trapped under my acrylic went up in flames while I'm routing
Stout: 0
We've all been there before, just not that bad however. Glad you're on the mend brother. A good rule of thumb for the palms is to stick with 1/4" shanks as a reminder. I also have a palm, router table and plunge router.
Those plunge routers can get scary if you're not careful. Over the Xmas break I was making these snack holders and cutting walnut. Well, I went too deep with the plunge router on one pass and all the chips trapped under my acrylic went up in flames while I'm routing
Posted on 1/11/22 at 10:17 am to stout
Power tools are very unforgiving----especially ones that rev high and have sharp accessories.
Lucky it wasn't worse. I know a lot of 9 finger carpenters.
Lucky it wasn't worse. I know a lot of 9 finger carpenters.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 10:18 am to stout
Thank you for the reminder. People always seem to focus on the table saw when it comes to shop safety, but other tools can bite you as well.
A few years back I accidentally touched a round over bit in a palm router as I was setting it down. I was too afraid to even look, but luckily it wasn't that bad.
A few years back I accidentally touched a round over bit in a palm router as I was setting it down. I was too afraid to even look, but luckily it wasn't that bad.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 10:21 am to stout
What bit was it? I'd like to keep your mistake in the back of my mind.
Gonna need some 80 grit to get the blood stains off the workpiece?
Gonna need some 80 grit to get the blood stains off the workpiece?
Posted on 1/11/22 at 10:32 am to TigerSprings
quote:
What bit was it?
1-1/4-in rabbeting bit. I thought I could cheat and use it as a mortising bit since I couldn't find my mortising but. I was trying to mortise out a half-inch groove to accept panels on some custom wood doors I am building for my house. As I said, I got cocky and stupid and paid for it.
This bit doesn't belong on a 1/4 shank IMO and it's not one of the knock off bits from Amazon which you usually find on the wrong platforms. It's from Bosche
Posted on 1/11/22 at 1:39 pm to stout
My buddy lost a fight with a chainsaw right after Katrina and opened up his left forearm from right above the wrist to the elbow. Kick back while trying to section a fallen tree.
Funny part of the story was that he had to make his wife pull the car over on the way to East Jeff because she was driving so crazy. He told me he was pretty sure she was going to kill them both. He ended up driving to the ER with his left arm wrapped in a beach towel and hanging out the window dripping blood on the side of the car. He pulled up to a light and a Sheriff's Deputy pulled up next to them, glanced over and just kept going.
Funny part of the story was that he had to make his wife pull the car over on the way to East Jeff because she was driving so crazy. He told me he was pretty sure she was going to kill them both. He ended up driving to the ER with his left arm wrapped in a beach towel and hanging out the window dripping blood on the side of the car. He pulled up to a light and a Sheriff's Deputy pulled up next to them, glanced over and just kept going.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 2:27 pm to stout
For some reason I thought the before pic was gonna be if your hand before the injury. Wasn’t ready for what popped up.
Posted on 1/11/22 at 6:41 pm to stout
That looked pretty gnarly; they did a nice job sewing you up. My dad had a real nasty run in with a router when I was like 11, almost lost a finger. I’ve kept that in mind all these years, whenever I use mine— but of course it only takes a split second (and usually some questionable decision making )
)Posted on 1/12/22 at 7:28 am to GeauxldMember
quote:
they did a nice job sewing you up
Yea the doc took his time and did a good job. He had to cut out some meat in 4 spots to get it looking decent. Even though your nerves are numb to it your body still knows what is going on. When he was cutting the skin and meat out I broke out into a cold sweat and almost passed out.
Posted on 1/12/22 at 9:36 am to Loup
quote:
Whenever he points you can't tell where the hell he is pointing because he forgets his fingers are bent.
Lol. My grandma had arthritis and was like this. As a kid we used always walk straight for a bit and then take a hard right like her finger.
Stout man, thats pretty rough, but at least you know what not to do anymore.
Posted on 1/12/22 at 11:41 am to stout
quote:Dr. didn't give you a shot to deaden the area. Last time I would go to that Dr. Life lesson to me. No palm router for this wanna be carpenter.
sweat and almost passed out.
Posted on 1/12/22 at 6:44 pm to VernonPLSUfan
quote:
Dr. didn't give you a shot to deaden the area.
No he did. That doesn't mean your body doesn't know skin and meat is being cut off. Juts keeps you from feeling it.
Posted on 1/12/22 at 7:17 pm to stout
Yeah, I keep quick-clot handy, especially now that I'm on a blood thinner. Been investing in extra little safety items for my shop, just ordered a Grr-ipper for use with my table saw and router table. I've always been big on clamping and work holding fixtures, too easy to get seriously hurt.
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