Three weeks ago I had my friend over to my house to help cut up a bunch of slab wood that I have. I don't heat with wood so I give it to him. I have a tractor mounted PTO powered buzz saw which as buzz saws go is a safer style that we have used for years always being as careful as possible because its still a very dangerous piece of equipment. Unfortunately no matter how careful you are accidents can happen. I've been playing the scene in my head a 1000 times and i still am not sure how it happened I think my buddy bumped the table exposing the blade. Anyways long story short I cut off 3 of my five fingers on my right hand. we are trying to save the pinky I will need a tendon replaced in it. Hopefully i will have at least 60 percent usage of it. As soon as it happened I took of running yelled at my friend to call 911, ran to the house to tell my girlfriend to call 911and to have my 14 year old son try to find my fingers. I told my buddy we need to find a tourniquet he grabbed a cinch strap and strapped it tight which probably saved my life. I had a ambulance to my house within 5 minutes fortunately there was a helicopter returning to base so they turned around to come get me I was in the air within 20 minutes of calling 911. The first thing I wanted to do was call my friend and tell him it was a accident it's not his fault, but he was a wreck and still is. I keep telling him not to blame himself which is easier said than done.
So now I am trying to adjust to being left handed, I definitely f'ed up my deer season, and fishing is going to take some getting used to. I love deepsea fishing and this is going to be really difficult. Through the whole ordeal I have been trying to stay as positive as possible which hasn't been the easiest thing to do but its better than the other option. I know many of us own or work with tools that can do the same damage so please be careful
Those things are dangerous. My dad was cutting wood with one and an uncle of his, always in a hurry shoved the log dad was holding into the blade cutting off his left hand totally. He ran our farm the remainder of his life like that. One hell of a tough man and good soul.
So sorry to hear this. I had a little incident with a table saw 12 years ago. The fingers on my left had are a mess but I still have them. Stay positive. It looks like some quick thinking has paid off but you have to stay positive.
3 weeks ago I managed to pinch my index finger in a wood splitter. I think the wood shifted and snagged my glove, pulling it in.
Luckily, my buddy, who was on the lever, had a premonition or something, because he let off the pressure in about 1/10 of a second. Ended up my finger, from the top joint up, slightly flattened and popped like a grape in 2 spots. Probably could have used a couple stitches but it stopped bleeding fast and we just kept working. No loss of sensation and it's completely healed now with just a lump of scar tissue.
I was lucky - damned lucky. If he hadn't let off, it probably would have popped the joint off. My trigger finger, too.
Sorry to hear about your accident. You sound like you'll make good on it regardless. Thanks for the reminder.
Had an acquaintance send me a photo last summer of his mangled hand. Seems he'd been riding in the back of a side by side with his hands on the roll bar. Machine rolled over. Lost some fingers. He's adjusted.
Sounds like you , your kid and your friend did a great job not panicking and were able to get you into medical care quickly. Thats a big positive. That should improve your chances of recovery.
best of luck in your recovery.Good reminder to be extra careful.
I was standing by my buddy when he cut off 2 fingers in shop class. I remember picking up his fingers, He's regained around 80 per cent use of right hand- still bow hunts and fishes like a mad man and that was 40 years ago.
Really sorry to hear that. Here's wishing you the speediest and fullest recovery possible.
Back when I was working as a Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Specialist I shook hands with 3 fishermen in a row who were missing parts of their right hand. You too will overcome.
The older I get the less I want to be around dangerous things. I can't walk up to the edge of a cliff at all anymore. No more jumping off bridges, diving in rocky creeks, jumping dirtbikes, chasing blacktail deer into the cliffs.
Those old firewood saws are crazy dangerous. We cut firewood with one mounted on an old Ford 8N when I was a kid and my Father didn't let me near it. Having spent much of his life around spinning props, he was more careful than some around spinning saw blades.
Even when I was in the Emergency room I told my girlfriend that there are lot of people in there worse off than me. I told the doctor in the Emergency room don't let me die of Corona. When I went for a follow up there was a little girl missing everything from the elbow down so that helped put it in perspective
Been there. It will take a couple of weeks to get past the trauma then, you will adapt. Were the surgeons not able to re-attach any fingers or were they not viable? Either way, re-hab takes a while. GD
Two months ago a friend I grew up with lost his leg from above the knee. He was using an auger on the back of the tractor. He did something he wasn’t supposed to, and lost his leg for it.
My other friend was there to put on a tourniquet, or he probably would have bled out.
