pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on May 18, 2023 18:10:30 GMT
A word of caution, something that is too often arguably run into the ground and likewise ignored. Today I cut the lower hanging branches of a tree that had grown to more than head rubbing length. I used a typical 18” Latin machete made by Bellota in Colombia. I chose this one out of convenience as it was laying on the floor next to my computer chair. There is nothing special about it. It has not been used since changing the grind angle to 20° from 25°, my old standard. I started for the door and forced myself to go back for my work glove saying to myself “you know the regs”. Heck, there were only about 6-8 small limbs in the way. I had been ill and am still a bit wobbly. While reaching for the first limb it happened. I brought my off hand in to contact with the point, or what would have been the point except these machetes have none. This is a common cause of accidents with me, while concentrating on the target and reaching I hit the point with the off hand. And when the blade has a point, it gets messy. So, I made the rule to always wear gloves when working. It is common not to sharpen the tip on this style of machete in order to save the sheath. But I sharpened this one partly out of ignorance and due to the fact I dug with it as well as cut subterrain roots and therefore thrust. I did not include the tip when changing the edge angle but it is still sharp. It didn’t do much damage to the glove, only raising a small junk of leather, but without the glove it would have been much worse.
|
|
|
Post by fayebarca on May 18, 2023 18:19:11 GMT
There is never too much emphasis on safety considering the potential consequences! Glad you’re OK!
|
|
|
Post by mrbadexample on May 18, 2023 18:21:43 GMT
I omitted the gloves on Sunday while doing a similar chore with bamboo. The 5 stitches on my left, middle finger tip are a good reminder to never slack on safety precautions.
|
|
|
Post by mrstabby on May 18, 2023 19:09:30 GMT
You don't even need to use a blade. I was reapplying oil, it slipped and fell like 7cm/3" onto my thumb. If it hadn't hit the nail, I am sure it would have gone to the bone. It looks wierd because I glued it shut with super glue. I wasn't feeling to good that day too. I had some problems developing in my hand, that showed itself by dropping a sword on my finger.
EDIT: On the other hand is it really your blade if it hasn't tasted your blood? Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by pellius on May 18, 2023 20:38:51 GMT
Agreed Safety first. Well, coffee first. But safety’s way up on the list.
|
|
|
Post by treeslicer on May 18, 2023 21:22:15 GMT
I use thick but supple deerskin gloves when working in the yard as well as for a number of shop activities. Better safe than covered in band-aids (or worse yet, sutures).
|
|
|
Post by tomtx on May 19, 2023 1:14:49 GMT
I was chopping some small brush branches with a similar Tramontina machete (quite a chopper), more toward the ground. I WAS wearing gloves, and they were the loose-fitting work glove type. I swung through a branch, but the loose glove didn't give me a good grip on the handle so when I tried to stop the swing the machete rotated in my hand, continuing the swing, and came down and whacked my shin... Luckily, as you mentioned, the machete point / forward edge is thick and blunt so all I got was a bruise. But if it had been sharpened it would have been ugly.
Same machete, I was sharpening it with a stone and slipped... It sliced pretty deeply into the base of my palm. I'm a lot more careful now (with both sharpening and chopping stuff).
|
|
tera
Moderator
Posts: 1,661
|
Post by tera on May 19, 2023 1:59:57 GMT
Redundant safety is always good policy.
|
|
Ouroboros
Member
Imperial, Mysterious In Amorous Array
Posts: 570
|
Post by Ouroboros on May 19, 2023 5:23:26 GMT
While working with a blade of antiquity, the work shop door blew open in the wind, I turned in time to see 2 x missiles of fur. 1 cat chases another...this aint gonna end well so, I got my hand between cats and blade by sacrificing a small chunk of knuckle. Lemme tell ya, those ichimonji blades are sharp! Bloodthirsty fuxers too, second time its bit me! I call her Vampirella ...and I lock my shop door against wind and cats.
|
|
|
Post by mrstabby on May 19, 2023 6:35:02 GMT
While working with a blade of antiquity, the work shop door blew open in the wind, I turned in time to see 2 x missiles of fur. 1 cat chases another...this aint gonna end well so, I got my hand between cats and blade by sacrificing a small chunk of knuckle. Lemme tell ya, those ichimonji blades are sharp! Bloodthirsty fuxers too, second time its bit me! I call her Vampirella ...and I lock my shop door against wind and cats. Yeah, cats are...something. I sat my blade down on a table to get something from behind me, I turn back and my cat sits on it. I almost got a heart attack. Luckily he didn't hurt himself while jumping up on the table, couldn't have missed the tip by more than a few cm. At least you saved the cat, though it probably didn't thank you.
I would't use leather gloves, use cut resistant gloves! Even the cheapest ones work amazingly well. Still, some things you just can't foresee, and you can't do everything with gloves.
|
|
|
Post by ichimonji on May 19, 2023 11:30:53 GMT
While working with a blade of antiquity, the work shop door blew open in the wind, I turned in time to see 2 x missiles of fur. 1 cat chases another...this aint gonna end well so, I got my hand between cats and blade by sacrificing a small chunk of knuckle. Lemme tell ya, those ichimonji blades are sharp! Bloodthirsty fuxers too, second time its bit me! I call her Vampirella ...and I lock my shop door against wind and cats. I was half way through sharpening one of my best cutters. I brushed the edge with my thumb being careless. I cut almost half an inch horizontally through my thumb. Blood sprayed and landed in the hallway ,the kitchen and through a pass through from the dining room. The blade is so sharp that I never needed stiches. It closed up in 15 minutes and you can’t even see the scar unless you have a blinding light on it. This was the WW2 Minamoto Yoshichika I had up for sale a few weeks ago but there wasn’t much interest. This blades were made famous by Nakayama Hakudo. The aristocracrats and generals he hung out with doubted the quality of these blades he spoke of being the sharpest. He then took a bare blade with no handle or fittings by the nakago and cut a boar in half by the hips effortlessly. Everyone there thought it was an old Hizen school made blade. They all had to have one after that day including the Emperor’s personal guard. I spend a good hour sharpening my blades the Japanese traditional way so please be careful with my blades and be safe. Kitty says meewwwww
|
|