Freakin' punctured myself...

Salem Straub

Salem Straub

Joined
Oct 20, 2008
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Sorry no pic yet. It's still wrapped in masking tape with a paper towel. Going to town in a minute to get some proper bandaging stuff. I should have those things on hand, now I will. Literally!

I was broaching a piece of stag for a tang. The broach I made has a sharp end so I can use it for a push cut as well. I was slamming away with it, holding the stag in my hand like a dummy, and even after the fleeting thought that I could hit myself if not careful, the broach cleared the end of the piece and faster then I could think slammed back down full force into the web of my thumb.

Instant blood spray. Ran to the house, got to be all nonchalant about it in front of the girls, the wife about puked (she's hung over today, too) and wrapped it up. Nice blood trail from the work bench.

I think it only went in a bit over 1/4" but it's a square punch mark. If it looks sufficiently impressive when I clean it, I'll post a pic.

Moral of the story: don't do that.
 
Ouch! Gotta love that moment of "I might hurt myself, I should do this different" right before you hurt yourself. Happens to me all the time at work. You think I would learn. Heal up soon!
 
Just last night my wife told me "I'm afraid you're going to hurt yourself out there". So far I've been safe except for being put on the floor by broken belt to the chest at 5000 sfpm.

Chicks dig scars! Hope you heal up nicely.
 
Salem,
You ain't supposed to do stuff like that to youself. Please be careful as you have more knives to make for me.(sounds like stuff I'd do)
Blademan011 aka David H.
 
Any pro-tips for this? I'm about to broach some stag soon hopefully. Hold it with a gloved hand, don't cover the exit path...? Any other good suggestions?
 
Ouch! If you still have the flap of skin attached, you can clean the heck out of it, use pressure to stop the bleeding, and Super glue the thing up. Then immobilize it for a few days. Good as new. I wonder how I know this... :P
 
Oooooouch! For me, punctures are accompanied by a lot more pain than a cut. Dang tang pain!!! I'm guessing you're thinking of using a leather lined vise to hold the bugga next time?
 
Make sure that you really disinfect. Cannot stress how important it is. We've all had minor infections, and we've all had little cuts that we've left alone, but until you get a really bad one you can never really respect just how bad they are. Prior to the modern age, it was such a steep % of deaths for a reason.

Only reason I decided to post is because it sounds like it might have some decent depth, which is why it is so important.
 
jms2021 said:
Ouch! Gotta love that moment of "I might hurt myself, I should do this different" right before you hurt yourself.
Click to expand...

I hope your thumb is gonna be OK. That fleeting thought is GOD trying to warn us ahead of time, and yep, I've been there also. You'd think we'd learn to listen to him after awhile!
 
Just reading that made me shiver! And laugh about your wife! Get well soon, that has to be rough.
 
This kinda stuff is why I keep a pressure bandage in the shop where it's easy to get to. Way too many ways to get hurt working on knives and in most cases the injury is going to be a bloody one not just a bruise.
Hope you heal up well, punctures are a pain and that's not a nice spot, hard to not use your thumb for long enough to let it heal.
+1 on the infection control, HUGE issue there with punctures. At the first hint it's getting a real infection go seek professional help.
 
woodwrkr221 said:
That fleeting thought is GOD trying to warn us ahead of time, and yep, I've been there also. You'd think we'd learn to listen to him after awhile!
Click to expand...
You think he would have just skipped the enigmatic safety tips and not let it happen at all. Angel Fail.:)
 
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+ a whole bunch on getting and keeping it CLEAN, and well-bandaged in-between cleanings. If there's even a speck of organic matter or bacteria buried down in that hole, it's gonna cause problems.

The pain and discomfort that comes from frequently and thoroughly disinfecting a puncture- or bite-wounds sucks big time, but it sure beats having a digit or hand rot off :eek: If it continues to be badly swollen, red, bruised looking and/or oozing gross fluids for more than a day, please seek professional attention. Antibiotics may be needed. (smart folks would say "go see a doctor RIGHT NOW"... but I know how knifemakers and other shop-rats are... you're gonna try and treat it yourself and save a couple hundred bucks.)
 
Luckily I'd sharpened the broach this morning so it was pretty clean and rust free and made a relatively clean hole. Unfortunately, I'd sharpened it this morning so it was thirsty for flesh.

Retail therapy this morning included bandages, a cigar, a new bottle of soluble cutting oil, and some grade 8 bolts for my press slide. Here's the pic. Not too bad looking really. I soaked it well in hydrogen peroxide after washing it. Thanks for the comments y'all.

IMG_0082.JPG
 
one of the perks of being a carpenter is I have seen no less the 35 guys shoot themselves in the left hand with nail guns, the worst one I seen, the nail went through the 1st 2nd and 3rd knuckle and came out on top of the pinky knuckle, I actually twinged a little when I seen that one
 
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