Martin Tiney Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 OK guys we all use belt grinders and for the most of the time they are perfectly safe...... UNTIL!!!! your overall sleeve gets caught up in the belt /contact wheel and drags your hand in. The photo shows what happens after 3 bouts of surgery, one of which lasted for 9 hours, PLEASE, PLEASE, make sure that nothing is loose, ( not even protective overall) when using the belt grinder 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Ow.... Where'd they take the skin for the graft? That's almost as bad as the actual injury... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Tiney Posted July 20, 2022 Author Share Posted July 20, 2022 Have a 12 Inch scar on my left thigh where they took the graft from, the left thigh is now 3 1/2 inch smaller dia than the right one the good news is that as it happened at work I'm still being paid full wages and there paying me expenses for the 90 mile round trip to the hospital, would rater be at work though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Tiney Posted July 20, 2022 Author Share Posted July 20, 2022 Just to give you a idea of size of the sca Went in with one injury..... Came out with two 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Ouch, again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerhard Gerber Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 I had a novice trying his hand at grinding bevels last Saturday, didn't last long before I took over. Also started grinding two very awkward blades and my fingers had more than usual "interactions" with the 36 grit belt. This is a very timely reminder how dangerous these machines can be, I got a chill when you mentioned overalls, Winter here so I was actually wearing an overall coat. I wish you a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Tiney Posted July 21, 2022 Author Share Posted July 21, 2022 Thanks for the words of encouragement, but I think the recovery will be long and painful, ironically the use of overalls is mandatory in the workshop, however I'm sure if I wasn't wearing them I wouldn't have had the accident 4 hours ago, Gerhard Gerber said: I had a novice trying his hand at grinding bevels last Saturday, didn't last long before I took over. Also started grinding two very awkward blades and my fingers had more than usual "interactions" with the 36 grit belt. This is a very timely reminder how dangerous these machines can be, I got a chill when you mentioned overalls, Winter here so I was actually wearing an overall coat. I wish you a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLeonard Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 I hope you have a speedy recovery. Over the years I have found that some safety eq. can be the problem. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Gastellu Posted July 22, 2022 Share Posted July 22, 2022 Wishing you the best for your recovery, and thank you for the reminder, I do feel we sometimes get a little too comfortable, particularly when working with belt grinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welsh joel Posted August 9, 2022 Share Posted August 9, 2022 I belong to a fb group- "dangerous grinder attachments." They pale in comparison to you after pics. The way it's going now- looks like best case scenario. Some amazing surgery work there friend. I echo their recovery wishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Tiney Posted August 9, 2022 Author Share Posted August 9, 2022 Thanks for the words of encouragement guys, I made a promise to myself that when I return to the grinder the ONLY safety equipment that I will use will be eye and respirator, anything lower than my elbows WILL be removed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John N Posted November 6, 2022 Share Posted November 6, 2022 Crikey! hope you are healing up OK. That's a horrible accident. I wear a heavy cotton boiler suit when I work, I will be very careful to keep my sleeves pulled up when grinding from now on. Ive had a finger end dragged in before and that was bad enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Tiney Posted December 28, 2022 Author Share Posted December 28, 2022 It's almost 7 months since I had the accident, I've 75% movement in my hand and it's improving every week, been back at work, part days, for just over a couple of months now, and finally got back into the shed to have a day building a new grinder for myself........ I've missed getting dirty!! Just a couple of photos to show the improvement, reducing surgery booked for mid next year . Stay safe in your workshops 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 28, 2022 Share Posted December 28, 2022 Thanks for the update, Martin, good to hear you're still getting better! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Tiney Posted December 28, 2022 Author Share Posted December 28, 2022 Thanks, the last few months have been a bit of a challenge, I wasn't sure if I could use hand tools like I used to, but it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. And I have no fear of using the belt grinder again... Although it appears I've forgotten how to weld!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John N Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 On 12/28/2022 at 5:32 PM, Martin Tiney said: Thanks, the last few months have been a bit of a challenge, I wasn't sure if I could use hand tools like I used to, but it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. And I have no fear of using the belt grinder again... Although it appears I've forgotten how to weld!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great you are healing well, and no horrible infections. Thanks for the update, I occasionally wondered how you got on! - you will be back to new normal in no time. I visited a factory once a few years ago to collect a job, and their van driver / labourer had no hands, just stumps. I watched him load a van with fork truck, and somehow do the ratchet straps up. I had a real good think that night that some of my life excuses for not getting stuff done were really not valid! I'm sure the chap would have been financially better off staying at home on welfare. Strong man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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