lessons learned in life

[brettliddicoat]

i may only be 19 but i have learned a lot the hard way

when lifting things always lift straight up and hook above the weight - trip to e.r. 5 stiches in my lip a painful lip and a pair of broken glasses

when working on tmr mixers watch out for the knives on the augers

when cutting with a torch watch your ears also slag in ear - trip to e.r. and multiple trips to doctor and having a skin graft done on my ear drum

when grinding there is no such thing as to much eye protection

when drilling dont hold your work you never know when the bit will break - trip to e.r. and pita because fingernail was basicly shattered

watch out in the cement trowel aisle in hardware stores - 7 stiches

when changing shovels on a cultivator or working with plow bolts dont try to keep the bolt from spinning with your hand - trip to e.r. 5 stiches

i may remember more

brett

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You need to stop going to the ER and just grab some paper towels and some duct tape with you from now on and keep on working

I learned real quick that welding upside down is not fun, a lot more head protection was found in a hurry before I continued

And that holding the bolt from spinning thing is something everyone has to try to realize our hands are not as strong as a steel tool

Have fun

 

[Egon]

Maybe consider Academia Brett!

 

[Tig]

watch out in the cement trowel aisle in hardware stores - 7 stitches

Both my kids managed to flip shopping carts while I had one hand on the cart and was looking the other way. They were three years old at the time. I'm having trouble imagining exactly how a 19 year old gets hurt in the store.

Nowadays, I use a lot more safety equipment (all that I can) than I did at your age. Don't forget to protect your hearing. That one creeps up on you later in life.
So far my worst lapses in judgment have been with fuel and or fire.

 

[ToadHill]

Hay Tig what did you say???

 

[JSharp]

Some people just shouldn't be around sharp objects. brettliddicoat, I think that might mean you...

 

[Soundguy]

Don't spit into the wind.

Wrestling with a pig just makes the pig mad and you get dirty.. and you still probably never catch the pig.

soundguy

 

[jimmer2880]

Watch out for front license plates bent forward (from going through the carwash too many times). Trip to the ER for stitches on July 4th a couple years back.

Thumbs and Big Toes should not be "buddy taped" if you think they are broken. They have different pivot axis. Trip to ER, then Foot surgeon after Big toe didn't get better after 8 weeks.

Always wear a hat when welding, torch'ing, or grinding. No ER trips (yet), but have done a toll on my scalp

When welding without sleeves, wear sunscreen. I almost never wear sleeves when welding. But, after several really bad sunburns on my arms from the weld, I have started to carry sunscreen in my welding box.

NEVER sit with legs crossed (indian style) when weldinding/torching while wearing shorts. I have WAY too many pairs of undies with burn holes in them

Knee pads are nice when working on hard surfaces, UNLESS you are welding/torching. then, they act like nice funnels to bring all of the spawls next to your skin.

You'd think after all of these lessons I'd be at least a little bit smarter

 

[brettliddicoat]

well i was about 13 when the cement trowel thing happened i was walking down the aisle not paying attention to what was hanging off the shelf and a trowel was sticking out of the shelf i brushed my arm against it didnt even notice untill i felt someting running down my arm (blood)

yea the plow bolt i thought if i put enough pressure on it since they work like carrage bolts that it would grab it did- my finger

yea i have done the sunburn more than once i finally bought some leather capes keeps you cooler and prevents sunburns and hot metal burns

burnt scalp a lot also when welding and cutting also found a way to clear out your sinuses if when your cutting with the torch if you get some of those sparks up your nose it will clear em out good

im shure i will think of more

brett

 

[jimmer2880]

Just remembered another couple.

When the wind catches a piece of tin roof'ing that's not fastened (was building a shed), don't try to catch it. Couple of stitches later, I have a nice scar on my wrist.

When starting a fire with gas, if it's already smoldering, pour the gas into a cup BEFORE putting it on the fire. Caught a perfectly good 1 gallon chainsaw gas can on fire.

 

[Tig]

When chopping down a tree, check all the trees around you for beehives and wasp nests.
Got banged up real bad in my haste to get away. After that, I think the bees all fell down laughing. I ended up limping slowly to the house. Stings, cuts and bruises healed well but the ribs took months.

 

[JDPN]

don't lean fluorescent light bulbs up against a wall. One time i tripped and put my hand all the way through the middle of a 6 ft long fluorescent bulb and pulled it out in time before the top piece came crashing down. Luckily no cuts or anything except broken glass.

 

[ToadHill]

Arguing with a politician is like getting into a peeing contest with a skunk. Even if you win no one smells worth **** when it's over.

 

[Rara Avis]

Threads like these are why I am not an EMPIRCIST...

Charles Sanders Peirce had the right IDEAS...

 

[chh]

Just remembered another couple.

When the wind catches a piece of tin roof'ing that's not fastened (was building a shed), don't try to catch it. Couple of stitches later, I have a nice scar on my wrist.

When starting a fire with gas, if it's already smoldering, pour the gas into a cup BEFORE putting it on the fire. Caught a perfectly good 1 gallon chainsaw gas can on fire.

Don't try and hang onto a sheet either if the wind catches it. Friend got blown off a roof and broke a leg.

You got REALLY lucky on the gas, ex-BIL ended up in ER with burns and off work for 2 or 3 weeks.

"We don't need no stinking earplugs" Huh?? What??

 

[Tig]

Always carry material on your leeward side. That way you can let go before you get blown over.

 

[mjarrels]

After 21 years in Naval Aviation... Gravity is a powerfull force.

mark

 

[firemanpat2910]

certain jobs should not be done when you are angry. Always use the right tool for the job. Never use a framing hammer instead of a tack hammer after arguing with a future exwife.

 

[chh]

New one for today, wear gloves when working on projects in the shop. My old "cheapy sears" drill press was binding up. Pushed up hard on the handle to try and move it around. Plastic knob shattered and the rod gouged a chunk out of my palm. The ER dug the plastic pieces out of my hand and gave me 6 stiches. The Dr. had to comment that a new drill press would have been cheaper.

 

[jimmer2880]

New one for today, wear gloves when working on projects in the shop. My old "cheapy sears" drill press was binding up. Pushed up hard on the handle to try and move it around. Plastic knob shattered and the rod gouged a chunk out of my palm. The ER dug the plastic pieces out of my hand and gave me 6 stiches. The Dr. had to comment that a new drill press would have been cheaper.

Now I have an excuse to upgrade my old cheapie sears drill press

Hope you don't mind if I share this with my wife to get approval for such drill press. Of course, I'll have to leave out the part about just wearing gloves