Unplug the Machine

[wfahey]

True Story

In middle school, like most guys, I took woodshop. The beginning of the year was spent learning all the names of the tools and their proper use. We then made checker boards, and tables and even learned to cast aluminum into an eagle and then frame it. We also had these huge wood lathes. Mind you, middle school was many years ago for me. To change speeds on these lathes you had to move the belt to different pulleys much the same way you do it on some of the lathes today but I remember this was a major undertaking and it was akin to trying to take the fan belt off of truck engine without loosening any bolts. You really had to work at it. Well, in middle school I was 6'4" tall and had to bend at the knees to get down to where I could get some leverage on the belt. While getting my fingers around the belt to move it to the next pulley, I managed to hit the "ON" button with my right knee. In about the time it took you to cringe at that comment, my hand was pulled through the pulley. Oh man did it hurt and it took everything I had not to ball my eyes out there in shop class. Once I got my composure back, I unplugged the machine. (Yeah, horse is out of the barn, let's close the gate)

Surprisingly, other than a really bad bruise under my thumbnail I was fine. But the lesson was driven into my head. I unplug everything now. I recently purchased a Jet mini lathe and anytime I mess with that little thing I unplug it. Even my table saw gets unplugged when not in use and I drape the cord over the handle to the fence.

[Seamus]

Had to have a little chuckle at that, the bit about trying to maintain your composure in front of your classmates, but it really is no laughing matter. As I mentioned before I have had one digit sewn back on again, so am careful.

However, one day my brother dropped a nine inch angle grinder off the roof, (plugged into an extension cord) it narrowly missed impaling me in the head and killing me outright, fell onto the on/off switch and proceeded to "chase" me around the yard jumping and lurching everywhere, so I guess it shows that even if YOU are careful, accidents can and do happen!