Stupid Pipe Maker Tricks

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:38 pm

Just after lunch this afternoon, I was working on a pipe and saw that there was a tiny light gap where the shank meets the stem. I chucked up a pin on my lathe from my trusty pin gauge set, slid the mortise over it and re-faced the shank.

When I went to take the stummel off the pin, there was quite a bit of resistance, so I was hand turning the chuck while pulling (hard) on the stummel. The stummel suddenly let loose, and my hand traveled back, into the 6” long, 1/16” drill bit chucked in the tail stock to drill stems. I felt a sharp pain, yelled a curse word, and jerked my hand up to look at what I had done. I saw a large bulge at the center top of my palm, just below my middle finger. I thought, “What the hell is that!?”

I thought I had broken the bit off in my hand, but I couldn’t see where it had gone in. I turned my hand a bit further, and there, sticking out of my wrist on the little finger side, was a half inch length of drill bit. In an adrenalin fueled panic, I grabbed it and pull it out. I didn’t really notice the feeling going in, but the feeling coming out was very strange. Hard to describe.

Any way, blood started pouring out of the tiny hole, and I just let it bleed for a few minutes before going in the house rinsing it and putting a band aid on. Off to the Emergency Room.

The Triage nurse said that my blood pressure was a little high. I said, “Really? I wonder why that would be?” 2 hours, a tetanus shot and a few x-rays later, I’m at the Winn Dixie filling my prescription for Keflex, and then I head home.

So far, there’s no swelling and only a dull ache. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow.

When I got home, the drill bit was sitting on the seat cushion of my chair in the shop. I don’t really remember putting it there. I picked it up and measured from the tip to where the blood ended. It measured 4 inches.

I took the rest of the afternoon off.

Rad

jbacon · Post by **jbacon** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:55 pm

hi rad

this is the second time i have heard of a pin gauge set

where is a good place to buy a pin gauge set

thanks

jim

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:59 pm

Thanks for your sympathy, Jim. I'm feeling much better.

I got mine from Enco. I'm sure MSC has them too.

Rad

jbacon · Post by **jbacon** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:09 pm

i am sorry rad

i really hope your hand heals fast and you have no more pain.

and thank you very much for the info. and i also want to thank you

for all the information you have shared with me in the past.

jim

Post by **Tyler** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:20 pm

I haven't laughed that much at a series of posts in a long time!

Tyler

P.S. Oh yeah, sorry about that Rad.

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:52 pm

i am sorry rad

Don't worry about it, Jim. You're a typical pipe maker.

You read that whole story and thought, "Pin gauge set, hmmm, where can I get one of *those*".

I understand completely.

Rad

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:30 pm

HOLY CRAP!!

Okay, I have had various foreign objects invade my body, and I can just *feel* the damn thing sliding out. Ow!

I hope everything come out okay... uh, I mean....

sethile · Post by **sethile** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:59 pm

Ouch

Hope it heals up quickly and does not mess with your pipe making too much, or your fly fishing!

mahaffy · Post by **mahaffy** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:21 pm

Rad, the stummel's OK, I hope? How long's it been since you built a campfire of stem-rod shavings behind your lathe? No, no; I'm not accusing you of being accident prone! Perish the thought! These things happen. . . (but so OFTEN to you!).

bvartist · Post by **bvartist** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:55 am

Blood is a fantastic stain on rusticated pipes, Rad. Found out first hand a couple weeks ago!

So if you're going to hurt yourself, might make use of it too!

Hope you heal quicky.

David

custom300 · Post by **custom300** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:10 am

Rad,
I hope you heal quickly.

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:28 am

Rad, the stummel's OK, I hope?

John,

The stummel's in the trash. Apparently I threw it in the floor when I was injured, and the shank was damaged beyond repair.

And, yes, certain bad things do happen to me. (sigh)

It's not my fault! I am a victim.

I'm going to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit against whomever has the deepest pockets.

Rad

marks · Post by **marks** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:11 am

RadDavis wrote:It's not my fault! I am a victim.

I'm going to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit against whomever has the deepest pockets.

Rad

Reminds me of some comedy group (I forget who) that did a lawyer commercial skit where people were suing themselves, and winning big bucks!

Personally, I think you should contact Jackie Childs, and DON'T use the salve!!!!!

Hope your hand gets better.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:37 am

D'OOH!

Sorry to hear that the stummel was busted. That hurts..too. Yeah, sorry about your hand too.

Can't tell you how often those goofy things happen to me too. I seem to always get my knuckles too close to the chuck when its spinning.

Hope your hand feels better soon.

StephenDownie · Post by **StephenDownie** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:16 pm

Rad,

I know all the cool kids are getting piercings, but don't you think that was just a bit extreme? Heal up fast!

LexKY_Pipe · Post by **LexKY_Pipe** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:27 pm

Yikes, it hurts just reading about it!!!!

geigerpipes · Post by **geigerpipes** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:09 am

Ah Rad the pain!!

I've done about the same but not wit enough force to actually impale myself..

You should have babblefished the chineese lathe insctruction manual it clearly states only to put a drill bit in the talestock when you want something drilled

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:09 pm

I did something real similar the other day, took a chunk out of my finger with the exact same bit... lucky for me there was bone to play interference!

Hope your hand feels better...

mahaffy · Post by **mahaffy** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:16 pm

Kidding aside, Rad, a lot of us are praying for you. (Some, to heal quickly. Others, that you'll be more careful in the shop.) We expect some updates, here, when you feel up to it.

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:34 pm

All is well, John!

I made a pipe yesterday, and the only time I felt any pain was when I stamped it and had to put some pressure on my palm.

Thanks for the good thoughts.

Rad