Don't forget your safety glasses!

[Rufnek100]

Not really a discussion on a specific tool, but since the event occurred on my table saw I'm posting it here. I bet most of us have probably had a similar close call somewhere along the way, but I wanted to share my experience as a testament to always wearing the proper safety equipment in the shop. Fortunately for myself I get to write about it as a "close call".

I recently obtained some great pieces of 200 year old reclaimed antique cypress for a coffee table project and was told that it had already been de-nailed. A visual inspection seemed to confirm this as well. As you can imagine, I was in the process of ripping a piece to width and came across an embedded nail buried about 3" in from the edge. The inevitable sparks, metal, and carbide shower ensued and I felt a few pieces bounce off the lenses of my safety glasses that I was thankfully wearing.

Fortunately, this lesson only cost me a new saw blade and not anything else. And a Lumber Wizard metal detector is in the same box as the new blade, which is arriving today. I can't begin to explain how lucky I am and wanted to share this. I'm a little embarrassed after the fact that I should have known better when using reclaimed lumber (In God we trust, all others verify), but if someone reads this and it saves them from a similar incident then it's worth it.

Don't forget your eye protection in the shop, I'm living proof.

 

[Billedis]

Thank you for this important reminder.  Bill

 

[deepcreek]

Glad you're okay.

I always appreciate these real world public service announcements.

They help me keep my guard up.  It's so easy to let things lapse.

Safety first!

 

[gkaiseril]

Also a reason to get and use a metal detector before cutting any reclaimed wood or wood that may have been nailed or stapled.

 

[Stone Message]

What was it that Norm always said? "... and always wear these safety glasses."

I was playing racket ball a few years ago and turned to see where my opponent was going to hit the ball only to get the ball at full power in my eye. Luckily I was wearing (US military insisted anyway) my safety glasses but even so the force was enough to sink the frame of the glasses, around my right eye, into my face. A few stitches were nothing compared to the potential loss of an eye.

Peter

 

[Rufnek100]

Thanks for the support and to be honest, I had viewed the metal detector as a fancy gadget that I would "get around to picking up at some point" when I wasn't spending money on green tools. Instead, I now see it as a critical piece of shop safety equipment.

Fortunately, I work in a heavy equipment sector of industry and the PPE is something I've seen more than one person firsthand avoid serious incident by utilizing - the key is taking that mentality home.

 

[mouppe]

Peter that's so true. I used to play squash and I wouldn't walk on the court without glasses. Often it was a swinging racquet that was more dangerous than a ball as well.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=14pt]

Glad you are OK, a very timely reminder to everyone.

Further tips regarding metal in reclaimed timber.

After using the metal detector and nail pulling, I also rim the hole with a drill and then vacuum to remove metal splinters. This is particularly important if there was servere rust. I also recheck timber before every machining and tool stage.

 

[#Tee]

i neeeeeed the festool glasses thats been discontinued??

 

[stvrowe]

Good safety reminder.  My wife works for 3 Ophthalmologists and many would be surprised at how often eye injuries occur that could have been prevented by simply wearing safety glasses. 

 

[Rufnek100]

As an update, the metal detector came today and revealed about 4 more nails I hadn't yet found. After digging them out, I finished the rest of my machining without incident (still wearing my safety glasses of course!).

I'm a true believer in the merits of using a metal detector from now on.

 

[Kev]

This is why I alway blab on about safety with table saws not being about the technology - it's about safey measures, equipment, precautions, safe practices, etc.

That spinning blade is a massive source of energy! [eek]

 

[Jeff2413]

I'm with you on the safety glasses thing.  I build a lot of stuff from reclaimed barn lumber.  Mostly oak and chestnut here in Ohio and I don't care how careful you are you are going to hit some nails that you missed upon inspection.  Don't chose your best  blades for working with this stuff and always, always keep your eyes covered. 

As I've gotten older and less dumb, I try to keep a pair on my eyes, or at the very least on my body at all times (as well as a pair of ear plugs around my neck).  Last year I was cutting some glazing bead for a mile or so of wainscot I had done and had an awakening.  Had my stop set up and was cutting away and POP!  Kapex zinged a small pc of the material and it hit me in the eye brow.  Like a little reminder that my eyes were targets for flying debris.  Just an inch or so and my eye would have been trashed.  I don't know about you guys but I never really thought about safety glasses using a SCMS until that day. Cover them bulbs!

 

[SittingElf]

Two items that are used frequently in my woodworking.

Always wearing the glasses, and no piece of wood, regardless of source, gets hit with ANY bladed tool until my detector has run over the wood. Takes 2 seconds and could save tools, eyes, and other body parts!

Frank

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[WastedP]

i neeeeeed the festool glasses thats been discontinued??

Even if you had a pair, good luck finding the right replacement lenses.

Eventually I gave up and bought the Honeywell/Uvex Genesis XC glasses, because they are tremendously similar to the Festool-colored version, and the lenses are pretty easy to find.  They are marginally less comfortable than the Festool-colored model, but the larger lenses are a plus because the distracting bottom edges of the lenses are outside my field of view.

I really hate wearing glasses of any kind, even sunglasses, but there is no way the last thing I ever see is going to be a loose knot, staple, or some other work-related nonsense burned into my blind mind forever.

 

[Birdhunter]

OK, I will start using a metal detector. What is the best one out there?

 

[John H]

Lumber Wizard III
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005NMUN/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A39R98WUMX3HM4

 

[SittingElf]

The HandyMan Nail Finder has been discontinued by the manufacture (The one pictured above). This is ONLY due to low sales, not due to any kind of defects.

I've been using mine for ten years and it is a strong performer with both audible and vibration modes. 9Volt Battery.

Still available stock at a number of dealers and available on Amazon with free shipping (Not Prime).
Here's the Amazon link: HandyMan Nail Finder / Detector

Highly recommended, and as far as I'm concerned...Festool Quality!

Cheers,

Frank

 

[AlexThePalex]

I use them a lot, but not expensive ones like these Festools because they are not worth the money.

I get them for 89 cents a piece from my local Chinese stuff pusher. Last me two or three months. Problem with the plastic glasses is the plastic always gets scratched so in the end you don't see anything anymore. Happens just as fast with an expensive one as with an ultra cheap one.   

My safety glasses saved me a lot of times already from metal, dust or paint.

 

[jmbfestool]

I use them a lot, but not expensive ones like these Festools because they are not worth the money.

I get them for 89 cents a piece from my local Chinese stuff pusher. Last me two or three months. Problem with the plastic glasses is the plastic always gets scratched so in the end you don't see anything anymore. Happens just as fast with an expensive one as with an ultra cheap one.   

My safety glasses saved me a lot of times already from metal, dust or paint.

Only worry with cheap crap if they would do the job when hit with high impact.

It would be good when you decide to swap yours for a fresh pair you could test them with some other old pair you might have to see how they hold up