furnitureguy

Reading these experiences prompted me to share my story. Perhaps sharing a little history will prevent someone from reliving it. I was 13 years old, and an OK woodworker. I was raised helping my father in the shop. I was mature for my age, and very safety conscious.
After our Sunday evening family dinner, I was looking forward to working on a project I had started that weekend. I was cutting some plywood squares to repair small box, using a handsaw held in a sturdy Record vise. I can't recall the exact details, but I suspect my cuts didn't meet my needs. The contracters saw behind me must have seemed an easy solution.
The next image is a little unpleasant, and thankfully has been edited by time. I remember the power chord to the saw was in need of repair, and somehow needed a bit of torque to keep it working reliably. I can only guess that I was adjusting the chord at the rear of the saw, when my left arm caught the rear of the fully extended blade.
My next memory is vivid, detailed, and permanent. There was no sensation of pain, just my view of my arm, cut through just below the elbow. My mind said 'I cut myself'. I held the almost severed limb tightly with my right hand, and went up the stairs to get help.
The good news for me was the skill of my surgeons in Montreal, in particular a pioneer plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Williams who rejoined the ulnar nerve, at a time (1967) when these injuries could end up as amputations.

I went on to become a physician, and I continue to be an avid woodworker. There are many user and saw-related issues in my story, however accidents happen, and rarely because we weren't trying or concentrating hard enough. I am due to replace my tablesaw, and there is no doubt a SawStop is my next shop purchase.