Shop Accidents - Let me learn from your mistakes.

A

AlphaBravo.

Joined
Dec 30, 2014
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I'm finally getting my shop set up and would like to hear some of your stories about shop mishaps or accidents that I might be able to avoid. I have most of the common equipment (Drill press, 2x72, HT Oven, Disc Grinder, Buffer etc. ) and I have some experience with this machinery but I would like to hear some stories to keep this stuff in my head as I move forward into this hobby. I am well aware of the basics as far as PPE, clamping, etc but I am a little more interested in the unexpected stuff. I searched for a thread like this and couldn't find any so sorry if this is redundant.
 
Be careful around buffers. They like to grab stuff and throw it. Always clamp stuff down when your drilling it. Shit around forges gets hot even if it's a couple foot away from the mouth. 36 grit belts remove skin quite quickly. My thumbs can tell you a nice story about abrasives.
 
always use a push stick with table saws and band saws, never wear gloves when using a drill press or regular drill
 
the buffer will hurt you if you dont give it the respect it demands 100% of the time your useing it drill press will too if you like me have longish hair its ponytail and hat time in the shop.when useing the buffer and the disk grinder safety glasses and dust mask are going to give you a longer quality of life.anything that spins will pick up anything thats loose grab on to it and pull it in tuck in your shirt .
 
Helicopters on the drill press and buffers cause injuries quickly.

Fine dust causes lung disease slow and steady.

You can't grow new eyeballs.

Shops burn down.
 
Just keep in mind that your tools are designed to cut/grind metal quickly and efficiently... and you are made of meat.
 
Do not work when tired. After 35 years of being a craftsman I have never had a bad accident due to following this piece of advise
 
Don Hanson III said:
I get a late start in the morning, take a long lunch, then knock off early. No accidents here. :cool:
Click to expand...

A solid 4 hours of work. I like your style.
Don I was gonna pm you but it seems I've lost the privelege. Are you going to the BAM conference this weekend in Sedalia?
 
Keep a safe distance from the angle grinder and don't wear a loose shirt. I was trying to get overtop of a piece of steel I was cutting a blank from, the grinder kicked back and caught my shirt. It went through and about 1/4" in just below my sternum. I pulled out, and it sucked it self back in at a different angle before I could get it shut off. I now have a nice V shaped scar on my chest. Just keep everything a safe distance away from your body, and know that it might kick and know where it will kick to when it does.
 
Ditto on buffers... Even with the most diligent care and attention, they will still bite... They are just evil by nature!
 
Even 90 degree corner on a piece of steel can cut you.... the corner from freshly surface ground steel can cut like a microtome. -Doug
 
viral said:
A solid 4 hours of work. I like your style.
Don I was gonna pm you but it seems I've lost the privelege. Are you going to the BAM conference this weekend in Sedalia?
Click to expand...

I probably wont make it to BAM. I'm running behind for the Blade show and it's Fishin Season! :cool:
 
Make sure your tools and outlets are properly grounded. Along that same vein, carbon fiber dust and metal dust are good conductors of electricity. Keep your shop clean.

Don't wear gloves or long sleeves around anything that rotates, spins, or has teeth.

Do all drilling and buffing BEFORE you sharpen the blade. In fact, sharpening should be the last thing you do.

Wear your respirator and safety glasses.

Keep a fire extinguisher or two handy.

Keep your belts, blades, and other cutting tools sharp.
 
Wear a hat and eye protection on the belt. When one let's go it can give you a nasty Mohawk...

I have a YouTube video somewhere showing off a kitchen Knife I sharpened. Slicing free hanging 10 layers of newspaper held in the left hand. I took the entire top off a knuckle doing that. Wear gloves....

Never dump any chemicals in together if you aren't up on your basic chemistry... You should be disposing of responsibly anyway...

Never walk off from a lit propane forge.

Even if you can't throw knives, your grinder can... (credit to someone else here... Can't remember who...)

Lastly, can't remember who mentioned this first either but I've had it happen:
Never grind in shorts, especially if you have a dog in the shop........
Same goes for getting up late to pee. Make sure the dog is out....

I have a million more hard lessons, so do these other guys... Pain is a good teacher, but you're asking, and that's a good thing. Basically exactly what this forum is for. Make no mistake, we use dangerous things to make dangerous things...

Cheers,
Eric
 
...If you're going to grind metal or use a cutting disc, get goggles that seal around your eyes. About a month ago I was using an angle grinder and I had safety specs AND a faceshield on and still got a shard in my eye. $300 later and 2 optometry appointments later the eye is fine. After getting the shard drilled out of my eye (man those docs have steady hands...) I went to the tool store and spent another $25 on goggles....

DON'T SKIMP WHEN IT COMES TO EYE PROTECTION!!!!

just my 2 pesos.....
 
I've been doing metal work for about 38 years now, and only one tool has sent me to the doctor- and that tool has sent me to the doctor four times.
Hand held grinder.
First three were for grit in my eye- the first time I was young and dumb, the second I was in a hurry, the third time I was doing everything right and still got a shard past the safety gear. Fourth time was a work piece that wasn't adequately secured, that spun back and mangled and almost amputated one of my best guitar playing fingers.
Any of the other tools can do the same- if you wear a hoodie, go cut any of those tie strings off RIGHT NOW.
 
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