Hope you recover quickly. Could have been much worse!!!!
Even when I was in the Emergency room I told my girlfriend that there are lot of people in there worse off than me. I told the doctor in the Emergency room don't let me die of Corona. When I went for a follow up there was a little girl missing everything from the elbow down so that helped put it in perspective
You've got a good attitude. The event sucks, but the attitude helps.
Local lady I know here lost her whole foot about 3 weeks ago. Her husband moved the tractor forward instead of backward and pinned her lower leg to a tree with the angled front bucket. Moving machinery can be damn dangerous.
Three weeks ago I had my friend over to my house to help cut up a bunch of slab wood that I have. I don't heat with wood so I give it to him. I have a tractor mounted PTO powered buzz saw which as buzz saws go is a safer style that we have used for years always being as careful as possible because its still a very dangerous piece of equipment. Unfortunately no matter how careful you are accidents can happen. I've been playing the scene in my head a 1000 times and i still am not sure how it happened I think my buddy bumped the table exposing the blade. Anyways long story short I cut off 3 of my five fingers on my right hand. we are trying to save the pinky I will need a tendon replaced in it. Hopefully i will have at least 60 percent usage of it. As soon as it happened I took of running yelled at my friend to call 911, ran to the house to tell my girlfriend to call 911and to have my 14 year old son try to find my fingers. I told my buddy we need to find a tourniquet he grabbed a cinch strap and strapped it tight which probably saved my life. I had a ambulance to my house within 5 minutes fortunately there was a helicopter returning to base so they turned around to come get me I was in the air within 20 minutes of calling 911. The first thing I wanted to do was call my friend and tell him it was a accident it's not his fault, but he was a wreck and still is. I keep telling him not to blame himself which is easier said than done.
So now I am trying to adjust to being left handed, I definitely f'ed up my deer season, and fishing is going to take some getting used to. I love deepsea fishing and this is going to be really difficult. Through the whole ordeal I have been trying to stay as positive as possible which hasn't been the easiest thing to do but its better than the other option. I know many of us own or work with tools that can do the same damage so please be careful
Accidents can happen. I had a friend that was a high power electrician. He did hot taps on transformers all the time. My friend was the most careful person I know. He lost his right hand in an antique tractor accident. His hand got caught in the u-joint between the engine and transmission.
Irving, I walked a small part of the path you now travel. It’s a bitch, but it will get better in time. Give your guitar to the kids. Single shot break action guns will be your friend.
Been there. It will take a couple of weeks to get past the trauma then, you will adapt. Were the surgeons not able to re-attach any fingers or were they not viable? Either way, re-hab takes a while. GD
There was to much damage, my surgeon said most doctors would have taken my pinky as well
You're still here and that's the main thing. Level head and quick thinking in very stressful situations is a virtue. Well done.
Life does come at you fast and how you handle it is everything. This deer season will be different, but if you can type, you can hunt. And besides, being left handed isn't so bad, been doing it for 56 years now.
Dang, that is a punch in the guts. I sure feel for you. I hope you recover fast and adjust to being a left handed man but I can't tell you how sorry I am to read the news.
I didn't know what saw you were talking about, I just looked it up on youtube. I have done lots and lots of chainsaw work, plus circular saw work, but that pto powered saw really looks dangerous. Hang in there. Tough deal.
about the best thing about it is that it wasn't any worse than what it was.
to answer about life changing in a flash, i've worked for three, yes 3 different folks who had cut part of their hands off in their home cabinet shops. just got tired, and failed to pay attention.
i have worked for two different professional engineers who each took their own life. had everything, had it made, and walked away from it all. no answering what the Fates demand of us.
I'm sure once all is said and done, you can figure out a system to hold that salt water fishin' pole and get back after the big ones. And I bet you figure out a way to to hunt also.
Dang man, Hate to hear about the accident. It’s gonna be a rough time for you until your all healed up. Hang in there, it could always be worse. I know a gal that cut off three of her fingers with a Circular saw. All she has left is her thumb and index finger. She has learned to adapt to do just about anything she could before, even sewing. She doesn’t pay much mind to it anymore. It kinda scares the little kids that don’t know her though. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Prayer sent from south Jersey that you'll heal and overcome this injury, and adapt so you can continue to do the things you enjoy. When I was a teenager, I used to cut firewood with one of those saws running off an old Ford 8N. Always scared me.
