wlcummings

My first job at 16 was running a 14 foot turret lathe turning 50 lb cast iron oil burner housings. It was the mid 1950's - no OSHA no safety glasses no face masks - we even stored 5 gallons of gasoline in a galvanized garbage can for cleaning the housings.

My boss at that time had a saying. "If you are afraid of a machine and treat it like a killer it will never hurt you"

All machines are dangerous so the best safety advise is to treat it like a killer.

I have been working with machines ever since and never had an accident but I always say that is 80 percent luck and 20 percent caution. Never had a auto accident either and the same ratio holds for that - arrive at a corner 1 second later and all can change. Forget the safety guard or hold down on one job because it is only one cut and all bets are off.

Really a fine job but i hate people with clean garages.

Glad i did not send mine in.