Missing Finger Tips

Andrew McLurkin

Andrew McLurkin

Joined
Aug 31, 1999
Messages
716
As I type this with my right hand my left hand is in bandages. To the point so to speak:

I was practicing for a cutting competition the North Carolina Knifemakers Guild is having at our meeting this coming weekend. After sharpening the blade to near perfection I was dropping a sheet of paper with my left hand and cutting it across in mid-air. After 20 or so trials I managed to miss my target and chopped off the tip of my thumb and the tip of my index finger to the first joint. After hospital care, including a revision amputation (taking off more of my index finger to get to a place where it could be closed up), I ‘m home in significant pain realizing a reality of my knifemaking.

I’m sharing this in part get some moral support, and in part to urge each of you to take every precaution in your knifemaking.

Looking back I made several mistakes. One was being in my shop when I was over tired. It was 8 pm after final grinding the handle and sharpening the 10 and a half-inch blade. It was time for me to call it a day but I wanted to get more done. The other clear mistake was not being adequately prepared for the cutting task I was attempting.

The final mistake I made was not fully realizing how badly something like this could go wrong. I did, but I really didn’t if you know what I mean. It’s very surreal watching your finger tips fly off. Sorry if this seems overly dramatic, but I want to get it out like it is.

Please pray for a speedy recovery.

Andrew
 
Andrew,
Keep it clean, keep it dressed, and let it heal. Knifemaking will wait.
Some good points you brought up. Hang tough.
 
Not a good way to be reminded of how dangerous it is in and around our shops, but it makes you think about things that we take for granted every day. I hope you get well soon.

Bobby
 
Man Andrew, I'm really sorry to hear that. I do understand what you mean. I was doing rope cutting for George's Hammer-In (this will be my first time doing a contest type thing) and working really hard at it and also thinking...boy, if I slip. I wish you speady healing and a calm recovery. I appreciate you posting this to make us all remember that we aren't playing with rubber bands here. All the best Andrew.
 
Andrew sorry to hear of your mishap. I pray for you a speedy full recovery. It is sure easy to forget what a little mistake can do. We are playing with fire, grinding steel and making sharp objects! :eek: All in a days work.
 
When I first read the title, I immediately thought Bandsaw Accident! I guess this would be considered worse. Sorry to hear of your injury, heal up soon.

John
 
Howdy There....Andrew...!
Man, sorry to hear about your accident, thats a real bummer....! Certainly hope you still have good function of them and that they will heal fast. As you have stated, working late in the shop can lead to strange and costly problems. Wish that I could see you this coming weekend at the NC Guild meeting, but I am sorry to say that I will not be able to attend this meeting. I know that it is going to be a fun time for everyone. Hope to see ya in Winston Salem this year, and take care of the fingers. :eek:
 
I've read this three times now and its still hard to do anything but sit here and cringe :(
I cut a small chunk off the top of my knuckle last winter while sharpening a chefs knife. It was really nothing but skin and has healed pretty well, but I can honestly say that actually cutting a peice off of your body and having it happen that easily is something that really stays with you. I looked at knives a little differently for the next week or so. And still sitting here looking at the scar I have more respect and care for what I'm doing. I can remember exactly how it looked and felt when I cut it and I know I'll never forget. And that was unbeleivably minor compared to what you've been through.
To actually cut bone and have a situation like yours had to be pretty well terrifying, and I'm sure that the future is feeling a little uncertain due to the nature of your injury and the use of your hand. I'll pray for the best, and hope that you not only heal quickly but can adapt to the new situation easily and continue with knifemaking. You definitely have the skill, and I'm sure you have the determination. We're all pulling for you.
 
So sorry to hear about your accident. I cut the tip off my index finger a couple of years ago with a chef's knife while making salsa. Not quite to the bone, but pretty close. I was in shock for awhile over it, and my finger's still not quite right, but take heart, think of it as one of life's little adventures (granted one you could have done without) and you'll be back in the shop before you know it.
 
Holy smokes Andrew-

I'm so sorry, that's definitely a life altering accident. When I saw the subject line I thought that maybe you'd ground a little off the ends of your fingers with the grinder.

Startling proof of just how quickly and easily things can go horribley wrong.

We pray for a speedy recovery Andrew.

Nick
 
Andrew sorry to hear of your mishap. Thank you for the safety warning it is always valuable to hear of anothers mishap. It gets me back in the right frame of mind to avoid such rotten things happening to me when I get that same feeling. I will just do this , or the safety glassess are not needed for this
I'm sure many makers have those slack days when we drop our guard.

Again thanks for getting my guard back up.

There is always a bright side. You must be a damn fine knife sharpener.

Good luck heal soon.
 
Andrew,

I too am sorry for what has happened. I hope it is soem small comfort that you have made me think about my own safety practices with knife making and usage. I hope for a speedy recovery.
 
I hope the finger will heal up well without any complications...man gives me the chills.....good luck!
 
God bless you for a quick healing. And people think it is funny that knifemaker Barry Dawson wears a heavy duty leather glove on one hand while working his booth at knifeshows! Peter
 
Andrew, my prayers go out to you.

I have almost gotten the tips of both of my index fingers cut off. If it wasnt for me using a controlled slicing motion on a tiny paring knife, and my finger nail binding the blade, each finger would be 1/4" to 3/8" shorter. I still dont have all the feeling back in the tips of them.

I still have the kitchen knifes that did it. I suggest you keep your 10" much cooler bowie as a keeper.

BTW, I think pictures of the knife and fingers would be cool. (As long as you are not heavily medicated and taking pictures of large blades.)
 
Not much to say about that Andrew. Sorry.....it's a bad accident and I am glad it wasn't worse. Hear quickly!
 
I skipped this post several times thinking "this is nothing serious" but wow was I wrong. Man I wish you a speedy recovery.

A friend had a serious accident a few months ago, they really make you rethink how wise it is too be in the shop when you aren't right on your game. I've not had anything as serious as you've had but bad enough that they remind me to not try to push it when I'm tired.

Take care and good luck.

Sean
 
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