How I Almost Lost My Finger - Grinder Safety Tip

[@johnperry1888]

I'm glad it wasn't any worse for you. I think we must periodically have safety refreshers on every tool we use. Being too arrogant to think, "it's not going to happen to me," invites mishaps. I, too, have to slow down; otherwise, if I rush, I'll get into trouble. Thank you so much for the safety briefing.

[@DonBradway]

Mike, thank you for your honesty and willingness to show what happened to your hand. We know there are other professionals who are too proud to admit their mistakes and thus deprive us of the opportunity to learn what not to do. This is just one more reason your videos are my go-to for learning more about woodturning.

[@PaulWimmert]

Thanks for sharing this. When I worked in manufacturing we called these LBX, Learn By Experience! I have a young lad(11 yo) who loves to work in my shop. I try to have every shop time start with a safety topic. I used your video today. He was very attentive and commented on his hand position under the jig when preparing to sharpen. Know that your video met its mark

[@alansmith7086]

Ouch!!!! Thankfully it wasn't worse! Many thanks for reposting this super helpful and informative safety video! Always good to have a refresher course on safety!!

[@Flatfishhunter]

Thanks for sharing. It's really helpful to be reminded of ways we can keep body parts intact.

[@LewisKauffman]

WOW! So glad it wasn't any worse. Thanks for the reminder and the best practice information.

[@PhilAndersonShadyAcresWoodshop]

I suppose it would have happened anyway but, the whole grinder moved towards you. Maybe fasten it down? It may not have been as bad as it was had it been stationary. So sorry this happened to you, Mike, that had to hurt like crazy!

[@williamriley-le9zo]

Wow. I'm very glad your OK with what is basically minor damage. It could have been much worse. How lucky you are. Good tip to hold from the bottom. I'm going to adopt that method from here on. I had a similar incident many, many, years ago in high school woodshop class using a 12" disc sander. Someone across the shop called my name & I turned causing two of my fingertips to get pulled into the down side of the sander. I have both fingers in good condition & learned a valuable lesson about distractions & running machinery. Again I'm very glad you are OK Mike. Take care and keep turning.

[@christopherhathaway6767]

Excellent advice and thanks for sharing. Glad the damage wasn't worse and that you are healed up.

[@eherrmann01]

Hi Mike, just wanted to let you know that this video probably saved me a finger today. Like you, I had always held my Vari-Grind jig at the top while sharpening. Well since watching this video last week I started holding the jig from the bottom, and sure enough, today I had the exact same thing happen that you had. I have stone wheels on my grinder, and when the tool slipped off the edge and jammed, it took several large pieces to the wheel with it. I was lucky that I wasn't injured and that the wheel didn't shatter, but it could have been much, much worse. I just wanted to thank you for posting this, and I hope that many more people see this and adopt your method for holding the Vari-Grind while sharpening, it definitely saved me a trip to the ER today. I guess I'm off to get those CBN wheels I've been wanting now :) Thanks again Mike!

[@CraftSuppliesUSA]

Man that's a scary story, glad to hear you're ok. -Mike 😊

[@petercrizer6102]

Ouch ! Glad it wasn't too bad, (although any accident is unfortunate), and thanks for sharing. Good 'solution' to not having that happen again.

[@reforzar]

Crazy stuff. It’s amazing how well finger tips grow back. I cut the tip off of one and it’s indistinguishable now.

[@woody442]

Yes, the human body is amazing. Fingertips are meant to be in contact, they are mostly bone and sinew, even the large muscles are located in the forearm. Fingers are tough

[@reloadNshoot]

Just yesterday i had a little incident. I have 3 grinders set up on a bench and was using the ond on the far left. I dropped a tool I was grinding and it rolled under the bench a little out of sight. I made a note in my head that grinder was still running and. I thought i knew we here the spinny thing was....... Wrong While bending over to find and pick the tool up i turned my body and run my elbow in to the grinder. It startled me a good bit by the heat that was generated. I felt do dumb because i thought about and knew the grinder was ruñing and thought i was awate enough. One thing that wasnt mentioned but i think is a good idea is having a first aid kit/station in your work area and keeping it stocked. My shop is full of wood and metal working machines and tools that can bite, cut, smash, burn you if not carffully used. Not proud to say but i have used it many times as accidents can and do happen. Not on the same lines but while sanding a small piece in the wood lathe yesteday I got my thumb to close to the chuck and it got me. I then immediately did it again but ithat time was more severe. It came close to taking part of my thumbnail off, it still hurts as i type this.

[@CraftSuppliesUSA]

I'm glad you're okay! It's easy to get distracted in the shop. -Mike 😊

[@dtork47]

Jeez, so glad it was not worse! I guess I will try holding on to the bottom of the jig and not the top, also take my time! Stay safe.

[@michaelyork3198]

I was doing dovetails by hand, with no vice, and the chisel went to shallow slipped got my finger holding the piece. At the dr they said you need to wash the blood and paper towel off. I thought I was going down. When they went to numb my finger they said you take that needle like a champ. I was thinking poke me all you want with that needle, but don't make me wash the wound. Lesson learned. A bench with a vise came home within a week

[@OregonOldTimerWOODTURNING]

I've always held the thing the way you did. Not after seeing this, though. Thank you.

[@CraftSuppliesUSA]

Glad to share a learning lesson when I can, even if it hurt. 😊 -Mike

[@ralphgibson3696]

Hey Mike, My favorite "Don't do this" event was when I was bending some 3/8" rebar in my vise. I rested my left hand on the vise as I took a small sledge hammer to the rebar. On the first strike, the hammer skipped off the rebar and struck a finger on my left hand. Not hard enough to break anything, but laid the finger open real good. The emergency room doctor was great. Took one look and said, "Big Hammer?" I said he was right, and after ten stitches headed home again. Could have been oh so much worse. 🙂 Take care and work safe everyone.

[@CraftSuppliesUSA]

That is one scary story, thanks for sharing. -Mike 🙂

[@billthompson9482]

Had the same accident, not as bad as you. I now hold the jig behind the hood down.

[@johnpollard9828]

Hi Mike, now that you've talked about almost losing your finger, can you tell us how you lost so much weight? I need to do whatever you're doing.

[@CraftSuppliesUSA]

Started exercising again and I keep a close eye on how much I eat. 😊 -Mike

[@woody442]

If youre in a rush, better take a break

[@fern6114]

The hurry is always a bad energy for working with machines… I nearly lost 3 fingers on my planer due to hurry up and make some last boards late in the evening…. Just think about, the machines will never stop until the button is pressed