I know what your mean, but in my case I was lucky. Last night as we were getting ready to head to bed, my wife asked what that mark was on the top of my right leg. I said it was a chain worm. She asked what is that. I told her it what happens when the chain on a Stihl 044 rips through two layers of Carhart double front pants and bruises, but doesn't cut the skin. It is a constant reminder that life is risky.
I wish you well on your recovery. I was always impressed by Ken Self who was the CEO of Freightliner Trucks in the 70s. His car crashed on an icy road and he lost his right arm. He adapted well and never let it slow him down. He had a great positive attitude and that will serve you well.
So sorry to hear of this. Thank God you are alive, not brain damaged, etc. Your attitude that it could be worse is a great start to overcoming this. Thank you for reminding us that you cannot be too careful around tools, guns, hell, even driving. Just that one warning may save someone else from tragedy someday. God bless you for doing your best to forgive your friend, and doing your best not to make a horrible event even worse.
Sorry to hear about your loss. I've had things happen this year to my family that forever changed us. I lost my son in front of me in May. Forever changed.
Very sorry to hear that, Irving. I cut off the ends of 2 of my fingers many, many years ago working in a cabinet shop when I was younger. The doc was able to sew them back on. If it's any consolation to you, I have full use of them now and can still type about 150 words a minute. Just a bit painful if I jam them straight on something.
Best of luck to you with your recovery, my friend.
Sorry to hear about your accident. You have some serious work ahead of you but you'll adapt and be doing all the things you love in no time! Your warning is a good eye opener and very timely in my case. Just this weekend, we had a small incident that could've been devastating because I let my wife use our battery-powered hedge trimmer and she ended up slicing the tip of her finger which required 3 stitches. That wasn't very bad in the big picture but realizing he easy she could've lost a finger too made me feel horrible for not reminding her to be careful and watch what she was doing! Thanks for putting this out there and hopefully it'll save others some needless pain and suffering!
I know what your mean, but in my case I was lucky. Last night as we were getting ready to head to bed, my wife asked what that mark was on the top of my right leg. I said it was a chain worm. She asked what is that. I told her it what happens when the chain on a Stihl 044 rips through two layers of Carhart double front pants and bruises, but doesn't cut the skin. It is a constant reminder that life is risky.
I wish you well on your recovery. I was always impressed by Ken Self who was the CEO of Freightliner Trucks in the 70s. His car crashed on an icy road and he lost his right arm. He adapted well and never let it slow him down. He had a great positive attitude and that will serve you well.
Do you think a pair of chaps might have helped that?
Do you wear them now?
They were required by the timber company I worked for when we went out to cut firewood. And for the loggin crews during regular work.
I’m sorry this happened to you. The fact that you are already mapping out in your mind how you move forward with doing the things you love is a good sign. Best wishes that you heal up well.
Honestly being on this forum and reading chit that can happen has taught me to slow down and be more careful. At 52 years old nothing needs to be rushed. Slow down and make a safe plan. Not judging OP situation. Just making a statement.
That sucks, my grandfather cut off three of his, and then developed Parkinson's (the tremor kind) to boot. Needless to say, food was everywhere after he ate. He already had the tremors when I was born, first time I never saw him shake was at his funeral. Messed me up pretty good.
I have a small hill I can't cut with my ztr, so I push mow it. I was letting the mower down the hill, pulling up and down, etc...and i slipped and my foot went under the deck, I must have been living right and nothing came of it. I plan on weedeatin that hill from now on. It worried me for hours afterwards.
Irving, thanks for the reminder about the way life can change so suddenly - points to carpe diem but more to living with some eye to the future. I am sorry to learn of your loss and the trauma involved - but three weeks into it and with your positive attitude and the resourcefulness you showed in the emergency, I have a feeling that you will do well.
A very dear friend of mine cut off a finger with a table saw when just a kid - he shook it off and has done everything - probably more - than most guys ever will. Have never heard hm complain - from day one when the finger went flying. Given my deep interests and career, fingers have been immensely important and I have had them into just about every type of machinery and dangerous stuff imaginable for over 80 years - and God has protected them for me. But, tomorrow ???
Prayer sent from south Jersey that you'll heal and overcome this injury, and adapt so you can continue to do the things you enjoy. When I was a teenager, I used to cut firewood with one of those saws running off an old Ford 8N. Always scared me.
This is a video I posted several years ago of my setup. After watching it just now it gave me chills watching how I handled the final cut of wood. Since then I have been much more careful but like I said even then accidents happen
Best of luck to you and sorry to hear that this happened. Sawmill advice: Never put your fingers anywhere you wouldn't put your dick. Keeping that in mind has saved me several times. Unfortunately, I got that advice after I ran my hand through a pineapple gear.
