Steel Players vs. Power Tools

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

A word of unsolicited advice to the wise:

If you value your skills on a steel guitar (or any other instrument) take warning. I have had a number of hobbies over the past 50 or 60 years, one of which was wood working. I thought I knew all of the safety rules, having taken several adult-education college "shop" courses in the 60's which emphasized safety. A few months ago I was building some shelves for a friend and it finally happened: my hand-held rotary power saw (often called a "Skil Saw") kicked back and caused the 16-tooth carbide tipped blade to walk up the forefinger of my left hand. It lacerated the finger pretty badly, chipped the bone, and clipped a tendon. After six weeks with my left hand in a plastic contraption that immobilized it, followed by another six weeks of painful therapy, I recovered about 80 percent of the range of motion in that finger. It didn't seriously affect my ability to hold and manipulate my bar, but it wreaked havok with my playing of the lead guitar. I immediately went out of the "carpenter business" and sold all of my power tools.

Don't ever think you are bullet proof in the use of power tools. One split second can destroy all of your years of study and practise in the art of music.

Roy

Doyle Huff · From: Broken Arrow, OK USA

Roy, Being a woodworker too, I know what you are saying. Although Ive never been seriously injured, I've had some times that my injuries stopped my playing for a few days. Anytime I'm working in the with power tools, that thought is on my mind. I hope you get along fine because I know I would not what to not be able to play again.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Roy
It's no match-up and I've never heard of Steel Player winning the fight with Power Tool. He may go a bunch of rounds, but there's always a knock-out at the end.

A buddy of mine had a bout with Power Tool's heavyweight brother, Table Saw... don't ask.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Roy, thats horrible news..I hope you can get a maximum recovery.

Power Tools, stairways, clutter..all those things contibute to personal injury . I recently built a garage here at home and I completed the 3 month project without injury. A few weeks ago while building new shelving units, I managed to drop a 2X10 across my left foot...I am quite certain I invented some new cuss words right there on the spot. And of course I did not have work boots on like I normally wear when doing this sort of thing, I had on my around the house moccasins. Well fortunatley
I didn't do anything severe and after a few days of limping around all that remained was the big black and blue evidence of my stupidity. I only lost about a week of Steel practice but I suppose it surely could have been much worse.

Power Tools, of all the things we fool with, have no regret and no forgivness. They pretty much don't care if your cutting wood or flesh..

This is a great post and topic..a moment of not paying attention or proper preparation may just cause a several month self inflicted layoff or..worse...

Wishing you full recovery

tp

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 27 December 2002 at 06:59 AM.]

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Roy, although we are not acquainted, you have my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I have great respect for anything with power. My best accomplishments are with an ordinary hammer and screw driver!
I recall some 50 years ago a very fine young steel player in this area losing his entire right index finger to a power tool. He went on to play by moving his picks over one finger. Then of course, who can forget the fabulous Billy Hew Len who lost his entire left hand to power equipment? He came back with the help of a gentleman who designed that glove which held the bar. His style changed for the better! His was an amazing story.
You have done everyone a great service by reminding us not to take power tools for granted. I'm sure each of us know of someone, musician or not who, without thinking for a split moment has lost most of their fingers by reaching under a power lawn mower. Carpenters do not have the exclusive "talent" of losing a limb or whatever...it can happen so quickly to anyone at a time you least expect.
My best wishes to you Roy...with strong determination, I'm sure you'll find a way around that lead guitar...Djanjo Reinhardt did some of his best work with 2 mutilated fingers on his left hand.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 27 December 2002 at 07:45 AM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Right about Django, George. I remember Jabo Arrington, also, who had lost his left forefinger and did a great job on lead guitar with Paul Howard's band on the Opry in the 40's. He and Hank Garland were known as "Junior and Jabo" and played some great twin guitars. Still, I would hate to start over with a missing digit, as I'm no Jabo and I'm certainly no Django.

Butch Foster · From: Pisgah, Alabama, USA

Roy,, hope you are better soon! I enjoy your posts very much, as an avid student of the steel and those who played through the years, your observations are priceless. Best wishes for the new year!

