Let's build a fancy guitar stand!

[B0WIE]

Well... I had an accident. I didn't have my fingers pushing toward the router but two of them went right into the blade anyhow. I can only assume the wood jumped violently. I instantly assumed my fingertips were gone. After several minutes, the bleeding went down and I found the meat of my index finger was shredded and hanging on, and my middle finger lost a small chunk and part of the nail. I put all the skin back in place and slapped some bandages on to hold it in place.

That probably sounds insane but my skin heals unusually fast. I don't even get normal callouses from playing because my skin turns over so fast. The day after it happened, everything was holding back in place and no sign on infection. 2 days on and I can lightly touch things again. I know I'll be ok once the missing chunk grows back.

This is a huge lesson as I simply didn't realize how hard a little router blade can knock a piece of wood and throw your hands. I still don't know how they went in that direction. Not being able to play guitar has struck the fear of god into me and I'll be using several types of tools to sled the wood pieces from here on out!

In better news, I was able to do a lot with my good hand and I'll be sharing pics of the completed stand tomorrow!!

[teh]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident.

Based on your post, it looks like you dodged a bullet that will hopefully only prove to be a temporary inconvenience. Best of luck for a quick recovery and we're looking forward to seeing the finished stand.

[Silence Dogood]

Dang, man, glad you're ok!

[Rockysdad]

Bowie, watch them *power tools*.

I'm guessing it's router table as opposed to a router you hold. Use a scrap piece of wood to push toward *any* powered blade. I've seen too many people injure themselves because they figured they were careful only to be surprised by what happens.

Heal fast.

[William2]

I hope you heal completely.

[Queequeg]

Oh boy! 
That story made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Sorry you were injured, Bowie. Especially the fingers.
Your optimism is exemplary.
When I was in college, I worked part time and through the summers for a construction crew. We built small homes and duplexes. One day the foreman of the brick layers crew arrived, and he asked me who I was and what was I doing there? I told him I was a member of the carpenters crew. He looked at me and scoffed. "Son", he said, "as long as you still got 10 fingers you can't call yourself a carpenter."
The guitar had already become a very important part of my life.
I decided right then and there that I never wanted to be a carpenter.

Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath, lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers in a sheet metal factory accident when he was 17. The accident happened on his last day of work, when he was unexpectedly put on a press machine he wasn't familiar with, and the machine came down on his hand, severing the fingertips.
He created replacement fingertips From leather and plastic.

Tony, Django Reinhardt and Jerry Garcia were all great guitarists missing parts of fingers.

[StringPicker6]

I also hope you have a full recovery.

My middle school shop teacher had the required missing finger...

[B0WIE]

 Thank for such kind words and thoughts everyone! I can sort-of play my mini classical now. The index finger just needs to recover more but the middle finger (the one that turned paper white and I thought I'd lose the tip) is almost fully recovered!
Queequeg, the it was a router table. As I rushed back in the house, thinking my fingertips were gone, the FIRST thing I thought of was "It's ok, Tommy Iommi managed."

 I haven't been on for a few days because typing hasn't been fun, but the stand has been stable and I'm almost done with a very special pedalboard, which I'll show soon. I finished the stand in Tru-oil over shellac, but it's hard to get a soft glow from that. It's either shiny or dull, so I went back over it with shellac to get the soft glow I love.

[Silence Dogood]

Wow, beautiful work.  I'm impressed!

[teh]

Nice detailed and accurate craftsmanship, especially the wood grain. I'm glad you're on the mend too.

[Rockysdad]

Nice work Bowie.

I can't seem to find the *order form* ?         

[247hoopsfan]

So glad you sill have your fingers! 
The stand is awesome, worthy of Larrivees to hang on.

[Queequeg]

Very nice. I love it.
Continue healing, Bowie. 

[William2]

Beautiful!

[mike in lytle]

It is a beautiful stand, very impressive, and done quickly as well.
The acoustic guitar is also very nice.
Mike

[jweave69]

That really is purty! 

[Gill]

Well... I had an accident. I didn't have my fingers pushing toward the router but two of them went right into the blade anyhow. I can only assume the wood jumped violently. I instantly assumed my fingertips were gone. After several minutes, the bleeding went down and I found the meat of my index finger was shredded and hanging on, and my middle finger lost a small chunk and part of the nail. I put all the skin back in place and slapped some bandages on to hold it in place.

That probably sounds insane but my skin heals unusually fast. I don't even get normal callouses from playing because my skin turns over so fast. The day after it happened, everything was holding back in place and no sign on infection. 2 days on and I can lightly touch things again. I know I'll be ok once the missing chunk grows back.

This is a huge lesson as I simply didn't realize how hard a little router blade can knock a piece of wood and throw your hands. I still don't know how they went in that direction. Not being able to play guitar has struck the fear of god into me and I'll be using several types of tools to sled the wood pieces from here on out!

In better news, I was able to do a lot with my good hand and I'll be sharing pics of the completed stand tomorrow!!

Well done you I say Bowie,nice job on your stand,I hope your fingers have recovered from the Router mishap,I was a carpenter for many years,and used a Router frequently,I'm comfortable using powered  woodworking tools,but have always been very very wary with Routers,they rotate at such high speeds ( acting like a gyroscope in practice really) and hand held operation of this tool can be fraught with risk as you found out yourself,I've had a couple of near misses myself over the years,but luckily no injury,anyway,great job on your guitar stand,and kudos for the use of a Spokeshave-haven't seen anyone use one for years,I must look out my Stanley one,see if it's not rusted away...

[B0WIE]

Well done you I say Bowie,nice job on your stand,I hope your fingers have recovered from the Router mishap,I was a carpenter for many years,and used a Router frequently,I'm comfortable using powered  woodworking tools,but have always been very very wary with Routers,they rotate at such high speeds ( acting like a gyroscope in practice really) and hand held operation of this tool can be fraught with risk as you found out yourself,I've had a couple of near misses myself over the years,but luckily no injury,anyway,great job on your guitar stand,and kudos for the use of a Spokeshave-haven't seen anyone use one for years,I must look out my Stanley one,see if it's not rusted away...

Thanks Gill, and to everyone who commented. It's strange looking at the stand and remembering it was just a 2x4 when I stated. As of today, I'm able to play electrics again and hopefully acoustics soon. I'll have another cool project to share this week.