[Colin_Partridge]

Hi Gang,
I was wondering if any of you do like me. Last night I was in the workshop and trying to watch the boxing on TV while I carved. Well as usual when I get distracted is when I cut myself. Just finished stropping my favorite knife and was carving a cane segment when all of a sudden I sliced through my idex finger of my left hand. Watching TV when I should have been watching what I was doing. (No I wasent wearing a glove, I should but I dont like them.) Well I grabbed a rag tied it around the finger, applied pressure for a few minutes to get the bleeding stopped. Then put on the bandaid and continued carving. Minutes later I was into the painting stage. Good job it was a Santa, you guessed it the blood was coming through the bandaid. So remembering my first aid dont take off the initial bandage. I put another over the top, and continued on carving. Minutes later same thing so on with another bandaid. This time it finally stopped, but I continued on carving. Probably looking at it this morning should have had stitches but I never do that. Emergency waiting rooms are too packed and I dont want to stop carving. One time lat year I was carving a huge spirit and stood back to admire my work and the chainsaw was running too rich and took a huge piece out of my left thigh. No again didnt want to go to the hospital, just got it stopped bleeding put on a huge elastoplast and finished the carving. ( I have a beautiful scar now). I was just wondering if I was the only one that does this or is there anyone out there like me. I always ask myself the question "Whats the best use of my time right now?") and its never to go to the hospital because I dont want to waste all that carving time.
Colin

[Clifford_Parker]

Originally Posted by colin_partridge

Hi Gang,
One time lat year I was carving a huge spirit and stood back to admire my work and the chainsaw was running too rich and took a huge piece out of my left thigh. No again didnt want to go to the hospital, just got it stopped bleeding put on a huge elastoplast and finished the carving. ( I have a beautiful scar now). I was just wondering if I was the only one that does this or is there anyone out there like me. I always ask myself the question "Whats the best use of my time right now?") and its never to go to the hospital because I dont want to waste all that carving time.
Colin

LMAO!! And I though I was the King of "clean, wrap it, tape it, and go back to work". I think if I got myself with a chainsaw I would have swallowed my machismo and gone to the ER. (sawdust, oil, etc. could make for a nasty infection) But ya never know I might have done the same if I was "in the zone". I skinned the end of my finger on a table saw once and did the same. I figured that the most the docs could do was trim the skin, clean it, and bandage it so why pay them when I could do it and get back to work faster?

[AlArchie]

Yup, been there, done that. Worst case was when I was a kid (didn't like docs, even then) I opened my thumb up with a hand axe (like my knives, razor sharp) right under the nail, from center tip to past the first knuckle, and right to the bone. Let it bleed a lot, doused in peroxide, then bandged and taped it up. It was such a clean cut that in about two days it had healed enough to take the main bandages off and go to a couple bandaids. Fortunately most of my cuts now are "nicks" and rarely even require a bandaid.

Al

[Nancy_G]

Been there - done that -- left index finger.

[GaryMc]

Hehe, I am in the same school! Just 2 weeks ago I stuck my left hand knuckle in my bandsaw, like to took the top of my middle finger knuckle off. PuT bandaid on it and kept on. Only thing I always do is pour Hydorgen Peroxide in any wounds to kill infection. My knuckle is just about healed now, probably would have gotten 3- 4 stiches if I went to Doctor. Oh Well!
GaryMc

[Paul_Guraedy]

This thread really struck home to me. Day before yesterday I was at my brother's air conditioning business (looking for some free squirrel cages for blowers for my carving room) when one of his workers came in complaining about his hand. He had gotten cut on some sheet metal and had treated it with hydrogen peroxide. Must have not been enough because infection set in. Now he is in the hospital, on intravenous anitbiotic and they "think" they can save his hand.

I too avoid going to the docs for cuts that I deem minor (not sure if it is that I am afraid I'm overreacting, embarrassed at the cut if it is from carving, or just can't be bothered). Probably won't change my ways but will be very cognizant of any sign of infection

[Mike-in-WV]

Yep, Got more than my share of scares where there should have been stitches.

One thing we all should keep up to date is our Tetanus shots.Never know whats in or on some of the wood we carve and sticking ourselves arfter carving on some of it could really lead to problems.
Also anyone who is on heart meds like Plavix or strong asperin every day should really be careful. You will bleed much more then the average bear,Lol. Believe me I know and I have seen how bad I bleed from just a small cut.If you take a med called Cuminum you should not be carving at all. Mike

[Hugh]

Got to tell my cut finger story as well. My printer ran out of ink last evening, grabbed a new cartridge, tried tearing off the seal, no go, took my fingernail clippers and opened the hook attachment, and ripped through the plastic, and right through my index finger. gave it a good rip. I can cut myself in my sleep. But I do have a tube of polysporin to cover the cut before covering it. I'm afraid of the flesh eating virus. I've fallen several times this winter, and where I'm not cut, I'm sore from falling. It comes with old age apparently.

[squbrigg]

If I stopped to go to the ER every time I cut a didget, I'd never get any carving done! Lots of bandaids kept handy, a good first aid kit in the house and another in the car. Hydrogen Peroxide to clean it, Polysporin to help healing and butterfly closures for anything big. Enough needles and thread from my ship rigging to even stitch if I have to. Tools are kept sharp and clean, and I clean out the cuts well. Have done enough first aid in my time on others to know the ropes, and keep my shots up.

A chain saw.....I stay away from! Saw too many cuts from those to mess with one carving, and I'm real careful around my big bandsaw. Labeled it "Meat Saw" just to remind me.

Bob

[AlArchie]

I've cut myself more on the bandsaw than the table saw. At least the table saw SOUNDS like it means business, and thus demands respect. The darn bandsaw just sits there and HUMMS! gives on a real false sense of security!

Al