What do you get when you combine a bastard file, and a dull and chipped machete?

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
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What do you get when you take a nice sharp file, and old dull and chipped machete and too much haste too early in the morning? How about a cut from the top of your thumb running down the side of your thumbnail (and perpendicular to it) to the bottom of the nail! Yeah, basically split my thumb in half. Bitch of it is I was going to put a handle on the file, but I needed to cut up the brush first, so I went ahead and sharpened the machete.

Oh well, its going to take at least a week to close up though, and thats not going to be fun in the least; but at least I have a lot of days off throughout the holiday, so I won't get too much grease in there. Maybe one of these days I'll either learn to be more careful or wuss out and start getting stitches....nah...
 
Been there, Done That, Got the Scar. I did the exact same thing more than few years back. 10 stitches, worst part was they didn't want to remove the nail, even though it was almost sliced to the top, so it ended up real jagged for a while and would catch on anything. The scar does make the basis of a great story. Steven
 
If you take a piece of 2"x2" copper, brass, or aluminum sheet metal and drill a hole that fits the tang of the file you can slip it on the tang then in to the handle. It acts in the same manner a Guard on a butcher steel does. I use 14-18 gauge for these guards. Carbon or stainless will also work but do more damage to the edge if you do run in to it. You are also safer with a handle on it, it reduces the risk of impaling your palm or wrist with the tang. In the past i have also lost a good chunk of skin in the same manner, on an old hickory. Stay safe. Joe
 
I typically sharpen away from the edge ot establish a sharp edge and towards it when removing a burr. Unfortunately I was in the burr removal phase earlier... Oh well, cut up a 1.5" diameter stick, drilled a hole and lightly tapped the file into place; I shouldn't have this (painful) mistake happening again!
 
I did something similar sharpening a khukri once. I was using one of those round 2 sided sharpening stones though, the ones that look kinda like a hockey puck. . . Yeah, not a pleasant experience. I was camping when it happened. Glad I always take a decent first aid kit.
 
I have cut myself sharpening machetes and bayonets like this maybe 5 times. It sure does hurt.
 
damn... I have done this EXACT thing... Sharpening a Cold Steel machete for my uncle with a file, and the file slipped and my thumb got cut right in the middle down into the thumbnail.

The absolute most painful cut I have ever gotten.
 
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