Spring Winding on a Lathe Fail

It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.
-David St. Hubbins

I'm reticent to post this, as it will remain forever as a testament to my stupidity. However, I do so for the benefit of humanity, because there is nothing funnier than watching a man blindly fall straight into a trap that he's dug for himself.

It's obvious that the little twisted bit of wire in front of the toolpost shouldn't be there. Yet I didn't see it, or see it as a threat to my skull. Or that since I'd just pulled the feed tube back to load the wire more easily, the uncoiling tail end of the wire would just reach the piece of scrap and bounce it off the splash pan and straight into my head. I was wearing safety glasses, but it could have done major damage if it had hit me more squarely. That I've survived into middle age with two intact eyes and most of 10 fingers is amazing.

What possessed me to record the process still escapes me.

For a few things that might be actually clever, see http://www.metalgeek.com/

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• fail
• stupidity
• metalgeek.com
• lathe
• spring
• blood

[perf52]

Thanks for posting! All warnings should be and are appreciated. Q? Did moving your feed tube (acting as anvil) back from the die bar alter the finish dimension of the spring much or at all?

[BrunoMSilva]

it didnt broke, it just ended lol, we usualy stop before it end´s, or we get back a little and reduce speed until it ends, not danger

[sovietspyguy]

I cringed when the spring broke. Glad you made it out with both eyes intact.

[InvictusManeo100]

A railroad tie(sorry if that's miss spelt) took most of the meat of the first joint of my index fingure. I was lucky enough not to have any major accidents happen to me in the shop however, I was there to witness a bench grinder taking someone's thumb. He was wearing welders gloves while operating it. I told him it was a mistake and about the time he told me that he knew what he was doing it snagged his glove and jerked it off along with his digit. Metal doesn't stop for flesh and bone.

[Tedericoe]

Man im digging thatmusic lol

[jacktheripped]

yah. I'm with you on the two eyes and MOST of my fingers. Just missing the tip of my left hand ring finger but that happened when I was a toddler. Reel-type lawnmower, I was too close and it got pushed by my 3 YO brother. Kinda smooshed it up. These days they'd clean it up and wrap it, little kids fingertips can regenerate, somewhat, but back then it was lop it off :P It's also quite stupid to chip slag without eye protection. This I know all to well :P

[Roostoy]

A wise old guy told me it is always wiser to learn from some else's mistakes rather than experiencing them yourself. (It is always less painful.) Glad your are ok. Good reminder to watch what is on the carridge and ways.

[chicolovesbayside]

damn, close one

[normanmachinetool]

I'm glad you're okay, thanks for sharing.

[artgoat]

Wow, I never would have figured out what happened without the explanation. Even so, it's a pretty unlikely bank shot. It's a reminder to me never to leave tooling, wrenches, scrap, etc sitting on my carriage! As my brother always said "if I can accomplish nothing else in this life, at least let me serve as a bad example!"