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

....Roy, your story reminded me of my friend, an Oklahoma City Police Officer, who was in charge of security for celebrities, and a personal friend of Elvis.

He was also a woodworker, and during a lapse of attention, while using a skill saw, he severed his penis. Because he was a police office, he received immediate response from paramedics who packed the severed member in ice and transported both to the trauma center where it was successfully reimplanted.

I say successfully because later, after the accident, he and his wife conceived and was born a child, whose birth was celebrated among his friends.

The point of the story.....if this was done successfully, have hope that your finger recovery will also be successful.

www.genejones.com

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

The moral of the story is....make sure you don't have any outstanding insurance bills...paid members get the fastest service...

Jimmie Misenheimer · From: Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.

Unless I'm mistaken, you can ask Seymour about this...

Jimmie

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Another one who comes to mind is Les Paul and his "frozen" arm...It's a major setback for you Roy, however strong determination on your part will surely pay-off. Best wishes.

JACK HEERN · From: MURPHYSBORO,IL. USA

Don't be scare of power equiptment....Don Helms had a round with a power mower, he showed 'em . He still plays like a champ

jp

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Thanks to all of you. I have most of the range of motion back in the injured finger, and I can live with that. It precludes hot licks on lead guitar, but hasn't affected my steel playing as much as the loss of dexterity that has come with age and lack of practice.

The main point of my story was to serve as a reminder to my musician friends of the dangers of power tools and point out that one split second can destroy a lifetime of study and practise.

Jimmie Misenheimer · From: Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.

I also seem to remember thar "Big" Joe Talbot lost a "fight" with a power mower...

Jimmie

Bill Tauson · From: Chino Valley, Az.

You're not alone. A year ago, I sawed the end of my right thumb in half. Luckly, I can still play. It's harder to hold a flat pick while playing guitar and it took awhile before I could put a pick on to play steel. Just a word of caution. Too many years of hard work to lose for a silly mistake like I made.

Be careful!!

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i've been using power tools for the last 10 years on most every working day !
Saws,JackHammers,Drills,Hilti Nail Shooters, Grinders,ChainSaws, etc..
one thing i've learned is Never Rush into Things when using them !!!
when i start losin' my Cool + Gettin' Uptight is when i'm gonna get hurt.
Sometimes the guys on the job call me a Fairy cause i wear gloves ! so i tell 'em:
Not only do i protect my hands cause i play Musik but my Wife don't like it when i got them harsh hands !
No matter how much precaution i take i wind up w: some nicks,cuts,bruises and splinters.
it helps me play the Workin' man Blues.
Hands are Precious, so Be Carefull !!!

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Steel what?

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

I also had a lost argument with a tablesaw,it stopped what little guitar playing I did at the time,mangled my index finger pretty bad,nicked my middle some,slowed my steel playing some but did'nt stop me..
Another safety tip SAFETY GLASSES,SAFETY GLASSES,SAFETY GLASSES.
Crowbar,
I worked in a machine shop since 77
(now ret.)when I first started I used to laff at an old guy for using gloves for everything,did'nt want to get his hands dirty(I thought)till I used them and had dirtier hands than before,they were not to keep hands clean!!!!!!
Roy,
Good luck on recovery.
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Bill Ford

[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 28 December 2002 at 04:23 PM.]

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Without a doubt safety glasses. I knew of a pro water skiier years ago who, in the off season worked with a framing crew. One day he swung his hammer, clipped a nail at an angle and it flew into his eye. Lost sight in the one eye.

I don't like wearing gloves when I'm on a drill press. The material can easily get caught on the bit.

Crowbear is right. It's when you get stressed and pressured that you become reckless and abandon caution. Not good.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · From: Clinton, Missouri USA

Guys to support my music, I work as a deputy coroner. a few years ago, our office handled a man who had been using an electric router. He changed the router blade, and with the router still upside down, hit the power switch. The blade apparently had a defect, snapped in half, struck him in the chest, punctured his heart causing his death.

