Top ten (or more) dangerous tools and anecdotes thereof
Discussion
FoxtrotOscar1 said:
WinstonWolf said:
FFS, wear earplugs when welding! You really don't want me to post the picture of what can happen if you don't 
I weld weekly.... Theres something very strange about hearing your own ear hair sizzling. Get the pics up Winny!Please wear earplugs...
FoxtrotOscar1 said:
Jeeeez! That must have been pretty grim.
More grim than wearing ear plugs!In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
jas xjr said:
Falling from ladders and steps has been a problem for me. I no longer use a chainsaw. A few years ago I fell of a ladder whilst using a chainsaw.
Oh that reminds me - I had to cut down a 12" diameter conifer that went up around 6 feet and then had been bent over and grown parallel to the ground for around 20'For various reasons I decided to stand on the conifer and cut through the branches and then log it whilst it was "standing"
I was happily standing in the mass of branches and clearing them when I slipped - falling chainsaw first towards the ground
I decided I didn't want to land on the saw so I held it with my arm out stretched and consequently my shoulder took the brunt of the fall
An aching shoulder for a few days - was a good result IMO
Although I've got away with far riskier activities in the past, I decided I wouldn't climb with a chainsaw again
WinstonWolf said:
More grim than wearing ear plugs!
In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
Just normal foam earplugs? Or are there heat proof ones?In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
Flibble said:
WinstonWolf said:
More grim than wearing ear plugs!
In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
Just normal foam earplugs? Or are there heat proof ones?In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
ked if I'm welding these days 
I would have thought the foam ones would be fine, you just want to stop spatter getting to the ear drum. It's a freak accident I know, but still best avoided...
Suspension spring compressors - fking lethal!
Had one of these let go when I was doing a 406 shock change. 406 springs are looooooooong, and the top has a locating peg which is basically an inch long spike.
So this spring compressor lets go - I wasn't bending over it so not sure what happened, but it went off like a bomb; colossal bang and then a huge impact in my face - I can only describe it as being hit in the face by a very well swung sledgehammer. WHAM!
I was very lucky - it hit the upper right side of my face and the thick ridge of bone above my eye took the brunt of it. It missed my nose. If it's hit my cheek, nose or jaw it would have destroyed my face.
Also l was luckiy with the locating "spike" - somehow that missed my eye and my skull. The gods were truly looking after me that day.
I ended up having an ambulance ride to hospital (paramedics were gobsmacked I'd got away with it), lots of blood, eyebrow cut right through to the bone etc. I was very much in shock too - kept bursting into tears in A&E. I don't usually bruise but the black eyes I had were spectacular.
I had to have internal and external stitches and whoever fixed me up did an amazing job as the scar is very subtle indeed. It took years for me to get any sensation back on the right side of my forehead though.
king lethal!Had one of these let go when I was doing a 406 shock change. 406 springs are looooooooong, and the top has a locating peg which is basically an inch long spike.
So this spring compressor lets go - I wasn't bending over it so not sure what happened, but it went off like a bomb; colossal bang and then a huge impact in my face - I can only describe it as being hit in the face by a very well swung sledgehammer. WHAM!
I was very lucky - it hit the upper right side of my face and the thick ridge of bone above my eye took the brunt of it. It missed my nose. If it's hit my cheek, nose or jaw it would have destroyed my face.
Also l was luckiy with the locating "spike" - somehow that missed my eye and my skull. The gods were truly looking after me that day.
I ended up having an ambulance ride to hospital (paramedics were gobsmacked I'd got away with it), lots of blood, eyebrow cut right through to the bone etc. I was very much in shock too - kept bursting into tears in A&E. I don't usually bruise but the black eyes I had were spectacular.
I had to have internal and external stitches and whoever fixed me up did an amazing job as the scar is very subtle indeed. It took years for me to get any sensation back on the right side of my forehead though.
Another one from me - angle grinder.
Not what you think, though. I was using an angle grinder on some steel, correctly wearing gloves and goggles.
After the job I rubbed my eye and somehow ended up rubbing in three shards of steel.
I thought these would just come out on their own. However three days later with my eye totally red and full of blood I ended up going down to A&E at 11pm! Total credit to them - they had a proper full on eye specialist out of bed and with me in 20 minutes.