Thanks for the well wishes, I lost my index, middle, and ring finger. Overall I have been in very high spirits. I didn't have much ambition to buy a hunting license this year but after a week at deer camp relaxing and hanging out with the guys I am going to get back in the game, I figured out how to work the lever action and pull the trigger with my thumb with relative ease, my next step will be live ammo
My uncle, a dead shot with a 30-30 94 for deer and a scoped Marlin lever 22 squirrel rifle, lost the use of his right eye in the Korean conflict and became a dead shot left handed in one season.
My injury was a crushing, tearing thing. Virtually every bone in my right hand was broken and I lost 2/3 of the soft tissue on my hand. Two fingers were severed. One knuckle was broken off above and below and rotated 180 degrees. My wrist was crushed. The only thing untouched was my thumb although the first joint, at the base, was crushed and most of the web was missing. All in all, a bit of a mess. I had ten surgeries (bone grafts, skin grafts, pins and screws etc) over two months and nearly croaked from a gas gangrene infection. When I got out of the hospital, the first thing I did was take a rifle for a walk and started getting used to shooting left handed since it was plain I would never shoot right handed again. It was close to eight months before I could hold a pen to sign my name right handed. I remember having a discussion with the bank manager when they balked at cashing a check because my signature (signed left handed) didn't match. I believe I may have used the term dumass. I regained much of the feeling in my fingers after about two years and adapted to doing things a little differently; using my thumb to hook the brake lever on the motorcycle and run the throttle on the chainsaw. Casting left handed. I built an addition on our trailer house and tried to use what was left of my hand as much as possible. Went to work pulling lumber on the green chain at the mill. As the years passed, I did whatever I wanted to and ignored the injury as much as I could. I started motocross racing, I played men's league basketball, I resumed recreational boxing. I started gunsmithing professionally about three years after my injury and most will say I'm fairly capable. There are some things which bug me. I don't like shaking hands (Covid has helped in this regard!). It's hard to put a glove on. Scissors don't work left handed. I sometimes dream I can open my hand up and it's always a disappointment when I wake up and can't. I have still, after 47 years, have never bought a LH rifle or action and still shoot RH rifles off the left shoulder. When I shoot prone, with a sling, I wallow around like a scrawny hog between shots but I get it done. I like single shots! Now, in my seventies, my whole body hurts so I don't even notice the pain in my hand anymore. Being old and having poor eyesight is more of a handicap than the hand ever was! Life is good. GD
The older I get the less I want to be around dangerous things. I can't walk up to the edge of a cliff at all anymore. No more jumping off bridges, diving in rocky creeks, jumping dirt bikes, chasing blacktail deer into the cliffs.
YEP I AGREE ! and for you young guys pick`in up a lady at a bar " which i did too in the old days " BEWARE.
Prayer sent from south Jersey that you'll heal and overcome this injury, and adapt so you can continue to do the things you enjoy. When I was a teenager, I used to cut firewood with one of those saws running off an old Ford 8N. Always scared me.
This is a video I posted several years ago of my setup. After watching it just now it gave me chills watching how I handled the final cut of wood. Since then I have been much more careful but like I said even then accidents happen
That's a lot like the set-up I used on the farm, minus the guard! In the winter months I'd take it out into the woods and cut firewood for the sweet potato hot-beds. Scary stuff for a 16 year old. Wonder what OSHA would've said? Hope your healing process is coming along.
Prayer sent from south Jersey that you'll heal and overcome this injury, and adapt so you can continue to do the things you enjoy. When I was a teenager, I used to cut firewood with one of those saws running off an old Ford 8N. Always scared me.
This is a video I posted several years ago of my setup. After watching it just now it gave me chills watching how I handled the final cut of wood. Since then I have been much more careful but like I said even then accidents happen
That's a lot like the set-up I used on the farm, minus the guard! In the winter months I'd take it out into the woods and cut firewood for the sweet potato hot-beds. Scary stuff for a 16 year old. Wonder what OSHA would've said? Hope your healing process is coming along.
Growing up we never had a guard or a tractor my dad would Jack up the car and put the belt around a wheel without the tire on it, scared the hell out of me. This one is a hell of a lot safer sometimes even that's not enough. The healing process has been going as good as it can go trying like hell to keep my spirits up which for the most part I have been pretty successful at
I have a younger brother who was born without his right hand, he laughed at me when I had shoulder surgery, but sat down and taught me how to tie my shoes with one hand, said you have to play the cards you are dealt...
