cabinetman

We've read a lot about kickback, and other than using good operating sense, there can be those times that just happen. But, this warning has to do with splinters.

I'm mentioning splinters during table saw use as some of my worst injuries have come from the edges of plywood and lumber while cutting on the table saw. Just handling the sheet to the table and manipulating your hands on the sheet to make a pass can catch a loose splinter and drive it deeply into your hand. I've had it happen with chunks so large it pinned my hand to the material. They can be long and sharp. With hardwoods, they are long grain and very stiff and sharp.

Care has to be taken when sliding your hands along the edges of material. Wearing leather gloves may help, but I find that gloves can be a detraction. You may feel gloves create a doubt that they compromise your "feel" during the procedure and may not be safe to wear.

firehawkmph

CB,
I feel your pain. I am always digging out splinters, especially from plywood edges. I usually don't wear gloves, and I always seem to forget not to slide my hands along the edges. Cedar and wenge are probably some of my most notorious splinter woods. Very fine and irritating if you don't get them out.
Mike Hawkins

mdlbldrmatt135

To me Gloves / loose clothing and rotating blades / bits are a bigger potential disaster!!!

Julian the woodnut

I just got a 1" long metal sliver while doing a metal stud job today. The sliver came from the knockout holes for conduit to run it. I'll say that it stung quite a bit, since it went in right at the knuckle on the bottom of my index finger.

I also still have a large one in my scalp from about 5 years ago. I was walking around a house that I was framing and one of my guys dropped a small 2x12 jack rafter with a 12/12 pitch cut on it. Well it hit me right on the top of the head and the tip broke off into about 5 pieces IN my scalp. Most of the pieces came out over a period of 3 months, but one is still there and scabs up quite often. The doctor said that if the body doesn't reject them it will accept them and break them down over time. I guess doug fir takes some time for the body to break down.

phinds

Mike, I agree w/ you about wenge for sure, and lacewood is another one that's just as bad --- not as easy to get splinters as from wenge but really bad when you do get them.

Paul

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jeffreythree

I wear a pair that has a pigskin leather plam and a stretchy fabric back with a velcro strap at the wrist. They fit very snug(almost like a second skin once broken in) with no extra bits or fold to hang up, and the thin leather provides lots of feel. I don't wear them to assemble or such, but they go on when handling the rough stuff. Do you really need a fine touch when running wood through a planer or using the tablesaw?

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da Yooper

I have the same reluctance, but I know some very experience woodworkers that wear thin skin tight leather gloves, especially when squaring rough cut. I worn skin tight leather gloves yet, but have been considering it.

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Ed'sGarage

I know I've gotten my share of splinters sliding my hands on a piece of cut stock. I notice that softening the edge with a piece of fine sandpaper will usually lessen the possibility of a splinter somewhat. I also use gloves when moving sheetgoods in my shop. With their weight, sometimes they slip and that's when the wood says "gotcha". I have a buddy who works in a hospital and got me syringe tips that have a cutting edge on them. They have worked out great for help getting splinters out, becuase you can actually cut the skin, rather than trying to literally dig them out.