Ended up with my head being secured in a frame and having needles of marker dye and anaesthetic being stuck in my eyeball I am VERY squeamish about this - it's why I can't wear contacts.
They then had to "dig" the metal fragments out of my eyeball with needles.
Great job by dedicated people. Lesson - don't touch your eyes until you KNOW your hands are properly clean.
Not what you think, though. I was using an angle grinder on some steel, correctly wearing gloves and goggles.
After the job I rubbed my eye and somehow ended up rubbing in three shards of steel.
I thought these would just come out on their own. However three days later with my eye totally red and full of blood I ended up going down to A&E at 11pm! Total credit to them - they had a proper full on eye specialist out of bed and with me in 20 minutes.
Ended up with my head being secured in a frame and having needles of marker dye and anaesthetic being stuck in my eyeball
I am VERY squeamish about this - it's why I can't wear contacts.They then had to "dig" the metal fragments out of my eyeball with needles.
Great job by dedicated people. Lesson - don't touch your eyes until you KNOW your hands are properly clean.
WinstonWolf said:
More grim than wearing ear plugs!
In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
Oooh, I've just had a nasty cholesteatoma removed too - not as bad as yours by the sound of it, but removal did require a hole in my skull rather than just an approach through the ear canal. Mine destroyed the taste nerve to one side of my tongue, as well as the bones in my middle ear, but a titanium implant and a new eardrum have restored my hearing, plus I won't die from a brain abscess :-)In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
So can heartily recommend (a) wearing earplugs when welding, and (b) going to see an ENT specialist if you start to go gradually deaf in one ear...
pete said:
WinstonWolf said:
More grim than wearing ear plugs!
In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
Oooh, I've just had a nasty cholesteatoma removed too - not as bad as yours by the sound of it, but removal did require a hole in my skull rather than just an approach through the ear canal. Mine destroyed the taste nerve to one side of my tongue, as well as the bones in my middle ear, but a titanium implant and a new eardrum have restored my hearing, plus I won't die from a brain abscess :-)In short, weld spatter scars the eardrum and normal skin gets inside, this grows into a non cancerous tumour which erodes everything in its path. Mine ate my eardrum, the small bones in the ear, the base of my skull, the wall of my ear canal and was attached to my facial nerve, balance organs, the cartoid artery and had uncovered the lining of my brain.
I feel a bit like Baz Luhrman, but wear earplugs
So can heartily recommend (a) wearing earplugs when welding, and (b) going to see an ENT specialist if you start to go gradually deaf in one ear...
I went in for another TORP (my first one failed) but they found loads of cholesteatoma so dug that out instead. I forgot to mention the CSF leak that I'd been feeling for years Hopefully get my hearing aid retuned today to see me through another year then it's back for another ear off check and new TORP. It's amazing what they can do!
Do you think we've convinced them to wear ear plugs?
Top work Gents, nice "character building" stuff and plenty to talk about at the pub.
The gruesome quotient is ramping up to teeth itching and ball twitching levels.
So the top 10, and I stand to be corrected or you can provide your own / add to it.
1, Arc welding - because of Mr Wolf's ear and an earlier report of arc-eye blindness. The EAR picture FFS!
2, Angle grinder - because of eyeball needle gouging (me included, having has this done twice over the years)
3, Blunt force trauma i.e. hitting fingers howsoever caused - because sticking red hot paper clips etc through the nail to "relieve the pressure".
4, Chainsaws - because we have all read the stories and seen the films.
5, Ladders - good call, and also a big hand to gravity in general.
6, Angle grinder again - because the first cut is the deepest.
7, Drills (see also finger nails)
8, Bladed objects and sharp things in general - "Ooo what is that warm sticky stuff -looks down- oh, my claret is leaking out".
9, (New entry) Coil spring compressors. Always makes me wince when winding them up.
10, The tool holding the tool.
Feel free to add / subtract and adjust.
The gruesome quotient is ramping up to teeth itching and ball twitching levels.
So the top 10, and I stand to be corrected or you can provide your own / add to it.
1, Arc welding - because of Mr Wolf's ear and an earlier report of arc-eye blindness. The EAR picture FFS!