Thanks for sharing your experience. It always helps to be reminded of how quickly things can go bad. I hope I can maintain my focus as necessary for whatever time Ive got left. I dont do ladders anymore--cost benefit analysis says no. Same with table saws. And motorcycles. Bicycles will be next. Guns are so easy by comparison--just point the muzzle in a safe direction and open the chamber. Good luck with your recovery!
My injury was a crushing, tearing thing. Virtually every bone in my right hand was broken and I lost 2/3 of the soft tissue on my hand. Two fingers were severed. One knuckle was broken off above and below and rotated 180 degrees. My wrist was crushed. The only thing untouched was my thumb although the first joint, at the base, was crushed and most of the web was missing. All in all, a bit of a mess. I had ten surgeries (bone grafts, skin grafts, pins and screws etc) over two months and nearly croaked from a gas gangrene infection. When I got out of the hospital, the first thing I did was take a rifle for a walk and started getting used to shooting left handed since it was plain I would never shoot right handed again. It was close to eight months before I could hold a pen to sign my name right handed. I remember having a discussion with the bank manager when they balked at cashing a check because my signature (signed left handed) didn't match. I believe I may have used the term dumass. I regained much of the feeling in my fingers after about two years and adapted to doing things a little differently; using my thumb to hook the brake lever on the motorcycle and run the throttle on the chainsaw. Casting left handed. I built an addition on our trailer house and tried to use what was left of my hand as much as possible. Went to work pulling lumber on the green chain at the mill. As the years passed, I did whatever I wanted to and ignored the injury as much as I could. I started motocross racing, I played men's league basketball, I resumed recreational boxing. I started gunsmithing professionally about three years after my injury and most will say I'm fairly capable. There are some things which bug me. I don't like shaking hands (Covid has helped in this regard!). It's hard to put a glove on. Scissors don't work left handed. I sometimes dream I can open my hand up and it's always a disappointment when I wake up and can't. I have still, after 47 years, have never bought a LH rifle or action and still shoot RH rifles off the left shoulder. When I shoot prone, with a sling, I wallow around like a scrawny hog between shots but I get it done. I like single shots! Now, in my seventies, my whole body hurts so I don't even notice the pain in my hand anymore. Being old and having poor eyesight is more of a handicap than the hand ever was! Life is good. GD
That really helped put it into perspective thanks for the insight I am glad life is good
Sorry to hear this! But! You can do this. I learned write left handed after my stroke, I shot left handed the first year. It will be hard but you can do it!
If anyone here saw me working a table saw they would laugh at me and call me a chicken chit. And, I am behind that blade.
When I was young I watched a 2x4 kick back miss my highly experienced grandfather's chest by 2 inches, and drive though the garage half way into the kitchen.
Wow! I just saw this. I don’t know how I missed it before but I’ve guess I’ve been outside a lot lately. I’m glad that you’re alive and you had the presence of mind to take care of business when needed. I wish you all the best with your healing. I’m so terribly right handed that if I lost any digits off my right hand I’d likely starve to death. 😁
"Growing up we never had a guard or a tractor my dad would Jack up the car and put the belt around a wheel without the tire on it, scared the hell out of me."
We had one of those when I grew up. It ran off a belt on what was even then an old John Deere two cylinder putt putt tractor with a hand clutch.
That thing terrified me. I can't remember if I was even a teenager yet when it became my job to "offbear" as my Dad called it. I had to build up some nerve to get close enough to grab the billets as they were cut off and throw them out of the way. lt seemed like my Dad was working way too fast for the danger involved but he died with all his appendages and I can't remember any injuries or even close calls.
It was always on my mind that someone would trip and fall into the blade.
I can still hear the whine of that blade as it worked through the oak and hickory logs. And the way that two cylinder engine would bog down on the bigger stuff.
I'm sure Mother held her breath until she heard the tractor stop.
Hope you recover and learn to get along. Like my brother-in-law said about prostate surgery: "Life will be different but you'll get used to it" He did and so have I.
Life is bigger than fingers but I'd sure hate to lose them!
Sorry to hear about your loss. I've had things happen this year to my family that forever changed us. I lost my son in front of me in May. Forever changed.
I can't fathom that, its terrible when a parent outlives a child but to have that happen you have my deepest sympathy so sorry for your loss
Sorry to hear about your loss. I've had things happen this year to my family that forever changed us. I lost my son in front of me in May. Forever changed.
