Domino Draws Blood!

[Hastings]

First of all it was only a nick, requiring a band aid? but it could have been worse.

I am used to having the domino cutter bury itself in the work piece. I am so used to this that I tend to hook my thumb round the "T" handle and press against the work piece with my fingers. This ensures that the Domino is tight and square to the work.

The other day I was cutting holes to hold the face frame to the carcass. Well, it was a though cut (my first!) and as a plunged for the cut it nicked the end of my middle finger.

I was so used to plunging the cutter into the wood, that it never occurred to me that the cutter would be exposed. The lesson is to think about the cutter position before making the cut.

The Domino is very safe and I was lucky, it might have been worse.

Be safe!

Hastings

 

[Brent b]

I guess that finger is going to be out of comission for a while.  Thanks for the cautionary tale, one can never hear to much.

 

[bruegf]

I did one thru cut when I made my Sysport.  I had one mortice that was very slightly out of position so I recut it and forgot to change the depth from the setting I used on the bottom panel to the depth I used on the side panels and went right thru.  Luckily I had my finger just off to the side or I would have zipped off a 1/4" or so.  Now I make sure I keep my fingers somewhere safe even though I know it won't go thru....

Glad to hear it wasn't a serious injury.

Fred

 

[Les]

Wonder how long it will be before someone get caught by the oscillating mechanism? ??? :'( I've come too close.

 

[CharlesWilson]

I have made some intentional through cuts into plywood when I created a routing template for a project. Had to make sure that I had a thick enough piece underneath so the MFT remained undamaged.

Charles

 

[woodshopdemos]

Hastings,
  I am glad it was only a minor cut. It is a good  reminder for all of us. I found out in a similar manner the very first week I had it...and from that point on, I do exactly the same as if I am using a pneumatic finish nailer in particle core boards.  That nail can take and will take some violent turns before it finds your finger. Getting to teach Elena, Andrea and others here, it is simpler to teach them (and me) over caution.