2, Angle grinder - because of eyeball needle gouging (me included, having has this done twice over the years)
3, Blunt force trauma i.e. hitting fingers howsoever caused - because sticking red hot paper clips etc through the nail to "relieve the pressure".
4, Chainsaws - because we have all read the stories and seen the films.
5, Ladders - good call, and also a big hand to gravity in general.
6, Angle grinder again - because the first cut is the deepest.
7, Drills (see also finger nails)
8, Bladed objects and sharp things in general - "Ooo what is that warm sticky stuff -looks down- oh, my claret is leaking out".
9, (New entry) Coil spring compressors. Always makes me wince when winding them up.
10, The tool holding the tool.
Feel free to add / subtract and adjust.
Another from me and an ode to gravity.
Due to the great rigger boot weld spatter burn saga of '92, I took to wearing carpet slippers whilst in the garage.
One day an inner CV joint rolled off the bench and landed on my toes which was protected only by tarten carpet slipper cloth. Oh, how it hurt!
Due to the great rigger boot weld spatter burn saga of '92, I took to wearing carpet slippers whilst in the garage.
One day an inner CV joint rolled off the bench and landed on my toes which was protected only by tarten carpet slipper cloth. Oh, how it hurt!
Not got a pic because it was not me, but I saw the result....
Imagine if you will a nice bandsaw. Then imagine someone sliding the wood along to get a lovely cut, but for reasons which are unclear but may be related to lunchtime drinking, continue to push the wood with their hand in the way. The saw made a wonderfully clean cut from wrist (outside) to the gap between thumb and first finger.......
Imagine if you will a nice bandsaw. Then imagine someone sliding the wood along to get a lovely cut, but for reasons which are unclear but may be related to lunchtime drinking, continue to push the wood with their hand in the way. The saw made a wonderfully clean cut from wrist (outside) to the gap between thumb and first finger.......
colin_p said:
Top work Gents, nice "character building" stuff and plenty to talk about at the pub.
The gruesome quotient is ramping up to teeth itching and ball twitching levels.
So the top 10, and I stand to be corrected or you can provide your own / add to it.
1, Arc welding - because of Mr Wolf's ear and an earlier report of arc-eye blindness. The EAR picture FFS!
2, Angle grinder - because of eyeball needle gouging (me included, having has this done twice over the years)
3, Blunt force trauma i.e. hitting fingers howsoever caused - because sticking red hot paper clips etc through the nail to "relieve the pressure".
4, Chainsaws - because we have all read the stories and seen the films.
5, Ladders - good call, and also a big hand to gravity in general.
6, Angle grinder again - because the first cut is the deepest.
7, Drills (see also finger nails)
8, Bladed objects and sharp things in general - "Ooo what is that warm sticky stuff -looks down- oh, my claret is leaking out".
9, (New entry) Coil spring compressors. Always makes me wince when winding them up.
10, The tool holding the tool.
Feel free to add / subtract and adjust.
That ear pic was the non-gruesome one, I've not posted the pic of the hole it eroded in my skull The gruesome quotient is ramping up to teeth itching and ball twitching levels.
So the top 10, and I stand to be corrected or you can provide your own / add to it.
1, Arc welding - because of Mr Wolf's ear and an earlier report of arc-eye blindness. The EAR picture FFS!
2, Angle grinder - because of eyeball needle gouging (me included, having has this done twice over the years)
3, Blunt force trauma i.e. hitting fingers howsoever caused - because sticking red hot paper clips etc through the nail to "relieve the pressure".
4, Chainsaws - because we have all read the stories and seen the films.
5, Ladders - good call, and also a big hand to gravity in general.
6, Angle grinder again - because the first cut is the deepest.
7, Drills (see also finger nails)
8, Bladed objects and sharp things in general - "Ooo what is that warm sticky stuff -looks down- oh, my claret is leaking out".
9, (New entry) Coil spring compressors. Always makes me wince when winding them up.
10, The tool holding the tool.
Feel free to add / subtract and adjust.
(Wear ear protection!)
WinstonWolf said:
That ear pic was the non-gruesome one, I've not posted the pic of the hole it eroded in my skull
(Wear ear protection!)
