Almost lost a finger on a jobsite in Portland because of a dull chisel

I was framing out a window rough opening over near the Pearl District last Tuesday and my chisel just wouldn't cut clean. I got frustrated and pushed harder than I should have. The chisel slipped off the mortise and went straight into the web of my thumb. Blood everywhere, had to wrap it in my shirt and drive myself to urgent care. Six stitches and a tetanus shot later, I realized the tool was dull as a butter knife. I should have stopped and sharpened it after the first bad cut. Now I check my edge tools every morning before I start swinging. Has anybody else had a close call because you were too stubborn to stop and sharpen?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_shane11d ago

Should have stopped and sharpened" is what gets you. I learned that lesson the HARD way too.

webb.xena11d ago

My buddy Mike needed 14 stitches in his palm from a dull hatchet last summer.

gavin9285d ago

...and that's exactly why I tell people to treat dull tools worse than sharp ones. I had a neighbor who thought he was being smart by using a dull pruning saw to cut back some branches. He ended up levering the thing so hard it slipped and damn near took out his front teeth. Missed his mouth by maybe half an inch and gave him a gnarly cut on his chin instead. Emergency room doctor said he sees more injuries from dull tools than sharp ones because people get lazy and force things. So yeah, Mike's lucky he only needed 14 stitches, could've been a lot worse.