Mac Mod Gone Terribly Wrong

[raycarlson]

Sorry to see you get hurt. Back in the old days when the government used to believe in education most every kid who went to jr high school knew how to properly use a table saw, drill press, ox/act torch before he graduated to a high school. But we no longer believe those skills are worth paying for. What a shame...........

[Phil M]

I am not the type of person to suffer from any sort of major depression, but yes, I have been a little down lately.

Thanks to everyone here in this forum, as you understand more than most that sailing is not just another activity, but also a type of therapy that we all use to get through our your daily lives and routines.

So I really do appreciate the words of encouragement.

Phil

[Mac26Mpaul]

Geez, sorry to hear of it. Accidents happen so don't be beatin yourself up about it. Get yourself some good sailing movies and books and keep your chin up matey, you will be out there soon enough

[Herschel]

sailing is not just another activity, but also a type of therapy that we all use to get through our your daily lives and routines.

I couldn't agree more. I look forward to sailing as a way to defuse from a busy world. I know it must seem like getting back on the boat is way out there. And I suppose it is for a while, but I do have confidence in sailors' drive and passion to be on their boats and making them go. I know that there are folks out there sailing that have some pretty limiting disabilities, so the long view should suggest strongly that you will find a way and persevere and get back out there and enjoy sailing again, in time. Hopefully, just being aboard and messing around the boat can give you some sense of peace and joy, in the mean time. Hang in there.

[seahouse]

Very sorry to hear about this, Phil. This type of injury is actually quite common, and happens to 10's of thousands of people across North America every year, some of them experts, if that's any conciliation.

It's miraculous what microsurgery accomplishes today, and know that with your rehab things are only going to improve from here. Trawler mode will get you back out on the water again- sooner because you chose a Mac!

Good luck Phil, heal well, and heal fast! (So that, before you know it, you will heel well, and heel fast) .

For anyone who hasn't seen this, here's a short video of some cocky guy sticking his wiener into a saw...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq3o0VGUh50

-B.

[mastreb]

Come down to San Diego. I'll take you out sailing for a week, and you'll only have to use your good hand.

When I was a young man just out of the Navy, I got a job doing network physical plant (cable) installations for a defense contractor who had the contract to rewire all the military hospitals in the world. I ran crews doing mixed Cat 4 (yes, that was a thing) and optical fiber networks because my specialty at the time was optical fiber networking. They did most of the pulling, and I did the systems interconnect and project management.

So one day I'm giving a safety lecture at the start of shift to my crew of about 15 guys. If you don't know what a step-index hole saw is, this is it:



It's got a really nasty sharp leading edge.

"I've noticed a lot of you guys are chucking step-index hole saw bits in your cordless drills by holding the collar of the drill and firing it off" I say.

Then I fire off the drill I'm holding for example with a step-index drill bit in it, and proceed to slice off the entire pad of my right thumb. Off. Flew across the room and hit a dude. Down to the bone.

"Don't do that". I say, as blood just starts draining out of my thumb onto the floor. During a safety lecture.

Fortunately, we were in an operational hospital, and a nurse came running over with an absorbant pad, grabbed me by the thumb, and somebody else actually went and got my thumb pad off the floor where it landed. They cleaned me up and had a doctor stitch the thumbpad back on right there. I was back to work in 15 minutes, with a giant gauze ball on my thumb.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever done." I said to my foreman.

"Well, it's the best safety lecture I've ever seen." says he.

Healed up just fine. All I have is a scar and a story.

[Herschel]

"Well, it's the best safety lecture I've ever seen." says he.

My wife and I are both retired Navy Medical Service Corps officers, and you have us literally "rolling in the floor" and "laughing out loud"! I knew there had to be a sliver lining to this thread.

[Herschel]

"Silver lining" that is!

[mrron_tx]

Phil M.....Gods speed in Your healing Ron.

[kmclemore]

!

kmclemore:

Folks, this thread has veered off a bit from Phil's original thread. I've split the posts regarding how to best use a table saw so that it can more easily be found in the forum in future. That new thread is over here: Suggestions on use of a Table Saw: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =9&t=23510 Please post your suggestions and thoughts on use of a saw over there. I encourage you to continue to support Phil in his recovery in this thread. Thanks. -- Kevin

[Whipsyjac]

Hi Phil,

I gotta say there's been a few topics on the Forum that had me thinking Phil M will chime in on that but you didn't . I took me a bit but I did notice your absence so clearly you have an impact here You oughtta contact the MYCBC and maybe catch a ride to Sucia with a fellow Mac owner on the Labor Day weekend for your West Coast fix Or bring your boat and we'll help you rig and de-rig at the launch in Blaine.

Praying for the return of full use of your hand,

Willy

[Phil M]

I chuckled at Mastreb's story while teaching safety. Yes, that's a good one.
As far as using table saw, common sense and use of the correct tool (I could have used a smaller tool to take just a bit off the wood) go a long way, but there is always room for guidance. Why reinvent the wheel? Suggestions are always appreciated. The expertise in this forum isn't just limited to sailing. After a few rums, most of the worlds problems are open for discussion.

Our summer weather has been rather unusual - generally warm or hot with light winds - great for sailing.

Phil M

[Steve K]

Phil,
I Hope I can provide a little hope for you here.................
In 1979 I was a motorcycle rider. One day, on my way home from work I was T boned by a '70 Monte Carlo (80 year old driver thought he had time to turn left in front of me).
I was only doing 30mph, but the impact crushed my lower leg between the car's front end and the engine of my bike.
Shin bones broken in seven places and compound..... Femur broken above the knee.
I had notable nerve damage, not only from the trauma, but also from the broken headlight glass, imbedded in my leg.
The doctors said amputation was the only course of action.
My young wife at the time, refused to sign off on this action. So the only course for the Docs was to try to save the mangled leg.

After many surgeries, the leg was put back together, but we were told it would never work right again and that I'd need a special leg brace and a cane for life.

To make a long story short.............(at least shorter)...............

After about two years and a couple more surgeries, I was walking fairly well and was able to go back to work (warehousing and delivery).
It took another several years to get most of the feeling back in the area of my shin and this was aggravating. However things were functional and today I can do anything most people can. And at 62 years old, I'm actually in much better shape than most people my age. Sailing, kayaking, and yes..... home projects keep me in shape.

It wasn't magic. It took a lot of hard work, time and suffering a lot of pain, but things did slowly heal. (and driving big trucks with very stiff clutch pedals).

So work at it....... keep your chin up and don't get hooked on pain pills (in fact, I think suffering the pain, within reason, actually helps your body repair itself).

I hope this similar experience helps you feel all is not lost.

My best wishes,
Steve K.

[Jeff L]

My Dad has an old Dewalt radial arm saw (No electric motor brake), that I get to use as needed. My Dad insists
that I take inventory (thumbs, fingers and others) before and after each cut...

[captronr]

Phil, sorry to hear about your accident.

I would urge you to go to an occupational therapist who is a Certified Hand Therapist. Not saying your OT is not competent, but a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an OT who has had an additional five years OJT in hand therapy, taken more classes about hand stuff, and passed yet another medical test (of which 50% fail the first time).

Our daughter is a CHT and really stresses that they know so much more about hands (actually a CHT works fingers to shoulders; don't know why they have such a limited name). I see you are from Canada (I spent several weeks decades ago working out of Saskatoon and love that area), so I don't know if OTs can also be CHTs there or not, but I would certainly ask your doctor and go to a CHT if one is available.

Best wishes,
Ron