I really don’t want to do this and apologise in advance, but, I can’t help myself.(Wear ear protection!)
Weren’t you the inspiration for the famous Desmond Dekker song-
‘Me ears are alight’.
GAjon said:
WinstonWolf said:
That ear pic was the non-gruesome one, I've not posted the pic of the hole it eroded in my skull
(Wear ear protection!)
I really don’t want to do this and apologise in advance, but, I can’t help myself.(Wear ear protection!)
Weren’t you the inspiration for the famous Desmond Dekker song-
‘Me ears are alight’.
Jasandjules said:
Not got a pic because it was not me, but I saw the result....
Imagine if you will a nice bandsaw. Then imagine someone sliding the wood along to get a lovely cut, but for reasons which are unclear but may be related to lunchtime drinking, continue to push the wood with their hand in the way. The saw made a wonderfully clean cut from wrist (outside) to the gap between thumb and first finger.......
Oh FFS.Imagine if you will a nice bandsaw. Then imagine someone sliding the wood along to get a lovely cut, but for reasons which are unclear but may be related to lunchtime drinking, continue to push the wood with their hand in the way. The saw made a wonderfully clean cut from wrist (outside) to the gap between thumb and first finger.......
Screwdriver
I was removing a window opener at a friend's house, I'd done many others, remove the 6 screws then give the opener a tug as they have been in for many years
I removed the screws and as I was about to pull it out, the friend came into he room and spoke to me - I looked up and answered
The window decided to make break for freedom and fell forwards
I had a whack that knocked my glasses off and then to my eye
When I opened my eye - just black - with my good eye, I saw my friend turn white as blood squirted out.
Long story short it turned out the metal hinge had gone into my eye and after depositing various shards of metal, cut the inside of my eyelid, my eye was undamaged.
8 stitches inside your eyelid under local anesthetic isn't much fun
It's less fun when the idiot leaves the knot digging into your eye - in fact that was the most painful part of the whole experience
I was removing a window opener at a friend's house, I'd done many others, remove the 6 screws then give the opener a tug as they have been in for many years
I removed the screws and as I was about to pull it out, the friend came into he room and spoke to me - I looked up and answered
The window decided to make break for freedom and fell forwards
I had a whack that knocked my glasses off and then to my eye
When I opened my eye - just black - with my good eye, I saw my friend turn white as blood squirted out.
Long story short it turned out the metal hinge had gone into my eye and after depositing various shards of metal, cut the inside of my eyelid, my eye was undamaged.
8 stitches inside your eyelid under local anesthetic isn't much fun
It's less fun when the idiot leaves the knot digging into your eye - in fact that was the most painful part of the whole experience
V8RX7 said:
Screwdriver
I was removing a window opener at a friend's house, I'd done many others, remove the 6 screws then give the opener a tug as they have been in for many years
I removed the screws and as I was about to pull it out, the friend came into he room and spoke to me - I looked up and answered
The window decided to make break for freedom and fell forwards
I had a whack that knocked my glasses off and then to my eye
When I opened my eye - just black - with my good eye, I saw my friend turn white as blood squirted out.
Long story short it turned out the metal hinge had gone into my eye and after depositing various shards of metal, cut the inside of my eyelid, my eye was undamaged.
8 stitches inside your eyelid under local anesthetic isn't much fun
It's less fun when the idiot leaves the knot digging into your eye - in fact that was the most painful part of the whole experience
I think I may have been usurped I was removing a window opener at a friend's house, I'd done many others, remove the 6 screws then give the opener a tug as they have been in for many years
I removed the screws and as I was about to pull it out, the friend came into he room and spoke to me - I looked up and answered
The window decided to make break for freedom and fell forwards
I had a whack that knocked my glasses off and then to my eye
When I opened my eye - just black - with my good eye, I saw my friend turn white as blood squirted out.
Long story short it turned out the metal hinge had gone into my eye and after depositing various shards of metal, cut the inside of my eyelid, my eye was undamaged.
8 stitches inside your eyelid under local anesthetic isn't much fun
It's less fun when the idiot leaves the knot digging into your eye - in fact that was the most painful part of the whole experience
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