Everybody repeat after me:

[Forty Rod]

"Forty Rod is a dumb ass!"
 
Doing some yard clean up yesterday and took my eye off the target for a split second.  
 
Result was a trip to the ER to get my left wrist sewed up (seven stitches) and setting the work back about ten day until it heals.
 
Lesson 1. Don't get complacent about tools.
 
Lesson 2. chain saws can hurt you. ( I was very lucky in that I could have had a much more serious injury from this lapse of attention.  I can live with some temporary pain and a scar, but would have difficulty adapting to the loss of fingers or  a hand... or worse.  I already have nerve damage to my right hand and arm and just don't need any more aggravation.)
 
Lesson 3.  DON'T GET COMPLACENT ABOUT TOOLS.

[PJ Hardtack]

Two years ago on the occasion of my wife's birthday, I attended a club work party. My wife's last words were - "Don't come back bleeding."

I was working alone (first mistake) clearing LARGE windfall trees with my Stihl chainsaw on our BP Trail. I let the still running blade contact the inside of my left leg (2nd mistake) as I pulled away cut limbs.

Net result - a cut that required ten stitches to close. The nurses at the emerg beat me up pretty good when I told them the story, asking me if I knew how close I was to my femoral artery, how far I was from anyone who could have helped me and if I knew how to apply a tourniquet, etc.

Then one said - "Go behind the curtain and drop your drawers so we can put a zipper in you". I was wearing bucking pants and the blade caught me just above the Kevlar pad. They gave me credit for that at least.

[Major 2]

Glad it wasn't worse ... somehow  35Rod, doesn't have the same ring 

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[Texas Lawdog]

I would operate any form of chainsaw after hearing these stories. I just got back from running errands and grabbing a Burger and fries at our local diner. I am full and ready for a nap.

[PJ Hardtack]

I can hear your arteries hardening form here .... ;>)

A chainsaw is no more inherently dangerous than any other tool, including guns. I'll bet lawnmowers cause more injuries.

[pony express]

I've been operating those things for 35 years, heating with wood most of that time. As they say, "Familiarity breeds contempt".  Last winter I slipped while wading into a thorny locust tree I had downed, as I was trimming off limbs, and...cut a 1 1/2" cut in the side of my boot, tore the sock-but the cut on my little toe was no worse than what you'd get from dropping the saw(not running) on my foot. Blade just stopped at the right instant. Good thing I never run it wide open when I'm just trimming small limbs. Was wearing steel toe boots, now I have a "ventilated" steel toe boot with a 1 1/2 inch cut just a fraction of an inch BEYOND the steel....

I did thank God for watching out for a fool with a chainsaw that day.

[PJ Hardtack]

We kinda hijacked Forty Rod's post. Hope he doesn't mind.

There's a special angel that watches over drunks and fools. I've been both at one time or another in my life. Sometimes both at the same time .....

Another time I was dropping a 70' fir, I was really cocky by stopping short on my last cut, putting in a plastic wedge and tapping it with a sledge. Didn't fall so I put in a 2nd wedge and smacked it - hard!

Next thing I knew, I was on the ground wondering who hit me. One of the wedges caught me across the brow, chipping out half a front tooth. I told this to a couple of fellow rednecks, both who lost an eye doing something similar. One hit a steel wedge with his sledge, t'other hit a pin on the backhoe bucket he was changing.

I got off easy just loosing half a tooth. I still take pride in my ability to drop a large tree exactly where I want it to go. But, I make tracks t'other way once it starts to fall, on a clear path I've already checked out.

[Forty Rod]

I believe the next time I get very old, long-dead, harder than steel grapevine, I'll resort to explosives.

73 years with all my various background activities and this is the first injury that required more than four stitches.

Hope I don't ever need any more.

[PJ Hardtack]

Only FOUR! You're barely in the game. Time to ante up, cupcake.

[Modoc]

Take Care 40Rod,  I am right with you on healing right now.  There are 6 stitches in my knee, but it is from surgery, not accident (this time).

I hope your hand looks better than mine do with all of the scars from the abuse that I put them through.  Of course you do have a couple of years on me.

[dwight55]

Not bragging, . . . nor complaining, . . . but at 70, I've managed to escape most of the idiotic and/or careless things I've done in my life.

Motorcycles, fast cars, slow trucks, guns, chain saws, sloped roofs, . . . all could have "done me in" so to speak, . . . but some prayers and a guardian angel (or two maybe) seem to have kept the old boy safe.

Worst thing I did lately, . . . put a .45ACP round through my wife's living room floor.  Long story on stupidity, . . . but nobody and nothing but the plywood & floor covering were hurt.

Guess I could be the "innocent" on this thread, . . . just as soon stay that way.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Forty Rod]

Take Care 40Rod,  I am right with you on healing right now.  There are 6 stitches in my knee, but it is from surgery, not accident (this time).

I hope your hand looks better than mine do with all of the scars from the abuse that I put them through.  Of course you do have a couple of years on me.

I got  couple of years on most folks.  What's your point?      

[PJ Hardtack]

Well, I'm 72 and still refuse to learn from the mistakes of others in the belief that I still have time to learn from my own.

[Modoc]

I got  couple of years on most folks.  What's your point?      

Stirin' the Pot like a choosie. 

Still, I am glad that you still have all of your appendages in the proper locations. 

[Curley Cole]

not smart my pal

btw thanks for the 'spenders.  they WILL fit me...

see ya soon, unless ya keep up with the dumbASS moves

curley that has had a few close calls with saw too!!

[Forty Rod]

not smart my pal

btw thanks for the 'spenders.  they WILL fit me...

see ya soon, unless ya keep up with the dumbASS moves

curley that has had a few close calls with saw too!!

 
You coming back for another visit?  Well...... are ya, pilgrim?