Never try and catch a Woodchuck

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bitshird

bitshird

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Joined
Aug 27, 2007
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10,236
Location
Adamsville, TN, USA.
OK you think since I've made 4 or 5 hundred of these things I would have a basic understanding of the dangers of razor sharp edges, But you would be wrong!!
All of my tools are in pieces of PVC pipe on a shelf behind my lathe. Today I was making handles, I slipped one tool back into it's pipe, and grabbed the one I use for cutting Ferrules , they sit in the pipes with carpet on the bottom so not to hurt the edges, any way I grabbed this tool and I guess my grip wasn't as strong as I though it was, it hung up on the end of the pipe and the tool headed flipping up in the air before heading towards the floor, and being drain bamaged after being off for 3-1/2 days. I tried to catch the tool and was unfortunate enough to do it , I caught it right by the insert, and it was a nearly fresh insert as well, I caught it right between two fingers, Boy do I feel stupid.
Fun thing Andrew and I got to turn a bunch of Bowls and I turned a piece of Mesquite that I was sent by Phillywood, it came out of his yard or his neighbors, any way it's a small turning, but man is it going to be super cool, Also did a 12 inch Camphor bowl I got from Bruce, I cut it Friday and this morning the shop still smelled soooo good. . Any way if any of you that own Woodchucks ever have one of the buggers try and escape your grasp, LET IT GO!!! Don't try and catch it.
10 more handles and I have the week off to play with wood and plastic and pen stuff.
 
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You JackWagon! Maybe we should chug over to MambyPamby land....:).


Just kidding, Ken. The worst cut I ever got in the shop was putting a new insert on a Wood Chuck.

I am very careful, but when I almost lost a finger when the phone rang, I now use gloves to re-fit an insert!
 
I have a bad habit of not only trying to catch things but of sticking my foot out to try and stop them from hitting the ground. Every once in a while that isnt the smart thing to do.:eek:
 
PenMan1 said:
You JackWagon! Maybe we should chug over to MambyPamby land....:).


Just kidding, Ken. The worst cut I ever got in the shop was putting a new insert on a Wood Chuck.

I am very careful, but when I almost lost a finger when the phone rang, I now use gloves to re-fit an insert!
Click to expand...

Andy I felt so damned stupid, I headed for my desk and rushed by Andrew at the mill , so he followed me in to the office, the bad thing is I take blood thinners and the slightest scratch gets messy, but I'm glad they were sharp, Animefan thought it was pretty dumb, he had one get away from him and he was smart enough to get out of the way. ( I'm supposed to be the brains of this outfit??) DUH
 
Ken, sorry your calculations didn't work for you, but if you have the spray called "Newskin" kind of like CA put it on and it will coat the cut like a transparent skin and helps it to coagulate and heal faster. Now, you know that you can not handle chemicals with that cut for a few days if you are taking blood thinner right?
 
As the 100 Lb. chimney builder realized, in his hospital bed, days after trying to lower a 500 pound barrel of left over brick via pulley and rope, sometimes you gotta just let go of the rope! I'm glad your learning curve was less severe.

Seriously, I take blood thinners and an asprin per day and a serious cut scares the hell out of me.
As you know, I use my Wood Chuck with an extremely short, fat, handle, so that I can get REALLY agressive with the material. That tool is so sharp that a momentary lapse in concentration can be bad.

"Little Chuckie", my Wood Chuck, and I have the same agreement that I have with "Jar Head", my 7mm MAG hunting rifle. I always try to treat both of those tools with the respect they deserve and in return, they try NOT to make me pay too severly when I forget.

I"M GLAD THAT YOU ARE OK, AMEIGO!
 
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OH MY Ken! Ouch and all that. I do hope that the cut is small and you heal quickly. Every since you sent me mine, I have had the concern that it just mite take a bite out of me. It is wicked sharp. Now we have you and Johnny on the disabled list. Who is next?
Charles
 
I just got an Easy Wood Tools Ci2 Mini Rougher. I can tell it was extremely sharp. I thought it would be ok to just run my thumb over the flat edge on the top of the tool across the cutter edge. Not across it.. on the corner or anything just straight over the top of the flat edge. Somehow I still managed to put an inch long slash across my thumb.
 
Sounds like we are passed due for me making handles on the duplicator for you. Just need to send you the hhs cutter so you can make me a carbide one. This week, promise.
 
PenMan1 said:
You JackWagon! Maybe we should chug over to MambyPamby land....:).
Click to expand...

Damn it Andy I just blew coffee all over my screen...


Ken, So sorry to hear about your boo boo. Stinks that you work with the tools so often you occasionally forget how sharp they can be. Hope it's not too bad. Get well!
 
I'll add to the discussion; if you need to lower the tool rest height, LAY DOWN THE SKEW!!! Then adjust the tool rest; otherwise my next comment "Where did all the red stuff come from?" is understandable. I never felt the cut....
 
Mean little buggers aren't they??!! :biggrin:
Ken, I know the feeling, but was kind of embarrased to let anyone know. I don't have a tool holder. My tools that I use the most are laying next to the lathe for easy access. I grabbed a skew, it bumped the Woodchuck and it started to roll off the table. Reached quick and it sliced a nice one right in the palm. Of course after the blood flow stopped, I thought "Wonder what blood stained curly maple would look like?"
 

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Stupid Aspirin!

Hi Ken,
I feel your pain, nicked myself a couple times changing the inserts. Because of those darn little aspirins I also get red stains on work pieces. I used to heal up very quick and back to work but not any more.
One of the first things I learned in my lab career was not to grab for falling objects, especially lab glassware. Many have been severely injured grabbing for falling beakers and mashing them between wrist and cabinet doors. I seem to still have the "watch it fall" instinct, that or my reflexes are not what they used to be.:biggrin:
Carving with knives and gouges is one of the pastimes I enjoy. Carving tools are much sharper (lower bevel angles) than turning tools so I'm always getting little nicks that seem to bleed forever. Oddly enough most of my cuts are on my right hand which holds the tool not the left which holds the workpiece. Most cuts occur while picking up a different tool. My hands don't seem to go where I want them to anymore. I also spill a lot of stuff, mostly coffee while setting down the cup. Pleasures of aging?
Anyway, put a bandage on that cut and get back in there.
 
The only cut I got was from trying to clear the built up acrylic on a brand new drill bit. Wasn't a severe or dirty cut, but it bled more than normal and it was RIGHT on the part of my thumb that sees the most contact with the world around me. I was good and used to clearing out old drill bits that don't have that capacity. Have yet to cut myself on a turning tool. Give it time, though....
 
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