Self inflicted wounds

[bermudahwin]

So when restoring a 1940s binocular case, that had never been fed or treated, yesterday I managed to diamond awl my left index finger.

Yes, I am experienced.

Yes, I had fed and treated the leather, to try to get it away from the 'so dry it will tear if you look at it' to workable.

Yes, I was avoiding obvious weak areas.

But in the final run, re-attaching the lid hinge; a job designed for much smaller hands than mine, I hit a spot with NO strength at all and instead of having to force the awl it went through like a hot knife through butter, straight into my finger.

The cut has stopped me stitching today, and I was pondering if it was the stupidest thing I had done or witnessed in a leatherwork shop.

It isn't either of them:

I stupidly caught a clicking knife that rolled off the bench in 1983, and the blade went straight into bone, luckily only a scar, no worse damage; BUT I can still jump back real fast if tools drop, I am not catching them!

I have watched a colleague stitch himself to a sequinned clutch bag on an old Singer, years back, boy did he swear!

I saw someone stitch their shirtsleeve into a bag lining.

AND Finally for now...

The Queen's side saddle maker, was teaching how to use a round knife on leather, and an end grain board, and as he was giving the safety lecture, he hit a snag in the board and the knife took of a small piece of his pinkie... With great calm he said, 'that is exactly what I mean... DO NOT DO IT!' and went to the hospital.  Sheesh we were sooooo careful, if someone with his experience could do that!

But having lectured later in life, it is so easy to get distracted. AND he had one group that really respect their tools.

 

[Sheilajeanne]

Tried to catch a box cutter knife I dropped once.

ONLY once.  

Have a permanent split in my right thumb nail after damaging the thumb nail bed when a knife slipped (yes, I'm left-handed).

But the best story of all is the one about the guy who decided to test the sharpness of a round knife with his thumb. I disremember who the owner of the round knife was, but he's on this board, so maybe he'll chime in!

Yes, numerous stitches were involved!  

[JLSleather]

I miss those days when tools arrived sharp enough to cut ... (sigh)...

[immiketoo]

2 minutes ago, JLSleather said:

I miss those days when tools arrived sharp enough to cut ... (sigh)...

Buy the right tool and they still do

I know this because my Knip knives are so sharp that you don't even feel the bite until the blood stains your leather.  Or the awl from elder Louis comes out the top of your thumb from the bottom :/

[JazzBass]

Sharp??
I could probably cut myself with a Q-tip.

[Handstitched]

If it makes you feel any better, in my early days, I had my fingers a bit too far over the edge of the ruler, happily cutting away......I took the minutest bits of skin off the very tips of my fingers, no blood, but the tips of my fingers were nice and straight   I've also put needles and awls into my fingers too many times to count. 

Off topic: I manufactured  fibreglass pools in another life,and while  making  cardboard form work ,  I often used my  leg as a ' work bench' . Come lunch time, I couldn't work out why blood was pouring out onto my boot..........there was a 2"  long hole in my leg ....I got a bit too close with my blade....OOPS!!  

My Mother put a sewing machine needle right through her finger once, makes my needles and awls into my fingers look like mozzie bites .

We all make the silliest of mistakes using tools ....do we learn from it?  mmmmmm.....maybe   

HS 

Edited December 14, 2018 by Handstitched

[ComputerDoctor]

Pain is a great teacher:)

Sam

[bermudahwin]

2 hours ago, Handstitched said:

My Mother put a sewing machine needle right through her finger once

My wife did years back, and her dad just cut the needle off top and bottom, and a neighbour who was a nurse, removed it. She wont touch my Singer 45K58 with the BIG needles.

 

2 hours ago, Handstitched said:

there was a 2"  long hole in my leg ....I got a bit too close with my blade....OOPS!!

Just AAAARGH

2 hours ago, ComputerDoctor said:

Pain is a great teacher:)

not always. Constantly forget my hands are too big for a particular job in one of the car's engine bays, UNTIL I re-graze the knuckles, THEN I remember.

Edited December 14, 2018 by hwinbermuda

[rodneywt1180b]

I keep a tube of superglue handy.  It makes a good bandage when I nick myself. 

[Sheilajeanne]

My mother did an awful lot of peeling when she was keeping house for a family of four, and the blade of her peeler was razor sharp from use. One night, it slipped while she was peeling potatoes, and removed a sizable piece of her left pinkie!

She bandaged it up, finished preparing dinner, and we all stat down and ate supper before she made a trip to Emergency to get it re-attached!

I am still kicking myself for pooh-poohing the injury, ungrateful teenager that I was. I really though she was being overdramatic!

There are times when parents are unsung heroes!