Had a mishap with a grinder sporting a cutting disc over the weekend. I had some exhaust on the floor and was cutting the catalytic converter out of it with the grinder. Mid cut the fiber cutting disc had a chunk break off of it, bucked the grinder out of my hand and the grinder with a partially intact disc struck my leg on the way down. It laid my inner thigh wide open and I got an ambulance ride to Norfolk. I had the guard on it, but it still managed to tag me Ended up with many internal stitches as the cut was about an inch and a half deep, and 9 staples to put it back together.
So be extra careful with those things folks, and replace the blades at the first sign of wear.
I have pics of the wound and the repair, but I'm not sure those are forum friendly.
Woah! Glad you are somewhat OK! Were you wearing shorts or jeans? Would it have made a difference?
EDIT: not sure if pic was added or didn't show up the first time. I see pants...disregard previous question.
Tubing is a challenge with a disc. Always better to use a portable bandsaw.
"Experience is something we gain 3 seconds after we needed it."
Hope you mend well.
My thumb tried to liberate itself a couple years ago yesterday. Grinders and cutoff wheels are like the Wu Tang Clan. They ain't nothin to berk with
Man, glad you're okay enough to be posting a PSA, and still have all your limbs! Hope you have a quick and "easy" recovery period.
Duke
MegaDork
6/24/20 9:13 a.m.
Wow, that doesn't look like it's very far from the old femoral artery, either. Scary place to get a cut that deep.
I'm glad to hear the prognosis is good.
Ouch! Glad it wasn't worse. I seriously dislike using those.
Just as much as I hate being underneath a car with no one around. And I will shove the crap out of the car once on jack stands to make sure it isn't going anywhere.
Another death wheel earns the name. Scary stuff, that. I've taken to using the sawzall whenever I can. Glad you're not missing any parts. Be safe.
Yeah, that's damn close to your artery. Good to hear you're okay.
Wait... Norfolk Nebraska?
slefain
PowerDork
6/24/20 9:51 a.m.
Too close to the hootus!
Glad you are okay. Every time I think about needing a grinder, I find another way to get the job done. It may take me longer or be annoying, but I'll deal with it over the spinning wheel of death.
Mine nicked a tendon several years ago. 6 weeks in a brace because I was an idiot.
If you must cut something with a skinny wheel, clamp or vise or whatever your work piece and use two hands on the grinder. They come with handles for a reason.
Recon1342 said:
Mine nicked a tendon several years ago. 6 weeks in a brace because I was an idiot. ..
Ouch!, good luck if you ever have to do a psych review!
"tell me about your wrist"
"it was a power tool.."
"...yeah, OK... tell me how you feel about your mother, do you commonly refer to her as 'power tool'..."
Email sent via forum software, and no it's not a picture request, I forgot that you're in the tidewater and know of a vehicle for sale down there that someone on the board needs to end up with.
yikes. sorry to hear but thank you for posting.
The wheel of death strikes again!
My fingers never left my hand......
In reply to Spoolpigeon :
Glad you made it. Internal stitches and external staples might have been a bit of overkill, a little superglue and some steri-strips would have been fine.
Are you gonna walk with a gangster strut/limp now?
I tried to liberate my thumb with a hole cutter back in december. Trust me, that will eventually buff out
The Death Wheel is the only tool I truly fear.
Appleseed said:
The Death Wheel is the only tool I truly fear.
That, and the radial arm saw for me.
einy (Forum Supporter) said:
Appleseed said:
The Death Wheel is the only tool I truly fear.
That, and the radial arm saw for me.
During my 4 years in the emergency room it was a toss up between circular saw and table saw. They both remove digits faster than you can blink.
i'd have to give the title to the table saw honestly. Frigging brutal machines.
In reply to KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) :
That's just because those machines are 1000X more common than the radial arm saw. I can almost guarantee 98% of those machines had their safety guards disabled or removed.
The radial arm saw is the only stationary power tool that the blade travels. Like it was designed to whack off a digit or limb.
Heal quickly Spoolpigeon!
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Table saws only have 5% of their utility with the guard on
KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:
einy (Forum Supporter) said:
Appleseed said:
The Death Wheel is the only tool I truly fear.
That, and the radial arm saw for me.
During my 4 years in the emergency room it was a toss up between circular saw and table saw. They both remove digits faster than you can blink.
i'd have to give the title to the table saw honestly. Frigging brutal machines.
I have fear of the pickle fork. I end up bleeding most times I get mine out.
The Wheel of Death is indeed nothing to berk with. Every time I use one, I try to be as careful as possible. I've had a couple discs get weird over the years mid-cut. It mostly happened with cheapo Hammer Store ones, which I stopped using after that.