Please, if you use a router, never NEVER turn it on while it is upside down. I realize this was a freak accident, but why tempt fate?

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

My support to you.

I deliver heavy equipment, run excavation stuff, and handle chains and binders all day during the season and in the most miserable weather. I run a double dump transfer that's aptly called a Slam Banger from when I hold the tongue, push the remote starter button while in reverse, and clear my hands when the trailer eye slams into the hitch. If it ever starts I'll try to hold it til it hooks and scramble.

I'm very careful, but I've been very lucky.

Working as a resaw operator, and edgerman in 72-3 I saw a digital loss at the very least of once a week. One kid lost half of both hands holding a gang saw while it was absentmindedly turned on by a drunken foreman. We packed them in gauze and snow, and they got reattached in Helena. I was young, and ran the saws while they spit out several blades and dozens of teeth inserts flying all over the place. Something was watching over me. My home made leather vest/apron had a few gouges in it.

Danny Gatton had severed tendons, as well as the aforementioned others, and came back to play his gig. I have been told that his fatal frustrations came from other quarters.

My tranny in my Panhead was built by a guy that later was using an air cutoff for grinding, like a die grinder. The disc split and went thru his femoral artery. He died before they could get him to the hosp. Like Stonewall Jackson.

I pray that my luck, and my awareness will continue. Odds have always been against it, so I think my prayers are the major factor.

Do what you feel you have to.

I think of my young friend that got out of his stint as a Navy Seal in the 80s. He needed to "unwind" so he went to a friends "line shack" hunting cabin in AK. He downed a fifth of jack, made sure the generator was running, and passed out. He woke up with both hands sticking out of the sleeping bag frozen nearly solid, as the generator had run out of fuel early in the night. It was too late for anything but amputation by the time he hiked out. Just two inches past both wrists. I think of him whenever I light a match with one hand, run a pliers left handed, or hell, just look gratefully at my hands, even though they hurt or ache from one thing or another.

There are many people that gladly view physical setbacks as challenges. I admire them. It's a strength I couldn't muster on my own. That's for sure.

Best wishes.

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 29 December 2002 at 07:04 AM.]

Steve Feldman · From: Central MA USA

I used to cut wood for a while in a little town called Forks, WA. Big percentage of the work up there is cutting shakes from cedar 'shake bolts' using a band saw in a production setting. Suffice it to say that not too many sawyers from up aroung there would qualify to become a Blackjack dealer in Vegas....

On a related note, I am currently making a Greenland-style kayak paddle out of cedar using an old-timey drawknife that you could shave with (if your face happended to be ~8in across and square, I suppose....). But anyway, I tell you what - seems like I've got to watch myself with that thing more carefully than with any power saw I ever used....

Alan Michael · From: Winston-Salem North Carolina U.S.A.

Well, I've got to respond to this post because I'm one of the unlucky few whose life was changed by a work related accident. I've worked residential construction for thirty years (mostly as a carpenter) but since relocating in southeast Alaska I've begun to take on a variety of the other trades as well. Three years ago while working at the table saw I cut off the ring finger on my left hand. When you've made approximately 10,000 cuts in your lifetime you only have to mess up once and the odds are that it is going to happen. I played standard guitar for thirty years and my first thought was that those days were over for me. I'm only a recreational picker, but music is the way that I unwind and the loss of it was going to
have a hugh effect on my identity. But, there is a silver lining to this story. My accident motivated me to buy a pedal steel and try to learn a new instrument. I've been working hard for two and a half years. I sold my LDG, bought a Carter D-10 from a Forum member, picked up a pre-war Ricky
lap steel, and found a T-8 Stringmaster and I'm having a blast and playing more music than ever in my life. I've even started playing gigs with local musicians and that is somthing I rarely did in the past. And the most unusual part of this story is that I'm reinventing the way that I play the six string guitar. Go figure.

Now, I'm not suggesting that you get yourself involved in an accident as a way of motivating yourself but isn't it interesting how we humans can adapt and grow if we adopt a positve attitude about our own situations.

So Roy, hang in there. Accept this as a challenge and you'll be just fine.

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