This wasn't like that..

You know how sometimes something will happen where you almost get
seriously hurt, but you don't? And it's over before you had a chance to
see it coming? So you get an adrenaline rush and a big sense of relief?

This wasn't like that.

I figured I'd do some sanding to clean up a piece of metal. I'd picked up
some sanding heads and flap wheels at the hardware store a wile back and
never quite got around to using them. This should be a good chance to see
how well they work.

They didn't do much on the drill, since the battery was dead.So I had to
try it on something else. The downside of buying tools at yard sales is that
they seldom come with manuals. I'm not sure what the maximum speed
is for these flap wheels, but I'm sure the Roto Zip exceeded that.

So I turned it on and everything was fine for about 1/2 to 3/4ths of a
second.. and then this awful vibration started up.. a vibration that was so
heavy that my arms felt like I was being electrocuted. But I wasn't.
(I checked) I vaguely remember something coming off an hitting the
ceiling, and something else coming off and hitting the wall. Good thing
I was wearing a face shield.

The only problem was that this RotoZip was shaking so hard that I couldn't
put it down, couldn't let go of either hand. I couldn't turn it off because
it took two hands to hold onto it.. and the longer I held onto it, the weaker
my grip got. You know how something can happen in a flash and yet it
seems like several minutes?

This wasn't like that.

For about 30 seconds I'm holding this thing, trying to figure out what to
do with it. A few times I tried to loosen my grip with one hand so I could
see about holding onto it one handed while reaching for the OFF switch.
No chance. All the while, my arms are feeling strangely numb from the
vibration. I can't turn it off, I can't put it down, and I'm not sure how
much longer I can hold onto it.. even with two hands. I didn't know what
was wrong, the thing was going too fast to see it.

I've always been taught that you never yank on a cord to unplug something
but I thought this might be an exception, and maybe I wouldn't go to hell
for it. So I yanked. and yanked some more. Nope .. it was still running.
Why did I think that those 100 foot extension cords were such a good deal?
And why do I use them inside? And why can't I feel my teeth anymore?

As I'm holding onto this RotoZipDemonFromHell and doing a funny dance
around the shop, trying to stand on the plug and kick it out from the
extension cord (why do I tie them together when I'm working inside?)
I'm imagining the newspaper headlines "Man Chops Off Own Head In
Freak Accident" but then I figured that nobody really buys newspapers
anymore, but it might make someone's Tweet at best.

I was finally able to kick out the plug and the thing shut off. Looking at
the sanding head, the mandrel was bent close to 90 degrees. Most of it
was missing. Instead of spinning like a top, it was spinning like a radar
antenna. at about 30,000 RPM. I guess whatever fell off when it got up
to speed caused an imbalance, and it all fell apart from there. You know
how sometimes you get a bargain on something and it all works out great?

This wasn't like that. :redface:

:rotfl: Glad you were not harmed.

No, I'm find thanks.

On a good note, I bought some new underwear..

You know those times when something happens so bad the person isn't around anymore to tell the tale?

I'm glad this wasn't like that!

Heck of an experience, well told.

.

I had a 1" diameter of brass sticking about 20" out the back of my lathe once. The same thing happened, except when the bar bent 90 degrees, it moved the 2000 pound lathe about a foot from where it was. It bounced like an out of balance washing machine. It was scary enough that I won't be doing that again any time soon.

Glad you're OK.

Well told indeed! I laughed most of the way through. A small part of me hopes something like that happens again for more of your great writing. But I'm glad you weren't hurt!

Man, I'm sure glad you weren't hurt!

You do spin a great yarn, though.

Glad that you survived it. I tried a Roto zip once and then I sold it. Too loud and too much vibration.

Gee glad you are aok did you try to fix and try again LOL

Yes, glad your still with us. I had a vivid picture of you and your tool from hell! I'm still laughing.

Great story, glad you are OK.

Now, that is a story well told...!
I wish that I could write like that!

Secondly, I'm glad that someone else can write "long" threads (more than 2 lines...!:wink in these forums!

As for the story (adventure ) reminds me when one day, I was holding on for my life at the tail of this 7 foot tall grey male kangaroo. I was dancing a very strange dance with this animal (I'm glad was on dirt and not on a slippery dance floor), holding on with one hand only, while I would try to grab something to defend myself, wasn't an option, letting him go, was a scary though, as my first thoughts were, "I let him go and the chances are, he will turn back, and kick the "bajibas" out of me...!, so held on, hoping for a quick solution, yeah...( I wish this wasn't like that!).

The rest of the story, well... that's another matter but not to be told on someone else's "story turf" but, the real story is on what made me be, in that situation in the first place...!:redface::biggrin:

Thanks for the laugh, I need that...!

PS: I hope you got the "feeling" back to your teeth...:tongue:, you would be surprise how many out there, had to go for a quick change of underwear, old or new!:biggrin:

Cheers
George

Damn Charlie,
I always miss the good stuff!

You know how sometimes, you are hanging out with your friends, and one of them leans over to you and says the unforgettable last words...


"Hold My Beer."


Then the following insanity is too much for you to take, and instead of helping your friend "undo" whatever sticky situation he has found himself in, you laugh untill your sides hurt and your cheeks are wet with tears...


Yeah, This is like that!


Glad to har that you werent hurt. Now i gotta go blow my nose and wash my face.

Wow, glad you're ok Charlie!!! That could've been sore

As you obviously didn't have time to take a pic,( although you should have planned ahead and had the camera set on a timer )I think I need to dream up a suitable Ratty Pic. :biggrin:

Glad all turned out well. I know it was not very funny when it was happening but the way you wrote the story I got a kick out of it. Your descriptions made it so that everyone could picture it like they were seeing it happen.

Glad YOURS came out better than mine.Almost lost my thumb.Thirty# side grinder with 36grit disk.More later! Don't want to hijack the thread.

Charlie, the laws of physics are like that.And Murphy will help if needed.
Glad you were not hurt, it could have been worse!
BTDT, with a die grinder and polishing mandrel.

Ratty say's..............Don't let inferior tools take you for a ride:biggrin:

Skip..
Yeah.. this was just like that.

greenmtnguy said:

Damn Charlie,
I always miss the good stuff!

Click to expand...

Come on over.. I got another mandrel at MaxSaver..

robutacion said:

The rest of the story, well... that's another matter but not to be told on someone else's "story turf"

Click to expand...

Oh no .. don't hold back on us now..

Humiliation is a dish best served with friends.. so we can think:
"wow .. I would never do anything like that" :redface:

Charlie, I actually bent an old ruined wire wheel just to take the pic and even switched it on. Wow, you weren't lying about the vibration!!!

With a different attachment, that could be fun!!!:devil: I even know a shop where I could sell them:wink:

Another good lesson to remember and told so well that I could actually picture you holding on for dear life while you tried to figure out how to shut that darned thing off before it finally got you. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad that you weren't injured.

Jim Smith

Thanks everyone .. it was funny to me after it was all over ,so I figured
I'd share the fun. But all the time it was happening, I was thinking that of
all the dumb things I've done ,this one would be memorable.

Couldn't put it down, as it would probably take off on it's own, (and who
knows where it would go?) and couldn't hang on for too much longer, either.

I'm in the shop now, trying to figure out where to put an elbow switch
breaker button. :biggrin:

Skip.. WHY DID YOU DO THAT!! LOL .. you're crazier than I am..
I just need to learn how to grit my teeth like that rat..

here's a couple of pics .. the bent mandrel, the sander as it looks now,
and the sander as it looks right out of the box

Glad all came out well and you were not hurt. Try a rheostat switch and receptacle mounted in a 4 X 4 receptacle box. Turn the rheostat to a low setting then increase the power and RPM to a usable setting slowly. Works for me.
Mark

Charlie, I am glad that you weren't hurt!!!

(Sheesh, it's hard to type when you are laughing this hard...)

skiprat said:

Charlie, I actually bent an old ruined wire wheel just to take the pic and even switched it on. Wow, you weren't lying about the vibration!!!

With a different attachment, that could be fun!!!:devil: I even know a shop where I could sell them:wink:

Click to expand...

Do I see a new post coming in "Other Things We Make"?

PR_Princess said:

Do I see a new post coming in "Other Things We Make"?

Click to expand...

Whatever do you mean Dawn??? And just why did this grab your attention??
You have a dirty mind, young lady!!!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Charlie, I didn't realize that a RotoZip was as big as a mini router!!!! I just used a little Dremel sized thing!! You must have pooped your self!!!!:biggrin:

skiprat said:

You must have pooped your self!!!!:biggrin:

Click to expand...

Well, I had plenty of time to think about it. If I thought it would have helped.. :redface:

New underwear indeed!

(Note to self - don't read a Skiprat post (especially with a "Ratty says" picture) whilst consuming a beverage.)

That was hilarious Charlie. I'm glad you're ok. I use a Roto Zip regularly and I'm always amazed at the power packed in such a small machine.

Charlie ... I too am glad you were not injured in this the latest episode of "Dangers in the Woodshop!"

Pictures ... Heck I'm waiting for the video. Now thats something we all need to watch.

Ever read the Darwin Awards. If you had not been able to unplug it you may have been heading that way.
Glad your ok Charlie

It's a good thing you are alright. It's too bad that there is no place to go and find a manual for a tool that doesn't have one, you know, someplace like the internet.:biggrin:

wolftat said:

It's too bad that there is no place to go and find a manual for a tool that doesn't have one, you know, someplace like the internet.:biggrin:

Click to expand...

I was thinking of inventing it, but Al Gore beat me to it.

Glad your OK Charlie, Way to ride the ROTO.